Spill Prevention and Containment Sump Testing

Beginning on October 13, 2018 owners and operators must meet one of the following for spill containment equipment and for containment sumps used for piping interstitial monitoring:

Option 1: Spill prevention and containment sump equipment is double walled and the integrity of both walls is monitored at least as frequently as in the walk through inspection requirement (typically every 30 days for spill buckets but it may be longer if the facility receives infrequent deliveries, and annually for containment sumps). If owners and operators discontinue this periodic monitoring, they have 30 days to conduct the test described in option 2 below.

Option 2: Spill prevention equipment and containment sumps used for interstitial monitoring of piping are tested at least once every three years. The test must determine the equipment is liquid tight by using either vacuum, pressure, or liquid testing according to one of the following:

• Requirements developed by the manufacturer (owners and operators may only use this option if the manufacturer has developed testing requirements)
• A code of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory
• Requirements determined by the implementing agency to be no less protective than those developed by the manufacturer or in the code of practice

Owners and operators must maintain records of spill prevention equipment and containment sump testing for at least three years. For spill prevention equipment and containment sumps used for interstitial monitoring of piping not tested every three years, owners and operators must maintain documentation showing the equipment is double walled and the integrity of both walls is periodically monitored for as long as the equipment is periodically monitored.

Spill prevention equipment and containment sumps used for interstitial monitoring of piping installed after October 13, 2015 must be tested for liquid tightness at installation and then once every three years. Note that most installation codes of practice require testing of this equipment for liquid tightness at installation – this would qualify as the first test.