An intermediate bulk container (IBC) holds around 1,000 litres in a single unit — which makes it an efficient way to store and dispense oils, chemicals and liquids, but also a serious spill risk if it splits, leaks or is knocked over. Store one carelessly and a single failure can release a tonne of liquid straight to a drain. This guide explains how to store IBCs safely and compliantly, and how to choose between a containment pallet, a bunded storage unit and a fully enclosed IBC store.
Why IBC storage needs containment
Any container holding oil or a hazardous liquid should sit within secondary containment — a bund or sump that catches the contents if the primary container fails. For IBCs the numbers are significant: a full 1,000-litre IBC needs a bund that can hold at least 110% of its volume (1,100 litres) where a single container is stored, or 25% of the total stored volume where several are kept together, whichever is greater. This is the same principle set out for oil storage under the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations and echoed by COSHH and DSEAR risk assessments for chemicals. Getting the bund capacity right is the single most important decision in IBC storage.
The three main options
1. IBC containment pallets
An IBC containment pallet is a moulded polyethylene base with an integral sump that a single or double IBC sits on top of. It is the simplest, most cost-effective form of secondary containment. Our GPC IBC Containment Pallets are manufactured from polyethylene for excellent chemical resistance, with fork pockets so the loaded unit can be positioned by forklift. They come in single (PSP01Z) and double (PSP09Z) configurations, so you can match the pallet to how many IBCs you keep. Polyethylene is the right choice where you are storing aggressive chemicals that would attack a painted steel sump.
2. Bunded IBC storage units
A bunded IBC storage unit combines the containment sump with a steel frame and often a roof, giving you a self-contained store rather than a bare pallet. Our GPC IBC Storage Unit with Deep Sump Base (WCI03Z) provides a deep sump for generous containment volume in a robust, forklift-handled steel unit. A bunded unit is the step up from a plain pallet when you want a purpose-built store that keeps rainwater out of the sump (so the bund's capacity is reserved for a spill, not diluted by weather) and presents a tidier, more secure installation.
3. Enclosed and racked IBC stores
Where you hold several IBCs, or need to lock them away and keep the weather off, an enclosed or racked IBC store stacks or houses multiple containers over a shared sump with lockable, vented sides. These larger stores suit busy yards, chemical stores and sites that need to segregate incompatible substances. If your storage need is growing beyond one or two containers, plan for a multi-IBC store rather than lining up individual pallets.
What else to check when specifying IBC storage
- Sump capacity vs your stored volume: confirm the bund meets the 110% / 25% rule for the number of IBCs you will actually keep on it.
- Material of the container being stored: steel sumps are fine for oils and fuels; for aggressive chemicals choose a polyethylene sump for chemical resistance.
- Forklift access: loaded IBCs are heavy — make sure the pallet or unit has fork pockets and that you can position it and change containers safely.
- Dispensing: if you draw off from the IBC in situ, allow room for a drip tray or bucket under the tap so routine drips are captured too.
- Indoor or outdoor: outdoors, a covered or roofed unit stops rainwater filling the sump; indoors, keep IBCs away from drains, doorways and traffic routes.
- Segregation: keep incompatible substances (for example oxidisers and flammables) apart, and site flammable-liquid IBCs in line with your DSEAR assessment.
Compliance in brief
IBC storage sits under several overlapping regimes. Oil stored outdoors above the exemption thresholds falls under the oil storage regulations and their 110% bund rule. Hazardous substances are covered by COSHH, which requires you to control the risk of spills and exposure, and flammable liquids by DSEAR. None of these is satisfied by the container alone — you also need a risk assessment, a spill plan and spill kit, staff who know the procedure, and periodic checks of the IBC and its sump. Treat the storage equipment as one part of a wider control system, not a box-ticking purchase.
How to choose — a quick method
- Count your IBCs now and over the next couple of years — one or two points to a containment pallet or bunded unit; more points to a multi-IBC store.
- Check the liquid — oil/fuel or aggressive chemical? That sets steel vs polyethylene.
- Do the bund maths — 110% of the largest container, or 25% of total stored volume, whichever is greater.
- Decide indoor or outdoor — outdoors, favour a covered/roofed unit to keep rain out of the sump.
- Plan handling and dispensing — fork access, drip trays and a clear, drain-free siting position.
Frequently asked questions
Do I legally need a bund for an IBC? If you store oil outdoors above the exemption thresholds, secondary containment to 110% is a legal requirement. For chemicals, COSHH and DSEAR require you to control spill risk — in practice that means bunded containment. Even where not strictly mandated, it is the accepted standard of good practice.
How big does the bund need to be? At least 110% of the largest container's volume for a single IBC (so ~1,100 litres for a standard 1,000-litre IBC), or 25% of the total volume stored where you keep several, whichever figure is larger.
Can I store an IBC on a normal pallet? No — a standard pallet gives no containment. Use a dedicated IBC containment pallet or a bunded unit with an integral sump.
Steel or plastic sump? Steel suits oils and fuels; polyethylene is better for aggressive chemicals because of its chemical resistance. Match the sump to what you are actually storing.
KC Supply is run by people who have spent their careers around warehouses and yards, so we specify containment for how it will actually be loaded and used. Browse our spill containment range for IBC pallets and bunded units, explore hazardous storage for chemical cabinets, and see drum storage if you handle drums as well. For more on choosing a bunded pallet, read our guide to choosing a bunded or IBC spill pallet and what UK law requires on spill containment and bunding.