Bund lining and chemical-resistant flooring
A bund is the last line of defence when a tank leaks or a drum splits. Its job is to hold the spill so it cannot reach the ground, the drains or a watercourse, but bare concrete cannot do that on its own: it is porous, it cracks and many of the substances it is meant to contain attack it. A bund lining seals the structure with a chemical-resistant barrier so the containment actually works when it is called on.
Surface Specialists arranges bund lining and chemical-resistant resin flooring. We match the chemicals being stored to the right lining system and arrange installation by experienced specialist contractors, so the bund is sealed seamlessly and finished to specification. You deal with one point of contact from first enquiry through to a completed, tested bund. This page explains what bund lining is, the systems available and how a chemical-resistant floor is specified.
What is bund lining?
Bund lining is a seamless, chemical-resistant resin coating applied to the floor and walls of a containment bund so it can hold any leak or spill without letting it escape. It seals the porous concrete, bridges cracks and resists the specific substances stored so the bund stays impermeable for the life of the installation.
A bund is the wall or kerb built around tanks, drums or process equipment to form secondary containment, the backup that catches what the primary tank cannot hold. The lining is what turns a concrete kerb into a reliable containment system and it is closely related to chemical-resistant flooring more generally: the same resin technology that lines a bund is used to protect any floor exposed to acids, solvents or aggressive chemicals.
Why does a bund have to be lined?
Concrete on its own is not a containment material. It is porous, so liquids soak through it over time; it cracks as it moves and cures, giving spills a direct route out; and acids, solvents, fuels and many process chemicals chemically attack it, breaking it down exactly where it needs to be sound. A bund built only of bare concrete can look fine and still fail to hold a spill.
Lining the bund solves all three: it seals the surface against permeation, bridges and protects cracks and puts a chemical-resistant barrier between the contents and the structure. Beyond protecting the ground and watercourses from contamination, a properly lined bund is part of meeting the environmental and safety duties that apply to storing oils and chemicals and it protects the operator from the clean-up costs and liability of an escape.
Bund lining and chemical-resistant flooring systems
The right system is driven by what is being stored, confirmed at survey.
Chemical-resistant epoxy
A hard, seamless epoxy system that resists a wide range of oils, fuels and chemicals. It suits most fuel and oil bunds and general chemical-resistant flooring where the exposure is broad rather than extreme.
Acid-resistant and high-performance systems
For strong acids and aggressive chemicals, specialist resins are used in place of standard epoxy to withstand attack that would break an ordinary system down. These are specified to the particular chemicals and concentrations involved.
Heavy-duty and reinforced linings
Where a bund is exposed to mechanical damage as well as chemicals, a thicker or reinforced lining gives extra durability, sealing the structure while standing up to handling and impact.
Where bund lining and chemical-resistant floors are used
Bund lining and chemical-resistant flooring are specified wherever liquids have to be contained or a floor is exposed to aggressive substances, including:
- Fuel and oil storage. Tank farms, fuel depots and standby-generator bunds where leaks must be contained.
- Chemical processing and manufacturing. Process areas, decanting points and storage where acids, solvents and chemicals are handled.
- Laboratories. Where spills of reagents and acids need a chemical-resistant, easy-clean floor.
- Water and wastewater treatment. Dosing and chemical storage areas exposed to aggressive media.
- Plating, battery and energy sites. Where strong acids and electrolytes demand the most resistant systems.
These often sit within a wider industrial flooring scheme with the bund and chemical-exposed areas lined to a higher specification than the surrounding floor.
What to know before you specify a bund lining
Tell us what is stored. The single most important factor is the chemicals involved, their concentration and temperature, because that decides which resin will resist them. The more we know at survey, the more precisely the system is specified.
Seamless with coved upstands. A bund only contains if it is continuous, so the lining is taken up the walls and coved into the floor with no joints or gaps for liquid to track through. The whole bund is treated as one sealed unit.
Cracks and movement. Existing cracks are repaired and the system is chosen to bridge fine movement, so the structure can flex without breaking the seal. Any concrete repairs are carried out first.
Preparation. Like any resin system, the lining only performs over a sound, properly prepared substrate. The surface is mechanically prepared before lining. See our subfloor preparation services.
How long does a bund lining last and how is it maintained?
A correctly specified and installed bund lining lasts many years with the chemical-resistant resin chosen to suit the contents so it is not slowly degraded by what it holds. Because the lining is the thing standing between a spill and the environment, it is worth inspecting periodically, especially after any spill, decanting incident or impact, to confirm it is still sound and seamless.
The areas to watch are the coved upstands, corners and any movement joints and the floor around decanting and transfer points where spills are most likely. Where the lining is damaged or worn, it can usually be repaired or recoated locally rather than replaced, provided it is caught before the concrete underneath is affected. A survey will confirm what a particular bund needs.
Why choose Surface Specialists?
Bund lining is a specialist field and the right result comes down to the right chemical-resistant system specified for the contents and laid by people who do this work every day. That is what we arrange with one point of contact looking after the project from start to finish.
- A specialist focus. We concentrate on commercial surface treatment, so the lining is matched to the chemicals being stored rather than a one-size-fits-all answer.
- Experienced contractors. Installation is carried out by established specialist contractors with a track record in bund lining and chemical-resistant flooring.
- Sealed and continuous. The bund is lined seamlessly with coved upstands so it contains a spill as it is meant to.
- One point of contact. From survey and specification through to a completed bund, you deal with us.
This is one of our commercial resin flooring services. We also cover industrial flooring, anti-slip flooring and anti-static flooring. Learn more about Surface Specialists or explore the full range of resin flooring we cover.
Areas we cover
We arrange bund lining and chemical-resistant flooring through experienced specialist contractors and are steadily extending the areas we cover. See our areas we cover hub for local detail, including bund lining in Manchester, with more local pages being added.
Get a quote
Tell us what you store and we will arrange a free site survey, then provide a written specification and quotation, typically within 48 hours. There is no obligation. Contact us to get started.
GET A FREE SITE SURVEY & QUOTATION
Frequently asked questions
What is a bund and why does it need lining?
A bund is the wall or kerb around tanks or drums that forms secondary containment, designed to hold a leak or spill. It needs lining because bare concrete is porous, cracks and is attacked by many chemicals, so without a chemical-resistant lining it cannot reliably contain what it is meant to.
What chemicals can bund lining resist?
It depends on the system. A chemical-resistant epoxy handles a broad range of oils, fuels and chemicals, while strong acids and aggressive substances need specialist acid-resistant resins. The lining is specified to the particular chemicals, concentrations and temperatures involved, so it helps to tell us what you store.
Can you line an existing bund?
Yes. In most cases an existing concrete bund is prepared, repaired and lined in place. The surface is mechanically prepared, cracks and damage are made good and the chemical-resistant lining is applied seamlessly with coved upstands to seal the whole structure.
What is chemical-resistant flooring?
Chemical-resistant flooring is a resin floor specified to withstand the acids, solvents or chemicals it is exposed to, rather than being attacked by them. It uses the same family of systems as bund lining and is used in laboratories, processing areas and anywhere aggressive substances reach the floor.
How long does a bund lining last?
A correctly specified lining lasts many years with the resin chosen to suit the contents so it is not degraded by what it holds. Periodic inspection, especially of upstands and after any spill, keeps it sound and damage can usually be repaired locally if caught early.
Which areas do you cover?
We work through a network of experienced specialist contractors and are extending the areas we cover. Contact us to confirm cover for your site.