Storing farm chemical properly in the South Burnett
Why the drum in the corner of the machinery shed is a problem, what a bunded container actually does about it, and how to specify one against what you are really storing.
Type · Dangerous Goods
Dangerous Goods Shipping Containers
Bunded, ventilated, compliant storage for chemical. In peanut, grain and grazing country this is not a specialty item, it is ordinary equipment that a lot of properties are storing without.
What you are getting
- Bunded floor to contain a spill rather than let it reach the ground
- Ventilation and shelving specified for the class being stored
- Signage and fittings to suit the goods, confirmed before the order
- Available for purchase or hire
- Get the class right before you order — the cost of a wrong call is a compliance finding, not a refund
The drum in the corner of the shed
Almost every property in this district has spray chemical, and a fair proportion of it is sitting on a pallet in the corner of a machinery shed with nothing under it. That is fine right up until a container splits, and then the problem is soil, a notifiable incident and an insurer asking questions.
A bunded unit is the boring fix. It contains what leaks, it ventilates what evaporates, it locks, and it puts the whole problem in one place that can be signed and inspected. It is also considerably cheaper than the chemical store people imagine they need to build.
What matters is specifying it against what you are actually storing. Class, quantity and combination all change the requirement, and the requirement is what the fittings and the signage are built around. Tell us what is on the shelf and how much of it before anything is ordered.
Sizes it comes in
| Unit | External L×W×H | Internal L×W×H | Door W×H | Capacity | Pallets | Used from | New from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft Containers | 2.99m × 2.44m × 2.59m | 2.83m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 16m³ | 4 standard pallets | $4,350 | $6,400 |
| 20ft Containers | 6.06m × 2.44m × 2.59m | 5.90m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 33m³ | 10 standard pallets | $2,200 | $3,300 |
| 40ft Containers | 12.19m × 2.44m × 2.59m | 12.03m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 67m³ | 20 standard pallets | $2,600 | $5,500 |
| 40ft High Cube | 12.19m × 2.44m × 2.90m | 12.03m × 2.35m × 2.69m | 2.34m × 2.58m | 76m³ | 20 standard pallets | on request | on request |
Guide pricing only, ex GST. The figure you actually pay moves with the grade, with what is available that week, and with the run out to your address. Ring (07) 4141 7699 for a real number rather than a range.
As-is units are the cheap end and they are not sold watertight. They are sold on condition, described plainly, and we will tell you what is wrong with one before you buy it rather than after. If the contents have to stay dry, buy cargo-worthy.
What to tell us before we quote
A dangerous goods store is specified around what goes in it, so the quote starts with a list. Have the products and the approximate quantity of each, and the class and packing information from the label or the safety data sheet (SDS) for each one. Some classes must not be stored together, and some need more ventilation or a larger bund than others. Getting that list right first is what keeps the store compliant and the order accurate.
Also think about where it will sit. A chemical store should be placed away from houses, water sources, drainage lines and anywhere that floods, on level ground, with vehicle access for deliveries and room to open the doors fully. Your insurer or local council may have their own requirements, and it is worth asking them before the unit is ordered.
Looking after it once it is in
Keep the bund clean and empty — a bund full of rainwater or old drums cannot hold a spill. Keep the SDS for each product somewhere easy to reach, keep the signage visible, and do not let the store turn into general shed overflow. Check the vents are clear, and keep incompatible products apart, as specified when it was set up. A container that holds farm chemical properly is only as good as how it is used.
Dangerous Goods — common questions
Can I store fuel in a dangerous goods container?
Possibly, depending on the fuel, the quantity and the unit's specification. Tell us exactly what and how much, and we will say whether a particular unit suits it before anything is ordered.
Is a dangerous goods container watertight?
New and cargo-worthy grade units are wind and watertight. The bund is there to contain spills from inside, not water from outside, and as-is units are not sold watertight.
Can I hire one for a season?
Ask when you ring. Whether a dangerous goods unit is available for hire depends on stock at the time; we will give you both hire and buy options where we can.
Worth reading first
New, cargo-worthy or as-is — which grade the job actually needs
What the three grades mean, what they cost, and how to work out which one your job needs without paying for condition you will never see.
No-obligation quote
Get a dangerous goods quote
Stock turns over, so a call gets you a current answer rather than an old price list.
(07) 4141 7699Mon–Fri 7:30am–5pm, Sat 8am–12pm. If we are out on a run, leave a message or send the form and you will get a call back.