Secondary containment system size requirements for dry cleaners: PERC regulations
Prevent spills!
PERC Pointer #5 - Secondary Containment Systems Size
Is Your Secondary Containment System Large Enough?
Your secondary containment system must be able to hold a volume greater than or equal to 110% of the largest tank or storage container and cover at least the entire surface under each dry-cleaning machine, tank or container.
To determine if your secondary containment system is large enough, you will need to calculate:
- the volume of your largest container; and
- the volume of your secondary containment system.
Long Description
Drawing of a cylinder sitting in a rectangular secondary containment tray. The cylinder and tray are labelled with its dimensions. The cylinder has 15 cm radius, 60 centimeter height. The tray has 20 centimeter height, 80 centimeter width and 30 centimeter length.
Example Calculations
Cylinder Size:
Height (H) = 60 cm,Note de bas de page* Radius (R) = 15 cm
Cylinder Volume
= H x π x R2 = H x π x R x R
= 60 cm x 3.14 x 15 cm x 15 cm
= 42 390 cm3 [1000 cm3 = 1 Litre]
= 42.4 Litres
Secondary Containment Size:
Height (H) = 20 cm, Length (L) = 80 cm, Width (W) = 30 cm
Secondary Containment Volume = H x L x W
= 20 cm x 80 cm x 30 cm
= 48 000 cm3 [1000 cm3 = 1 Litre]
= 48.0 Litres
Volume of a Cylinder
Long Description
Drawing showing a cylinder with Radius (R) and Height (H) labelled and the heading Volume of a Cylinder. The equation to calculate volume is explained: Volume equals Height (H) multiplied by pi, multiplied by radius squared (R2). H is the height of the cylinder, Pi is 3.14, R is the radius of the base circle.
Volume = H x π x R2
H = height of the cylinder
π (Pi) = 3.14
R = radius of the base circle
Volume of a Box
Long Description
Drawing showing a box with Height (H), Length (L) and Width (W) and heading Volume of a Box. The equation to calculate volume is explained: Volume equals Height (H) multiplied by Length (L), multiplied by Width (W). H is the height of the box, L is the length of the box, W is the width of the box.
Volume = H x L x W
H = height
L = length
W = width
Will your secondary containment hold 110% of the volume of the container (cylinder)?
Divide Secondary Containment Volume by Cylinder Volume
48.0 L ÷ 42.4 L = 1.13 x 100% = 113 %
113% is greater than 110% (Yes!)
Long Description
Image of a drum containing PERC waste sitting in a secondary containment tray.
Please contact your regional Environment Canada office if you have any questions or concerns:
Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
promo-alt-compro@ec.gc.ca
Quebec
perc-qc@ec.gc.ca
Ontario
promcon-on-compro@ec.gc.ca
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut
perc-rpn-perc-pnr@ec.gc.ca
British Columbia, Yukon
perc-py-perc@ec.gc.ca
Submit your annual reports by April 30 to produits-products@ec.gc.ca.
Regulatory Compliance
Environment Canada undertakes regular inspections in order to verify compliance with the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and its regulations. Investigations are conducted when there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred. For further information, consult the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for CEPA.
This document is neither an official version of nor a substitute for the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 or the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations. Please refer to the Regulations to determine your full legal obligations.
For information regarding reproduction rights, please contact Environment and Climate Change Canada's Inquiry Centre at 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only) or 819-938-3860 or email to enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca.
Also available in French, Persian, Chinese (traditional) and Korean.
ISBN: 978-0-660-37843-5 Cat No: EN14-206/3-2021E-PDF
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