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WHAT ARE STEEL DRUMS USED FOR?

Steel drums designed for industrial usage need to be UN certified and approved for holding hazardous liquids and solids. That means that steel drums can hold hazardous waste and dangerous chemicals safely. But these are versatile containers, and they can also be food-grade certified, enabling them to be used in an industrial capacity by the food industry.

Of course, it’s important to remember that cross-contamination must be avoided at all times. While steel drums are reusable, they need to be thoroughly decontaminated after each use, particularly when the stored goods are being changed.

Steel drums have a number of common uses, and work well for long-term storage and transport. Their most popular uses include the following:

• Storing water and other liquids
• Storing fuel, including petrol and diesel
• Storing foodstuffs, including spices, grains and powders
• Storing oils and lubricants
• Storing solvents, chemicals and pharmaceuticals
• Storing hazardous waste
• Storing sand

It’s important to note that some items are more suited to storage in steel drums than others. For example, long-term water storage can cause rusting, while food items should be stored in drum liners to further protect them.

THE BENEFITS OF STEEL DRUMS IN AN INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY

Steel drums have a variety of benefits when they are employed for use in an industrial capacity. They not only have a wide variety of uses, but are hard wearing and reusable, too.

Here are the major benefits of using steel drums in an industrial capacity:

• Versatility: they offer a wide range of potential uses.
• Protection: they’re thick and able to safely withstand large blows or knocks when in transport.
• Robustness: they’re hard wearing, long lasting and require little upkeep.
• Reusable: they can be reused time and time again.
• Repurposable: even at the end of their lifespan, steel drums can be repurposed and reconditioned for further use.
• Cost-effective: they have a long lifespan, offering excellent value for money over an extended period of time.
• Transportable: they can be safely transported in lorries and container ships.
• Storable: they can be stacked and stored in an industrial capacity, using forklifts and other machinery.

Steel drums have a number of benefits over other traditional storage devices. Compared to blue plastic drums or fibre drums they are stronger and much more resilient, while compared to intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) , they can fulfil a wider variety of functions and have much more versatility.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF STEEL DRUMS

There are several varieties of steel drums available for purchase, so it’s important to select the correct type of drum for your needs. For example, some drums are not UN certified, while others may have thinner linings.

The major difference is in the type of steel used for production. The two most common varieties are carbon steel and stainless steel.

Stainless steel is the preferred material in most industrial capacities, as it offers a more highly galvanised and protective coating that carbon steel lacks. Stainless steel drums are therefore much more robust and longer lasting, as they aren’t as prone to rusting and contamination.

DIFFERENT SIZES OF STEEL DRUMS

The most popular steel drums are 210 litres in capacity (they might also be known as 45 imperial gallon drums or 55-gallon drums in the USA). There are several other sizes that are less common, however. These include small 5-litre drums and 180-litre drums.

Drums can vary slightly in thickness. The thicker the drum, the sturdier it’s going to be. 210-litre drums have a standardised set of internal and external dimensions, which correspond to the following:

INTERNAL DIMENSIONS

572mm diameter (22.5 inches)

851mm height (33.5 inches)

EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS

584mm diameter (23 inches)

876mm height (34.5 inches)

OPEN-HEAD VS. TIGHT-HEAD STEEL DRUMS

Steel drums are designated as either open-head or tight-head steel drums . The designation refers to the type of opening found at the top or bottom of the barrel. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

OPEN-HEAD STEEL DRUMS

Open-head steel drums are so-called because they have a wide opening at the top (or bottom) of the barrel. Open-head drums might also be referred to as open-top, because the lid or covering can be completely removed and replaced as required.

Open-head drums are easy to fill with liquids and they can be safely and securely fastened using steel clamps. These seals can be fitted with tamper-proof devices when barrels are in storage or transport. The downside of open-head drums is that they are more prone to leakages and spillages if the lid is damaged.

TIGHT-HEAD STEEL DRUMS

Tight-head steel drums vary in that they have no large opening or removable lid at the top of the barrel. Instead, tight-head drums have just one or two small access points, which are usually sealed shut with an industrial bung.

Tight-head steel drums are much more secure than the open-head ones, however they’re also more difficult to fill and to empty. The openings can be fitted with nozzles or taps to make emptying easier, as long as there is a discharge opening on the bottom of the barrel.