Sidewall support for dual containment vessels

A dual containment vessel for potentially environmentally hazardous fluid containing compounds comprising:

• a foundation system having an inner foundation portion, a primary recessed foundation portion spaced radially outwardly therefrom, an outer foundation portion spaced radially outwardly therefrom;
• a first secondary grate substantially supporting an elevated secondary floor portion from said inner foundation creating a first secondary void,
• a primary recessed foundation portion substantially supporting a recessed secondary floor portion,
• a second secondary grate substantially supporting an elevated second secondary floor portion from said outer foundation portion creating a second secondary void wherein each void permits fluid passage;
• a secondary floor system having said first secondary floor portion, recessed secondary floor portion, and second secondary floor portion forming a fluid impermeable secondary floor membrane;
• a vertically oriented primary sidewall and a generally horizontal primary floor, having a primary grate substantially supporting an elevated primary floor from the first secondary floor portion creating a first primary void wherein fluid may travel, and said primary sidewall and primary floor being sealingly interconnected to form a fluid impermeable primary tank;
• a vertically oriented secondary sidewall and a generally horizontal secondary floor system, said secondary floor system and secondary sidewall being sealingly interconnected to form a fluid impermeable secondary tank;
• a recess defined by the recessed secondary floor portion for supporting the primary sidewall;
• a weep hole located at the primary sidewall defining a fluid pathway from the primary void through into the secondary tank;
• a conduit member defining a fluid flow path between the first secondary void and the second secondary void, said conduit member extending between the first secondary void and the second secondary void, and located substantially between the primary recessed foundation portion and the recessed secondary floor portion;
• and
• means for fluid detection located at the secondary sidewall.

A method for constructing a dual containment vessel comprising the steps of:

• preparing a site for a dual containment vessel;
• constructing a foundation system comprising an inner foundation portion, a primary recessed foundation portion, and an outer foundation portion;
• placing a first secondary grate on the inner foundation portion and a second secondary grate on the outer foundation portion;
• placing a secondary floor system over the first secondary grate, the recessed foundation, and the second secondary grate;
• locating a secondary sidewall in a secondary recessed foundation portion and sealingly interconnecting the secondary sidewall with the second secondary floor portion;
• placing a first primary grate on the first secondary floor portion;
• locating a primary sidewall in an annular groove created by the recessed secondary floor portion and anchoring the primary sidewall therein;
• placing a primary floor over the first primary grate;
• and
• sealingly interconnecting the primary sidewall with the primary floor.