AS1940 Bund Calculator: How to Choose the Right Bund Capacity and Material Without Guesswork
If you are trying to choose the right bund for drums, IBCs, totes, or tanks, the hardest part is usually not finding a product. It is working out what capacity you need, which material suits the liquid, and whether the bund will actually fit your site. That is where an AS1940 bund calculator becomes useful.
Instead of guessing, you can use a calculator to estimate the containment volume you need, compare material options, and configure a collapsible bund that suits your storage setup. Chatoyer’s configurator is designed to do exactly that. The live tool lets users enter stored liquid volumes, select materials, upload SDS documents, choose custom dimensions, and request a quote in one workflow.
Why bund capacity matters?
Bunding is a form of secondary containment. Its purpose is to capture leaks and spills before they spread into drains, soil, equipment areas, or work zones. For flammable and combustible liquids, WorkSafe Queensland points users to AS 1940:2017 as a key source of guidance for safe storage and handling controls.
A practical starting point often used in bund planning is the rule shown on Chatoyer’s calculator page: size containment to the greater of 110% of the largest container or 25% of the total stored liquid volume. That helps users estimate the minimum bund capacity before moving on to material choice and dimensions. It is a planning guide, not a substitute for a site-specific compliance review.
Why users get bund selection wrong?
Most bund selection mistakes happen because people focus only on the footprint.
A bund may look large enough for drums or IBCs but still be too small in actual containment volume. In other cases, the dimensions are fine but the material is not suitable for the chemical being stored. Outdoor use can also change the picture, because stormwater and freeboard may need to be considered depending on site conditions and regulatory requirements.
That is why a good bunding decision usually comes down to three questions:
- What containment capacity is required?
- What material is suitable for the liquid stored?
- What dimensions will work in the available space?
How Chatoyer’s configurator helps
Chatoyer’s collapsible bund workflow helps users move through the decision step by step. You can:
- enter liquid volumes and quantities
- estimate required bund capacity
- choose from listed material options
- configure internal dimensions
- upload SDS documents for compatibility review
- request a custom quote
Chatoyer’s collapsible bund range is promoted for spill containment and chemical containment applications, with standard and custom-built options available. The product pages also reference heavy duty PVC and XR-5 geomembrane materials for these bund solutions.
Why is material choice important?
Capacity is only half the decision. The bund material also needs to suit the chemical stored and the operating environment.
Chatoyer’s bund configurator includes PVC 900 GSM, PVC 1370 GSM, and XR-5 1020 GSM options. The 900gsm is for standard everyday site liquid and general spill containment jobs,1370gsm for general spill containment that requires heavy duty and tougher PVC, lastly XR-5 for harsher chemicals.
If you are unsure about compatibility, we strongly recommend uploading SDS copy of the liquid you need to contain, so our team can provide the compatible material.
When does a collapsible bund makes sense?
A collapsible bund is especially useful when you need flexible secondary containment rather than permanent civil works. That can include temporary storage, refuelling, maintenance shutdowns, project-based operations, or work areas where the bund footprint must be matched to available space.
Chatoyer positions collapsible bunds as portable containment products suitable for temporary or permanent operations, including applications common in mining, oil and gas, and industrial environments.
Need help choosing the right bund capacity and material?
