Bund

Surveys

GPT conducts comprehensive bund surveys in line with relevant legislation and guidance, designed to assess the condition, suitability and effectiveness of your secondary containment.

Bund Inspections

Constructing high-quality bunds is only the first step in effective pollution prevention. Ongoing maintenance and inspection are critical to ensuring bunds remain functional, compliant, and capable of providing the necessary secondary containment. As environmental legislation becomes increasingly stringent, regular surveys are essential for maintaining compliance and safeguarding your site.

Our bund surveys are designed to assess the condition, integrity, and suitability of your bunds. Surveys can be conducted as a one-off assessment or scheduled at regular intervals - recommended annually based on seasonal temperature changes.

During each survey, we evaluate the compatibility of your bunds with the types and quantities of liquids stored, ensuring that they continue to meet legal and operational requirements.

Our bund surveys will inspect:

  •  Structural Integrity - Visual inspection for cracks, fail points, deterioration, or signs of structural damage.
  •  Bund Wall Penetrations - Check for the presence of pipe or cable penetrations and verify that any existing penetrations are properly sealed to prevent leaks.
  •  Size & Capacity Assessment - Calculate the bund’s volume to ensure it meets the containment requirements for the stored materials, including allowances for firewater containment where applicable.
  •  Wall Height Verification - Confirm that bund walls are of sufficient height to protect against spigot flow and tidal wave effects, while ensuring accessibility, adequate ventilation, and fire-fighting provisions.
  •  Construction Materials Review - Assess whether the materials used remain suitable given the site's current environmental and operational conditions.
  •  Specialist Linings & Coatings - Inspect specialist bund coatings for cracks, peeling, or other signs of failure that could compromise impermeability.
  •  Refilling & Dispensing Points - Verify that these points are secure, tamper-resistant, and easily isolated in the event of an incident.
  •  Location Assessment - Evaluate the positioning of the bund relative to site access, potential vandalism risks, and the need for protective barriers, especially where bunds are situated along traffic routes.

Following each survey, GPT will provide a detailed report outlining the condition of all inspected bunds. This includes the identification of any defects along with recommendations for necessary remedial actions. Should repairs or upgrades be required, we can also provide quotations for our specialist services to bring your bunds back to full compliance.

Our reports can serve as third-party validation to external auditors, including those conducting ISO 14001 audits, demonstrating that an effective bund maintenance and inspection program is in place.

All inspections are conducted in line with applicable regulations and best practice guidance, such as The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations and CIRIA C736.

For clients seeking to conclusively verify the watertightness of their bunds, we offer hydrostatic testing. This involves:

  •  Filling the bund with water.
  •  Using pressure monitoring equipment to measure water loss over time.
  •  Detailed reporting of volume loss and discharge rates.

Should defects be identified during testing, we will also provide recommendations and, if requested, quotations for necessary repairs.

While hydrostatic testing identifies the tightness of the bund, it can be time-consuming and is unlikely to identify point loading failures or potential catastrophic failures. As an alternative or complement, GPT offers structural analysis conducted by qualified structural engineers. Using both manual calculations and TEDDS software, we can evaluate:

  •  Overturning
  •  Sliding
  •  Crack control
  •  Other key structural performance factors

Our structural analysis provides robust evidence that your bunds can maintain containment integrity under expected conditions, without requiring intrusive or disruptive testing.

bund survey being conducted two men wearing hi vis and helmets
storage room of IBCs
transformer bund after cleaning

Bund Maintenance 

Following a bund survey, it is essential to carry out any recommended repairs and implement a clear maintenance schedule to ensure long-term performance and compliance. Our secondary containment services take care of this for you, giving you peace of mind that your bunds are functioning effectively and meeting regulatory requirements. To learn more, visit our Bund Maintenance page.

Case Studies

thumbnail image of a case study showing bund wall after lining

Bund Lining

Feb 2025

thumbnail image of a case study showing a bund base

Bund Construction

Feb 2025

thumbnail image of a case study showing bund wall after repair

Bund Repair

Nov 2024

thumbnail image of a case study showing a creosote pole storage area

Creosote Pole Storage

Feb 2025