Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) are industrial grade reusable containers engineered for the mass handling, transport, and storage of liquids, semi-solids, pastes, or solids.

IBC Australia

"SpillFix cleans the spills up on our floors better than the previous current products. However, the cleaning has to be done correctly, this is a watch-out-change for our team. In the past, we put down our current product and walked away for a few hours or a day. SpillFix should be cleaned up right away." Read case study.

This guide is part of a series of loading guides that provide tips and tricks to help you understand good load restraint. More detailed information on the principles covered by this guide can be found on page 125 of the Load Restraint Guide 2018.

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Steel or plastic framed IBCs on steel loading decks have very low friction and require multiple lashings to restrain the load. Place IBCs with low friction bases on timber or rubber load mat to improve the coefficient of friction.

IBCcontainers for sale

If filled with 1100 litres of AdBlue, the complete IBC weighs around 1270kgs, but if filled with Chlorine, the IBC weighs around 1785kgs. It is important to know the correct weight of your load to enable you to calculate the number of restraints required to ensure it is sufficiently restrained.

Many absorbents are made from clay similar to what’s found in kitty litter — a common absorbent product that is thrown down on a liquid spill and left for some time to cover the spill. These kitty litters don’t absorb liquids but rather allow some liquid to cling, meaning you can scoop some up after time, and follow up with mops and mats.

SpillFix is a fully organic product and safe to use in any setting. It is made from a renewable resource and is certified food safe. In addition, it is OMRI-listed for organic use and on the NSF registry for nonfood compound use, in food processing and manufacturing. NSF tests products for environmental and public health and safety-based risk management solutions.

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Applying the tables on page 248 of the Load Restraint Guide, 6 straps per row are required due to the very low friction between the IBC and the deck (steel on steel).

The IBCs are filled with water and weigh 1000kg. The steel framed IBCs are sitting on a steel deck which has a very low static friction (0.2). The push-up type 50mm webbing ratchet is capable of a pre-tension of around 300kgf.

Booms, though, are larger items, so we sell absorbent booms in two sizes — 5’ and 10’ x 4” — that can be joined to make larger booms.

SpillFix works faster than clay absorbents because it absorbs immediately and will clean to a residue-free surface, thus not requiring secondary cleaning with a mop and bucket, etc. In fact, it can be reused for later spills if not fully saturated with the spilled material, but you should immediately dispose of it after cleaning toxic or potentially hazardous spills.

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"I have yet to encounter a spill or leak this product can’t handle. Without SpillFix, my job would be much more difficult to achieve. I fully give this product a 100% success. I’ve been working here for almost 8 years. Best thing I’ve ever used in my job to date." Read case study.

We offer a refillable four-gallon bucket and a 555-gallon Super Sack for businesses that respond to large industrial spills.

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Where possible block against a headboard or use packing to provide the blocking. The use of non-rated headboards or gates is not advised.

Where a suitably engineered blocking structure is not available, use crossover straps to block the load at the front. Loads that are blocked require less lashings to meet the performance standards and loading requirements.

Liquid slosh and surge in partially filled IBCs can affect the vehicles stability and will add pressure on the load restraint system. Where possible fill IBCs completely or to the fill line. This will reduce slosh and surging as much as possible.

IBCs placed directly on a steel deck and not blocked require multiple lashings and may crush the frames. The amount of restraint required to ensure safety is excessive and impractical.

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SpillFix can clean virtually any land-based spill, including oils and biohazard spills. We classify it as both a multipurpose and chemical/hazmat cleaner. As one of our customers told us, “I have yet to encounter a spill or leak this product can’t handle.”

In this example a step deck trailer is loaded with 2x7 rows of IBCs on the lower deck and 2x3 rows of IBCs on the top deck. The loading decks on the trailer are completely full, no gaps.

SpillFix works on land-based spills and is sold in packages and jars of different sizes to meet customers’ volume needs. They can be used to create or refill absorbent socks, pads, and pillows. Remember, SpillFix can be reused, too, so it’s possible to use one of these a few times before refilling it with more SpillFix.

"SpillFix helps us keep spills under control in dorms, cafeterias and other common areas. Huge savings in disposal costs and maintenance and repairs deferred."

If any of these IBCs were to shift or fall during transport, they could cause serious injury or death to other road users or damage to road infrastructure. If they were filled with hazardous chemicals this could be an environmental disaster.

“Bar-B-Que sauce is easy enough to clean up when it’s on your fingers and lips, but it’s an entirely different story when a five-gallon jug of it ruptures and flows onto a warehouse floor. SpillFix was applied to the entire disaster area – from the pallet to the cardboard, the shrink wrap and the growing puddle on the floor. In three and a half minutes, the entire mess was cleaned, and the warehouse was restored to a safe workplace again — using just one product.”

A better option for cleaning up spills is SpillFix granular absorbent. SpillFix is made from a byproduct of coconut husks, called coir, and it absorbs spills instantly and more effectively than clay, is lighter in weight, and can be reused. Read more about the discovery of coir.

Note: The NHVR strongly recommends where the coefficient of friction is very low or low (below 0.3) and the load is not blocked, safe loading practices must incorporate a friction medium, such as timber dunnage, timber pallets, or load mat to increase the coefficient of friction.

Absorbents are materials used to soak up liquids and are an important safety tool in just about every industry. Spills at worksites pose dangers that range from fall risks to possible contamination from biohazards and infectious bodily fluids.