What is a “SUMP” or “Secondary Containment” in a Building?
The definition of a “sump” (noun) is a pit or reservoir serving as a drain or receptacle for liquids; a pit at the lowest point in a circulating drainage system. Basically, what the risk management industry calls a “sump” in the case of a chemical storage building is a 6-7″ deep well in the bottom of the prefabricated steel building which is continuously welded to be “leak-proof”. This sump is then covered by a steel or fiberglass floor grating and is often equipped with a “sump liner” of a plastic nature to catch accidental spills.
