scope:

This report provides guidance for the design and construction of hazardous material containment systems involving reinforced concrete construction. Hazardous material containment structures require secondary containment and, sometimes, leak-detection systems. Because of the economic and environmental impact of even small amounts of leakage of hazardous materials, both primary and secondary containment systems should be virtually leak-free. Therefore, when primary or secondary containment systems involve concrete, special design and construction techniques are required. This report supplements and enhances the requirements of ACI 350, Code Requirements for Environmental Engineering Concrete Structures, which is intended for structures commonly used in water containment, industrial and domestic water, and wastewater treatment works. ACI 350, however, does not give specific guidance on the design of the double containment systems, leak-detection systems, or the additional recommendations for enhancing liquid-tightness covered in this report. This report does not apply to primary or secondary containment of cryogenic liquids, nonliquid materials, or to systems containing radioactive materials. This document does not cover material storage requirements or environmental impacts of leaching.

The use of information in this report does not ensure compliance with applicable regulations. The recommendations in this report are based on the best technical knowledge available at the time they were written; however, they may be supplemented or superseded by applicable local, state, and national regulations. Therefore, it is important to research such regulations thoroughly. ( Refer also to Section 8.1 .)

Guidelines for containment and leakage-detection systems given in this report involve combinations of materials that may not be readily available in all areas. Therefore, local distributors and contractors should be contacted during the design process to determine what materials are available.

Thorough inspection of construction is essential to ensure a quality final product. The written program for inspection should be detailed and comprehensive and should be clearly understood by all parties involved. See Section 4.3 for an inspection checklist. (Refer to ACI 311.4R for guidance in inspection programs.) A preconstruction conference to discuss the program in detail is recommended. Personnel should be qualified, experienced, and certified as applicable to their specialty.