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Overpack Drums for Spill Containment

When a drum is damaged, leaking, or no longer fit for standard transport, an overpack drum, sometimes called a salvage drum, gives your facility a safe way to contain it. Patrick J. Kelly Drums supplies steel and poly overpack drums engineered to hold a compromised container securely while it moves to disposal, recycling, or further processing.

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These drums are also a practical addition to any emergency response kit, ready to control a leak before it spreads. Our team can help confirm the right size and material for your specific application.

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Key Features at a Glance

  • Available in steel and poly construction, engineered for durable, everyday industrial use

  • Steel overpack drums offered in 85 gallon and 110 gallon sizes

  • Poly overpack drums offered in 95 gallon size

  • Open head design for loading damaged or non-standard drums

  • Secure closure system built to control leaking contents during handling and transport

  • Provides an added layer of containment for salvage and emergency response situations

  • Supports compliance documentation when properly rated for the application

  • Backed by over 40 years of industrial container experience

Steel Overpack Drums (85 & 110 Gallon Drums)

Product Details

Steel overpack drums are designed to hold a standard drum, such as a 55 gallon unit, inside a larger container for containment and transport. The 110 gallon size accommodates larger or bulkier damaged drums. Both sizes use an open head design so a compromised drum can be loaded without additional handling risk.

Specifications Overview

  • Sizes: 85 gallon, 110 gallon

  • Construction: Steel, open head

  • Closure: Bolt ring or lever lock closure

  • Typical use: Containing a smaller damaged or leaking drum for transport or disposal

Material and Construction

These overpack drums are built from steel for structural strength and impact resistance. The steel body helps protect against punctures and rough handling during loading, storage, and transport, which matters when the contents inside are already compromised.

Closure System

Steel overpack drums use a removable lid secured with a bolt ring or lever lock closure. This allows a damaged drum to be lowered in from above rather than repackaged, reducing handling and exposure during the process.

Applications and Industries

Steel overpack drums are commonly used by chemical manufacturers, industrial plants, logistics operations, and environmental waste companies that need to move a damaged or leaking drum without direct repackaging. Material compatibility should always be reviewed before use, particularly for any regulated contents.

Poly Overpack Drums (95 Gallon)

Product Details

Poly overpack drums provide a lighter weight, corrosion resistant option for containing a standard 55 gallon drum. The 95 gallon size is built with enough clearance to load a damaged drum without disturbing its contents.

Specifications Overview

  • Size: 95 gallon

  • Construction: HDPE poly, open head

  • Closure: Bolt ring closure

  • Typical use: Containing a smaller damaged or leaking drum for transport or disposal

Material and Construction

Poly overpack drums are made from high density polyethylene, which resists corrosion from many chemicals and does not rust the way steel can. This makes them a practical option when the contents inside the inner drum may react with metal.

Closure System

The 95 gallon poly overpack drum uses a removable lid with a bolt ring closure, allowing quick loading of a damaged container while maintaining a secure seal for transport.

Applications and Industries

Poly overpack drums are often used in chemical handling, environmental services, agriculture, and facilities managing corrosive or reactive materials. As with any overpack container, material compatibility should always be reviewed, and our team can help confirm whether poly or steel is the better fit for your situation.

UN Rating and Compliance

Overpack drums used for regulated or hazardous materials generally need to meet UN rating requirements under DOT regulations. UN ratings include packing groups I, II, and III, marked as X, Y, or Z on the drum, with X representing the most rigorous packing group. Patrick J. Kelly Drums can help confirm which overpack options are appropriate when a UN rated overpack drum, including an X rated option, is required for the application.
 

Containers must be properly rated and RCRA-empty where applicable, and our team can walk through the documentation needed for compliant transport. We do not guarantee suitability for every hazardous material, and any regulated shipment should be reviewed against DOT, EPA, and applicable state requirements before use.

Storage and Transport Performance

Both steel and poly overpack drums are built to stack and handle standard forklift and pallet jack loading during storage. Their open head design supports secure closure once a damaged drum is loaded, helping reduce spill risk during transport between facilities or to a disposal site.

Durability and Long-Term Use

Steel overpack drums offer strong impact resistance for facilities handling heavier or bulkier damaged containers. Poly overpack drums hold up well against corrosive exposure and repeated handling in environments where chemical resistance matters more than raw impact strength. Choosing the right material depends on what is being contained and how the drum will be transported.

Sustainability and Reconditioning

Patrick J. Kelly Drums supports sustainable container practices across our full product line. Containers that reach the end of their usable life are processed for recycling or destruction rather than sent directly to landfill. Steel components are crushed and processed for steel recovery, and plastic materials are shredded and sold into reuse streams such as plastic pipe manufacturing. This process supports resource conservation across our operations, even on products like overpack drums that are typically used once for containment purposes.

Why Choose Patrick Kelly Drums?

Patrick J. Kelly Drums has served the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast for over 40 years as a family-owned industrial container company. We help facilities manage spill response and damaged container situations with dependable supply and knowledgeable guidance, so your team can meet containment expectations without added delay. Our team can help confirm specifications, discuss UN rating requirements, and coordinate pickup or delivery around your operation's schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Improve Your Container Process

Whether you need a steel overpack drum for a bulkier container or a poly overpack drum for corrosive materials, Patrick J. Kelly Drums can help you find the right fit.
Contact our team to confirm specifications, discuss UN rating requirements, and request a quote.

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