Plant Nappies are becoming more prominent on work sites. With their growing popularity it is a good idea to know how to choose a suitable Plant Nappy for your workplace. From how to know if a Plant Nappy will be big enough, to costs and budget, in this guide, we take you through nine things you need to consider before purchasing a Plant Nappy.
- What is a Plant Nappy?
- 1. Make Sure the Plant Nappy is Large Enough
- 2. Capacity
- 3. Frequency of Use
- 4. Substances
- 5. Is a Plant Nappy Suitable?
- 6. Regulatory Compliance
- 7. Ease of Handling and Maintenance
- 8. Cost and Budget
- 9. Don’t Forget Plant Nappy Liners!
- Plant Nappy Sizes
- Choose From Our Range of Plant Nappies Today
What is a Plant Nappy?
A Plant Nappy is an advanced drip tray that is made of materials that are able to separate water from oil and fuel. Made from a non-permeable base and permeable side walls, a Plant Nappy allows water to seep out, creating more space for oil and fuel capture. These substances are contained and trapped within the internal base, ensuring harmful substances do not reach the environment and cause harm.
There are three sizes of Plant Nappy, all with different uses. From small to large, Plant Nappies are useful for capturing leaks from smaller machinery, such as small generators, to on-site vehicles and plant. Here are nine things to consider when choosing the ideal size of Plant Nappy for your business.
1. Make Sure the Plant Nappy is Large Enough
To ensure your Plant Nappy will be large enough to capture any leaking substances from equipment, you should first measure the footprint of the equipment. This means you should measure the base of the area of the intended equipment, ensuring you leave enough space around the machinery or equipment to catch all potential leaks. This size should then be compared to the dimensions of each Plant Nappy.
You could also identify any leak points for larger pieces of equipment. For example, if you are aware of one particular area where the equipment leaks, you could measure enough space to cover that area of the leak rather than the whole machine.
2. Capacity
Next, you should estimate the volume of liquids the equipment or machinery could leak. If you are using the Plant Nappy for decanting substances from one container to another, you should ensure you have enough capacity to capture all of the substance and more to reduce the risk of overflowing.
3. Frequency of Use
You may only need to use the Plant Nappy from time to time, or you may need to use it constantly. The frequency of use can dictate the size of the Plant Nappy as you wouldn’t want to constantly change the Plant Nappy if it is frequently in use. You could instead opt for a larger Plant Nappy with a greater capacity to reduce the amount of cleaning needed. Additionally, you wouldn’t want to construct a large Plant Nappy every time you see a small leak. In this case, using a small Plant Nappy may be more suitable.
4. Substances
Before purchasing one, you should ensure the substances you are handling can be used alongside a Plant Nappy. Plant Nappies are designed to be used alongside oils and fuel as the non-permeable materials it is constructed of can securely capture and trap these substances. Plant Nappies should not be used with highly corrosive substances such as strong acids, hazardous waste or aggressive solvents.
5. Is a Plant Nappy Suitable?
There may be cases where a Plant Nappy may not be suitable. For example, you may need a collection method with a larger capacity. This is where spill pallets and drip trays may come in handy, as they have a larger range of capacities that may be more appropriate.
6. Regulatory Compliance
Plant Nappies are great for ensuring you comply with UK spill control regulations. An appropriately sized Plant Nappy will prevent harmful chemicals from overflowing and spilling into the environment, causing harm.
Remember, it is UK regulation to ensure you are using a container to capture leaks from oil drums that can hold 110% of the drum’s capacity. This means spill pallets may be more suitable to handle leaks from oil drums.
7. Ease of Handling and Maintenance
Larger Plant Nappies are heavier than their smaller counterparts. In fact, large Plant Nappies can weigh 5kg when uncontaminated compared to the light 1kg of a small Plant Nappy. Although this is not an extremely heavy weight, it can increase with the capture of substances, so it is crucial to ensure your employees will be able to easily move these products once they are finished.
8. Cost and Budget
Although a Plant Nappy can save you money in the long run, the initial cost of a Plant Nappy is substantially more expensive than your basic drip trays. This is mainly due to the materials they are made from. It is important to remember that a Plant Nappy is worth the investment as not only can it increase its own capacity by releasing water, unlike other products, but it also provides better protection and reduces the cost of replacing multiple drip trays.
9. Don’t Forget Plant Nappy Liners!
Plant Nappy Liners are one of the most popular spill control accessories as they are able to increase capacity by double. This means you can have double the absorbency without the need for another Plant Nappy, saving both time and money.
Plant Nappy Sizes
Small Plant Nappies are ideal for small pieces of equipment, including small generators, small water pumps, when refueling power tools and when carrying out minor repairs.
Medium Plant Nappies are the perfect size for placing under site equipment while also being small enough to be carried easily. This makes them ideal for equipment such as water pumps, generators or other small to medium plant machinery.
Large Plant Nappies are designed for larger machinery such as medium to large generators, on-site plants and vehicles, pumps and fuel bower drips.
Choose From Our Range of Plant Nappies Today
Plant Nappies are the most advanced form of drip tray, ideal for outdoor use with its ability to separate rainwater from oil and fuel. By considering these points, you will be able to choose a suitable-sized Plant Nappy for your needs. At Fire & Safety Centre, we offer Small Plant Nappies, Medium Plant Nappies and Large Plant Nappies as well as their corresponding Plant Nappy Liners. Take advantage of our full range of Spill Control products today!
FAQs
How much can a Plant Nappy hold?
Plant Nappies come in three different sizes. A Small Plant Nappy is able to capture 2 litres of liquid without a Plant Nappy liner. Medium Plant Nappies have a capacity of 4.5 litres, and Large Plant Nappies can hold 18 litres of liquid substances. Each of these capacities can be doubled with the addition of a Plant Nappy liner.
How do I know which Plant Nappy size to choose?
There are a couple of ways to determine the size of Plant Nappy you should choose. You could start by considering:
- The size of the items you are capturing leaks from.
- The volume of liquid you need the Plant Nappy to hold.
- The frequency of use.
When should Plant Nappies be used?
A Plant Nappy is used to contain oil or fuel leaks. It traps oil in its inner layers and separates oil particles from any water. The clean water can then be released out of the side walls. Containing any oil or fuel leaks will ensure the environment and your employees are protected from harmful substances.
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