IBC Bunding Compliance in Australia: What You Need to Know in 2025

There’s a storm brewing—but not the kind you see on the radar.

It starts with a small crack, a single droplet slipping down the side of a plastic cube in the back corner of a warehouse. No one notices. The forklifts keep buzzing, the staff sip their coffee, and the drip becomes a puddle. Hours pass. The puddle spreads. It creeps beneath pallets, eats into concrete, and inches closer to a floor drain.

By the time someone smells something strange, the damage is done.

Welcome to the world of chemical spill disasters—quiet, costly, and almost always preventable.

The hero in this story? A humble but mighty containment system known as IBC Bunding. And in 2025, every Australian business that stores hazardous liquids needs to understand why this unsung safeguard is not just valuable—it’s the law.

First, What Is IBC Bunding (and Why Should You Care)?

Imagine your IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) as a giant bottle of nail polish remover. It’s full of flammable, corrosive, or otherwise nasty liquids. Now imagine what happens when that bottle tips over. If it’s sitting on the ground without protection, that spill is yours to clean up—and the environment’s to suffer from.

IBC Bunding is a secondary containment system. Think of it as a moat around a castle or a tray beneath a leaky fridge. It catches spills and leaks before they escape into the environment, stormwater drains, or work areas. Bunds can be simple polyethene pallets, modular barriers, or fully engineered concrete bays. But the principle is the same: contain the danger.

2025: A New Era of Environmental Accountability

Australia is no stranger to harsh climates, and stricter environmental compliance is the forecast for 2025. Regulations around hazardous liquid storage are evolving fast, with IBC Bunding sitting at the centre of the storm.

Government bodies like Safe Work Australia, local EPAs, and national Australian Standards (AS) have all circled one key idea: no IBC should sit unbundled. Here’s how it breaks down:

1. The EPA State-by-State Breakdown

Though the states have slightly different approaches, the theme remains consistent: contain first, ask questions later.

Victoria (EPA VIC)

• Bunding must hold 110% of the most enormous container or 25% of the total stored volume.

• Must be impervious for at least 72 hours.

• Regular inspection logs are required.

New South Wales (EPA NSW)

• The same bunding volume rules apply.

• Stormwater management is critical, especially for outdoor bunds.

• Large-scale storage may require an Environmental Protection Licence.

Queensland (DES)

IBC Bunding is mandatory under the Chemical Storage and Handling Code of Practice 2024.

Systems must handle both chemical compatibility and rainfall.

Other Regions

South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) follow similar structures and often reference AS1940:2017, the national standard for flammable liquid storage.

2. AS1940:2017 – The Bunding Bible

This Australian Standard doesn’t mince words: flammable and combustible liquids must be stored with secondary containment.

Key rules include:

• All bunds must be chemically resistant and structurally sound.

• Systems must include drainage or sumps to facilitate cleaning.

• Mixed-chemical storage requires that bunds are compatible with all substances involved.

If you’ve got IBCs full of volatile or environmentally hazardous liquids, this is your go-to guide.

3. Safe Work Australia and WHS Laws

Under Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, risk management is mandatory. This includes:

• Identifying potential leaks

• Installing appropriate bunding

• Training staff in spill response

• Maintaining containment systems

Penalties for non-compliance range from fines to complete operational shutdowns, especially if a spill reaches groundwater or public infrastructure.

Common Mistakes That Could Cost You

It’s not always the dramatic spills that get businesses into trouble. More often, it’s the basics—minor oversights that add up:

• Under-capacity bunds that don’t meet the 110%/25% rule

• No bunding at all under “non-dangerous” but still harmful substances

• Cracked or eroded bund walls that quietly leak over time

• No spill response plan, or one that’s collecting dust on a forgotten shelf

• Storing incompatible chemicals together, creating potential chemical reactions within a single bund

How to Stay Compliant (and Confident)

Here’s your five-step survival guide for IBC Bunding compliance in 2025:

1. Audit Your Site Like a Regulator Would

Walk your warehouse floor. Every IBC should either be placed in a compliant bund or removed from service. Indoor, outdoor, mobile—no exceptions.

2. Calculate Your Bund Capacity

Use the legal formula:

• 110% of the most enormous container, or

• 25% of the total volume stored—whichever is greater.

Factor in rainwater for outdoor storage.

3. Choose the Right Type of Bunding

Options include:

• Portable bund pallets for mobility

• Modular bund systems for flexible layouts

• Concrete bunds with sealed linings for long-term containment

Make sure the material is compatible with your chemicals (polyethene for acids, steel for oils, etc.).

4. Train Your Team

If your staff don’t know how to respond to a spill, even the best bund won’t help. Include:

• Spill kit training

• Bund cleaning and inspection protocols

• Incident response drills

5. Document Everything

Keep logs of:

• Bund inspections

• Spill response tests

• Maintenance and repairs

• Regulators love paperwork—especially when it proves you’re ahead of the game.

Beyond Compliance: Bunding as a Sustainability Badge

Here’s the twist: bunding isn’t just about staying legal. It’s about leading responsibly. In 2025, public perception matters more than ever. Companies that take real steps to minimise environmental impact are earning trust and business.

With IBC Bunding, you’re not just protecting the ground beneath your feet. You’re:

• Reducing pollution

• Keeping waterways clean

• Preventing workplace hazards

• Contributing to your company’s ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) goals

It’s not just risk management. It’s reputation management.

Final Word: If It Can Leak, It Needs a Bund

IBC Bunding from Akuna Services isn’t glamorous. It’s not going to land you in the news—unless you skip it and end up on the front page for the wrong reasons.

In 2025, compliance is more than just a checklist. It’s a commitment to doing things right, from the ground up. So, take the time. Do the audit. Train your team. Invest in better bunds.

Because when it comes to chemical containment, it’s always better to overprepare than to overpay.