Containment Buildings

A containment building is a completely enclosed structure that is used to store or treat waste that is not in containers. To be considered enclosed, the structure must consist of four walls, a roof, and a floor. Such structures are most often used for the management of the types of hazardous waste that are bulky and not easily managed in another type of container.

The structure must be strong enough to support itself, the waste, and any personnel or heavy equipment that may be employed there. It must be engineered to withstand the environmental conditions in which it is situated. If the structure is used to contain hazardous liquids, it must have a barrier and collection system designed to protect against leakage.

Containment buildings must also include features that will prevent the escape of dust through openings such as windows, doors, vents, and cracks. The building must also include a decontamination area within the building itself where workers can wash vehicles and equipment that will be leaving the building, in order to prevent the tracking of waste into the outside environment. Owners and operators must inspect containment buildings weekly and must log the results of the inspection in the operating record.

RCRA regulations for drip pads and containment building previously addressed only TSDFs and LQGs. The RCRA regulations now clarify that SQGs may accumulate hazardous waste in these structures provided they meet the standards found in 40 CFR 265, Subparts W and DD and the conditions specified in 40 CFR 262.16.

RCRA also now specifies the conditions that an LQG that accumulates hazardous wastes in containers, tanks, drip pads, and containment buildings must meet before the LQG closes a unit at the facility or before it closes the entire facility. Refer to 40 CFR 262.17 for these requirements.

To learn more about RCRA safety standards visit our RCRA Refresher Online Training web page.