Hazardous Material Container Storage Building and Related Method

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a hazardous material container storage building and a related method, and in particular to a modular and portable system which can store hazardous material containers efficiently and safely.

2. Background Discussion

Hazardous waste is frequently placed in 55-gallon cylindrical barrels typically measuring about 22 to 23 1/2 inches in diameter. The hazardous waste can be stored in a liquid or solid form. These barrels must be kept in a building that has suitable safety features such as proper venting, fire and explosion protection and leakage protection.

A problem has arisen in providing storage for hazardous waste material storage containers. Buildings must be constructed to store the hazardous waste material. These buildings have to comply with safety standards mandated by Federal, state and local law in addition to meeting industry trade standards. However, these buildings need to be constructed quickly and with an eye towards future expansion of the floor space that is required to store hazardous waste material containers. In addition, available space for the containers must be used efficiently in order to minimize storage costs.

Thus, there remains a need for a hazardous waste material container storage system that is designed to accommodate any number of containers of hazardous waste while employing valuable storage space efficiently. There also remains a need for a modular system which allows for flexibility in the size of the building needed to store the hazardous waste.

The hazardous material container storage building and related method of the present invention has met the above needs. The building comprises a plurality of modules, each module having a floor for supporting containers of hazardous materials which may be hazardous waste materials and tube means underlying the floor. In one embodiment, a first and second module are provided. The invention further comprises a mechanical joining mechanism extending through the first module tube and the second module tube for securing the first module to the second module. The first and second modules are each formed as a single unitary hazardous waste material container storage building. A related method is also disclosed.

In another embodiment of the invention, each module includes a floor for supporting containers of hazardous material, a plurality of sidewalls extending vertically from the floor and a roof disposed on top of the sidewalls. At least one securing means is attached to the roof and extending generally vertically upwardly therefrom. The invention further comprises a mechanical fastener connecting the first module securing means and the second module securing means. The first and second modules are formed as a single unitary hazardous material container storage building. A related method is also disclosed.

In another aspect of the invention, a hazardous waste material container storage building is disclosed comprising a floor for supporting containers of hazardous waste material, a plurality of sidewalls extending generally vertically from the floor and a roof disposed on top of the sidewalls. The containers are generally cylindrical having a diameter equal to about twenty inches to twenty-three and one-half inches and a height of about two to four feet. The floor is sectioned into generally square grids having sides of about twenty-four inches. In this way, the floor is proportioned to accommodate a plurality of containers without significant amounts of unused storage space.

It is an object of the invention to provide a modular building system to store containers of hazardous waste.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a modular building system with an improved overhead door construction, including such doors which are readily demountable to enlarge the modular building.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for joining a plurality of modules to form a single unitary hazardous waste material storage container building.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fast and efficient method of adding more modules to already existing hazardous waste material container storage buildings.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hazardous waste material container storage building which uses minimum space to store a maximum number of barrels of hazardous waste.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a grid system which permits an unlimited number of configurations to efficiently and safely store barrels of hazardous waste.

It is a further object to provide an efficient securement of two or more modules to form a single, unitary hazardous waste material container storage building.

These and other objects of the invention will be fully understood from the following description of the invention with reference to the drawings appended to this application.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two spaced modules which together form a hazardous waste material container storage building.

FIG. 2 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the modules joined together at the roof by the roof mechanical fastening means.

FIG. 3 is a partial detailed side elevational view, partially in section, of the modules joined together by the tube joining means.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the end plate of the tube joining means.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the divider plate of the tube joining means.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 only showing another embodiment of the tube joining means.

FIG. 7 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the modules joined together showing the containment sump cap.

FIG. 7a is a top plan view of the modules joined together showing the containment sump cap.

FIG. 8 is a detailed side elevational view showing the stabilizer plate as mounted in one tube and ready to be inserted into another tube.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the stabilizer plate as mounted in one tube and ready to be inserted into another tube.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top plan view showing two modules joined together to form a unitary building.

FIG. 11 is a schematic top plan view showing three modules joined together to form a unitary building.

FIG. 12 is a schematic top plan view showing four modules joined together to form a unitary building.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a floor used to support hazardous waste material containers which illustrates the grid design system of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a module of a modular hazardous material storage building of the present invention employing a preferred type of overhead door.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the building of FIG. 14 with the roof removed.

FIG. 16 is a partial vertical cross-sectional illustration of an overhead door taken through 16--16 of FIG. 14, with the corrugations not shown.

FIG. 17 is a partial fragmentary cross-sectional illustration of an overhead door taken through 17--17 of FIG. 14 with the corrugations not shown.

Referring to FIG. 1 in greater detail, a first module 20 and a second module 22 which together form a single, unitary hazardous waste material container storage building are shown. Module 20 has a containment sump 30 which underlies an open grate flooring 32 made of steel, aluminum, or fiberglass. Flooring 32 supports a container 34 of hazardous waste material. Container 34 is typically in the form of a steel cylindrical barrel having a diameter of about twenty inches to twenty-three and one-half inches and a height of about two to four feet. Container 34 typically holds fifty-five gallons of hazardous waste material. Hazardous waste material can include solid and liquid hazardous waste.

The purpose of the containment sump 30 is to collect hazardous waste leakage that escapes from the container 34 and passes through the flooring 32. Containment sump 30 is self-contained in module 20 and is totally sealed from the ground upon which the module rests. The containment sump 30 also provides a visual indication of the leakage from the container 34.

Module 20 is further comprised of lateral walls 36, 37 and 38 extending generally vertically upwardly from flooring 32. One side of the module 20 has an open end 39. Disposed on top of the lateral walls 36, 37 and 38 is a roof 40. The walls 36, 37 and 38 and roof 40 can be ten gauge non-combustible steel construction. The building can be easily converted to a one, two, or four hour fire rated building by the addition of a layer or layers of gypsum. The floor space in module 20 is approximately 408 square feet (34 feet length by 12 feet in width) and the module 20 has an approximate height of eight or more feet. As will be explained further hereinafter with respect to FIG. 13, the module 20 is designed on a twenty-four inch by twenty-four inch square grid system which will accommodate containers of hazardous waste, such as container 34.

First module 20 also may include a ventilator fan 42 mounted on the roof 40. The ventilator fan 42 can be mounted on the lateral walls 36-38 if desired. A ladder 44 is optionally provided on lateral wall 36 to provide access to the roof 40 of module 20. Disposed near the bottom of ladder 44 is a dampened vent 46 which allows escape of gaseous fumes from the inside of the building. Module 20 is also provided with a dry chemical fire suppression system 48.

Disposed beneath the containment sump 30 are four elongated tube means 50, 51, 52 and 53. The tube means 50, 51, 52 and 53 are hollow and in spaced parallel relationship to each other. The tube means 50-53 have a square configuration with dimensions of approximately four inches by four inches, the walls of the tubes 50-53 being about one-quarter of an inch thick. The containment sump 30, lateral walls 36, 37 and 38 and roof 40 are supported on and by the tubes 50, 51, 52 and 53. Also provided beneath the containment sump 30 are elongated supports 56 and 58 which are shown having a generally "C" shape. These supports 56 and 58 provide additional containment sump 30 support for the module 20 while also permitting visual access to the underside of the building.

Mounted to the roof 40 are securing means 60, 61, 62 and 63 and securing means 60a, 61a, 62a and 63a. Each securing means 60-63 and 60a-63a has a respective aperture, such as aperture 66 in securing means 60. All of the securing means are similarly designed and securing means 60 will be described in detail hereinafter with respect to FIG. 2. The securing means not only serve to join the modules to form a single, unitary hazardous waste material container storage building, but also serve as lifting lugs for moving and lifting module 20.

Module 22 is similar to module 20 and includes a containment sump 70 which underlies an open grate flooring 72. Flooring 72 is adapted to support hazardous waste material containers. As with containment sump 30, sump 70 collects hazardous waste leakage that escapes from containers of hazardous waste through flooring 72. Module 22 is further comprised of lateral walls 76, 77 and 78. One side 79 of module 22 is open. Disposed on top of lateral walls 76, 77 and 78 and secured thereon is a roof 80. The lateral walls 76, 77 and 78 and roof 80 are of the same construction and size as lateral walls 36, 37, 38 and roof 40, respectively. A vent 82 is provided in lateral wall 76 and a door 84 is provided in lateral wall 78. When modules 20 and 22 are joined together as will be explained hereinafter, a single unitary hazardous waste material container storage building is formed.

Disposed beneath containment sump 70 are four elongated tube means 90, 91, 92 and 93. The tube means 90, 91, 92 and 93 are similar to tube means 50-53 and are in spaced parallel relationship to each other. The tube means 90-93 are hollow having a square configuration with dimensions of approximately four inches by four inches, the walls of the tubes 90-93 being about one-quarter of an inch thick. The containment sump 70, lateral walls 76, 77 and 78 and roof 80 are supported on and by the tube means 90, 91, 92 and 93. Also provided beneath the containment sump 70 are supports 96 and 98 which are shown having a generally "C" shape. These supports 96 and 98 provide additional containment sump support for the module 22 while also permitting visual access to the underside of the building.

Mounted to the roof 80 are securing means 100, 101, 102 and 103 and 100a, 101a, 102a and 103a. Each securing means 100-103 and 100a-103a has a respective aperture, such as aperture 106 in securing means 100. These securing means will also be discussed in detail hereinafter with respect to FIG. 2. The securing means not only serve to join the modules as one building, but also serve as lifting lugs for moving and lifting module 22.

Referring now to FIG. 2, when it is desired to join module 20 to module 22, the modules 20 and 22 are moved so that the securing means 60, 61, 62 and 63 and securing means 100, 101, 102 and 103 have their respective apertures, such as 66 and 106, axially aligned. As can be seen in FIG. 2, securing means 60 is mounted in an elongated roof support tube 110 that forms part of the roof 40. A portion 60a of the securing means 60 extends above roof support tube 110 and a portion 60b is attached to the roof support tube 110 such as by welding. Securing means 100 is mounted in an elongated roof support tube 112 that is mounted to roof 80. A portion 100a of the securing means 100 extends above roof support tube 112 and a portion 100b is attached to the roof support tube 110 as by welding.

Once the securing means are axially aligned, a mechanical fastening means 120 is used to connect the securing means 60 and 100 and then join the two modules 20 and 22 to form a single unitary hazardous waste material container storage building. The mechanical fastening means 120 includes a bolt 122 having a first threaded end portion 124 extending axially outwardly of portion 60a of securing means 60 and a second threaded end portion 126 extending axially outwardly of portion 100a of securing means 100. A first nut 130 is threaded onto the first threaded end portion 124 and is tightened down to be in intimate surface-to-surface securing contact with portion 60a. A second nut 132 is then threaded onto the second threaded end portion 126 and is tightened down to be in intimate surface-to-surface securing contact with portion 100a. It will be appreciated that a bolt having a threaded end and a fixed bolt head can also be used.

A cap 135 is provided to cover the securing means 60 and 100 and the fastening means 120. The cap 135 is preferably elongated and covers all securing means 60-63 and 100-103. The cap 135 is fastened to tubes 110 and 112 by fasteners, such as bolts 127 and 128 respectively. An annular hollow spacer 136 is provided around the fastening means 120. This spacer 136 not only covers the fastening means 120 but also facilitates in aligning and positioning the modules 20 and 22.

It will be appreciated that a plurality of modules can be joined together as contemplated by the invention. A third module (not shown) could be attached to module 22 by utilizing securing means 100a-103a and four respective securing means on the third module.

Another method of joining modules 20 and 22 is shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, elongated parallel tube means 50-53 are axially aligned with tube means 90-93. An elongated mechanical joining means 150 is shown which includes an elongated rod 152 having a first threaded end portion 154 and a second threaded end portion 156. The first threaded end portion 154 extends axially outwardly of the tube means 51 and the second threaded end portion 156 extends axially outwardly of the tube means 91, but both threaded end portions 154 and 156 are recessed from the edge of lateral walls 37 and 77 respectively as is shown in FIG. 3. A first end plate 160 is provided on threaded end portion 154. The first end plate 160 has a base section 162 and an enlarged section 164. Base section 162 is dimensioned so as to fit inside tube 51, whereas enlarged section 164 is dimensioned so as to contact the outside edges of tube 51 as is shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4, end plate 160 has an aperture 166. The elongated rod 152 passes through aperture 166.

A second end plate 170 is also provided on threaded end portion 156. The second end plate 170 has a base section 172 and an enlarged section 174. Base section 172 is dimensioned so as to fit inside tube 91 whereas enlarged section 174 is dimensioned so as to contact the outside edges of tube 91 as is shown in FIG. 3. Second end plate 170 has a similar aperture (not shown) as does first end plate 160, through which rod 152 passes.

A divider plate 200 is disposed between tubes 51 and 91. The divider plate 200 helps to resist shifting of the building. The divider plate has an enlarged central section 202, a first end section 204 and a second end section 206. Enlarged central section 202 is dimensioned so as to contact the outside edges of both tubes 51 and 91 whereas sections 204 and 206 are dimensioned so as to fit inside tube 51 and tube 91 respectively. Referring to FIG. 5, the divider plate has an aperture 208 through which passes rod 152.

In the method of joining modules 20 and 22, divider plate 200 is positioned in the tubes 51 and 91 and rod 152 is passed through aperture 208 so that first threaded end portion 154 extends axially outwardly of tube 51 and second threaded end portion 156 extends axially outwardly of tube 91. It will be appreciated that divider plate 200 can also be first placed into either tube 51 or 91 and when module 20 or 22 is moved towards the other module, the free end of the divider plate 200 containing the protruding section can engage the inside of the tube means of the other module. Once the rod 152 is passed through the divider plate 200, the first end plate 160 and second end plate 170 are positioned as shown in FIG. 3. After this a first nut 220 is threaded onto first threaded end portion 154 and tightened down into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 160. Finally, a second nut 222 is threaded onto second threaded end portion 156 and tightened down into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 170. This will act to draw the modules 20 and 22 together to form a single, unitary hazardous waste material container storage building.

The tubes 50-53 and 90-93 provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the outside of the building. Tubes 50, 53, and 90, 93 located on the outside edges at the modules 20 and 22 prevent visual access to the underside of the building, thus making for a more streamlined appearance. If desired, the outside tubes 50, 53 and 90, 93 can be broken into sections so that one module has a discontinuous tube. This will facilitate access to the middle of a rod placed in the tube, but of course will affect the aesthetic appearance of the building.

The tubes also provide protection to the underside of the containment sumps 30 and 70 and generally provide structural support to the modules 20 and 22. The tube/rod connection not only holds the modules 20 and 22 together, but also is used by the installers to pull the modules together once the lifting crane has the modules 20 and 22 within inches of each other. In addition, the tubes facilitate the feeding of rod 152 under the building during installation. Finally, the tubes protect the rod 152 from attack by corrosive ambient elements underneath the building and essentially act to "seal" the rod 152 from the elements.

It will be appreciated that the securing means of FIG. 2 can be used together with the joining means shown in FIGS. 3-5.

Referring to FIG. 6, where like parts to those of FIG. 4 are identified by like reference numbers, an alternate embodiment of the rod means is shown. The rod means 240 in this embodiment consists of two separate rods 242 and 244 which are joined by a turnbuckle means 246. The rods used are typically in twenty foot sections, so when it is desired to lengthen the rod, two or more rods can be joined together using the turnbuckle 246.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 7a, the containment sump cap 250 of the invention will be explained. Once the modules 20 and 22 are joined together, it is desired to provide containment sump integrity. As was explained hereinbefore and was shown in FIG. 1, each module 20 and 22 has its own self-contained containment sump 30 and 70. This will promote containment sump integrity by providing a single containment sump for each module 20 and 22. Each containment sump 30 and 70 has an outer longitudinal hollow containment sump member 30a and 70a.

In order to further enhance containment sump integrity, a containment sump cap 250 is provided. The containment sump cap 250 has a top horizontal portion 251, a first side L-shaped flange 252 attached to the top portion 251 and a second side L-shaped flange 253 attached to the top portion 251. Portions 251, 252 and 253 can be integrally formed if desired. The horizontal sections 252a and 253a of the side flanges 252 and 253 are fastened by fasteners 252b and 253b to an elongated upside-down L-shaped members 254 and 255 connected to members 30a and 70a. Flooring 32 and 72 will rest on the horizontal sections 252a and 253a of flanges 252 and 253. The containment sump cap 250 will direct hazardous waste leakage into the containment sumps 30 and 70 and away from small opening 258 between modules 20 and 22, so as to resist hazardous waste leakage from reaching the ground upon which the modules rest.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a stabilizer plate 260 is shown which is mounted inside tube 51 and which is designed to fit into tube 91. The stabilizer plate 260 is used instead of the divider plate 200 shown in FIG. 3. The stabilizer plate 260 helps to align the tubes and properly join the two modules 20 and 22. Stabilizer plate 260 has a portion 262 secured to tube 51 as by welding and another free portion 264 which is designed to be disposed into tube 91 when the two modules 20 and 22 are joined to each other.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a top plan schematic view of the two modules 20 and 22 as joined by the joining means 150 are shown. As described in connection with FIG. 1, module 20 has tubes 50, 51, 52 and 53 and module 22 has tubes 90, 91, 92 and 93. In order to join modules 20 and 22 to form a single unitary hazardous waste container storage building, module 20 is placed approximately in its final position and the joining means 150 is placed through tube 51 so that about half of the rod 152 protrudes from the right side of tube 51. The end plate 160 is placed on the rod 152 and into position in the tube 51 as shown on FIG. 3. Nut 220 is then tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 160 so that end plate 160 is in securing contact with the left side of tube 51. Next, module 22, having tube 91, is moved into position so that the protruding portion of the rod 152 is inserted into tube 91. The tubes 90-93 are axially aligned with tubes 50-53. The end plate 170 is placed onto the rod 152 and nut 222 is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 170 so that end plate 170 is in securing contact with the right side of tube 91. In this way, modules 20 and 22 will be joined as a single, unitary hazardous waste material storage containment building.

It will be appreciated that either the divider plate 200 or the stabilizer means 260 can be used to align and stabilize the buildings. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, neither of those mechanisms are shown on FIGS. 10-12.

FIG. 11 shows a top plan schematic view of joining three modules 280, 281 and 282 to form a single unitary building. Module 280 includes tubes 280a, 280b, 280c and 280d and similarly, module 281 has tubes 281a, 281b, 281c and 281d and module 282 has tubes 282a, 282b, 282c and 282d. Module 280 and 282 are "end modules" having one closed lateral wall and one open lateral wall, whereas module 281 is a "middle module" which has two open lateral walls. It will be appreciated that when modules 280, 281 and 282 are joined together, the building has no interior partitions.

The method of joining modules 280, 281 and 282 is as follows: The middle module 281 is placed onto its position first and a first rod means 284 is placed through tube 281b so that the right portion 284a of rod 284 protrudes from the right side of tube 281b. An end plate 284b is placed on the left portion 284c of the rod 284 and a nut 284d is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 284b so that end plate 284b is in securing contact with tube 281b similar to end plate 160 on tube 51 as shown in FIG. 3. Next, a second rod means 285 is placed through tube 281c so that the left portion 285a of the rod 285 protrudes from the left side of tube 281c. An end plate 285b is placed on the right portion 285c of the rod 285 and a nut 285d is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 285b so that end plate 285b is in securing contact with the right edge of tube 281c.

The next step is that either module 280 or 282 is moved into place. For example, module 280 is moved from the phantom position shown in FIG. 11 to its final position so that left portion 285a of rod 285 is inserted into tube 280c. An end plate 286a is placed on the left portion 285a of rod 285 and a nut 286b is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 286a so that end plate 286a is in securing contact with the left edge of tube 280c. Finally, module 282 is moved from the phantom position shown in FIG. 11 to its final position so that right portion 284a of rod 284 is inserted into tube 282b. An end plate 287a is placed on the right portion 284a of rod 284 and a nut 287b is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 287a so that end plate 287a is in securing contact with the right edge of tube 282 b. In this way modules 280, 281 and 282 are joined to form a single unitary hazardous waste material container storage building.

FIG. 12 shows a top plan schematic view of four modules 290, 291, 292 and 293 that are joined together. These modules are joined to form a unitary building. Module 290 and 293 are "end modules" and modules 291 and 292 are "middle modules". Module 290 has tubes 290a, 290b, 290c and 290d. Module 291 has tubes 291a, 291b, 291c and 291d. Module 292 has tubes 292a, 292b, 292c, and 292d and module 293 has tubes 293a, 293b, 293c and 293d.

The method of joining modules 290, 291, 292 and 293 is as follows. One of the middle modules 291 or 292, for example 291 is placed into position and a first rod means 294 is placed through tube 291b so that left portion 294a of rod 294 protrudes from the left side of tube 291b. An end plate 294b is placed on the right portion 294c of the rod 294 and a nut 294d is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 294b so that end plate 294b is in securing contact with the right edge of tube 291b. Next, module 292 is placed near to module 291 but not in its final position and a second rod means 295 is placed through tube 292b so that right portion 295a of rod 295 protrudes from the right side tube 292b. An end plate 295b is placed on the left portion 295c of the rod 294 and a nut 295d is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 295b so that end plate 295b is in securing contact with left edge of tube 292b. After this step, a third rod means 296 is inserted through tube 291c and tube 292c to join modules 291 and 292. Module 292 is moved towards module 291 and are brought together to form a single sub-unit by using an end plate 296a on the left side of tube 291c and an end plate 296b of the right side of tube 292c. A nut 296c is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 296a so that end plate 296a is in securing contact with left edge of tube 291c. A nut 296d is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 296b so that end plate 296b is in securing contact with right edge of tube 292c. At this point modules 291 and 292 form a single sub-unit.

Module 290 or module 293 can then be joined to the module 291 module 292 sub-unit. Module 290, for example, is moved from the phantom position shown in FIG. 11 to its final position so that left portion 294a of rod 294 is inserted into tube 290b. An end plate 297a is placed on the left portion 294a of rod 294 and a nut 297b is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 297a so that end plate 297a is in securing contact with the left edge of tube 290b. This will form a sub-unit of module 290/module 291/module 292. Module 293 is then moved from the phantom position shown in FIG. 11 to its final position so that right portion 295a of rod 295 is inserted into tube 293b. An end plate 298a is placed on the right portion 295a of rod 295 and a nut 298b is tightened down and welded into intimate surface-to-surface contact with end plate 298a so that end plate 298a is in securing contact with the right edge of tube 293b. In this way, modules 290, 291, 292 and 293 are joined to form a single unitary hazardous waste material container storage building.

It will be appreciated that five or more modules can be joined together by utilizing a similar procedure as was described above. For joining a fifth module to the four modules shown in FIG. 12, before the last step of joining module 293 to the module 290/module 291/module 292 sub-unit, another rod would be placed in tube 293c to extend into the tube of a fifth module. That new rod would be welded to the left side of tube 293c and then module 293 would be joined to form a four module unit. Finally, the fifth module would be joined to the four module sub-unit. It will be appreciated that any number of modules can be utilized with this system. The concept is to start at the middle and add on to the sub-units that are formed until the desired size building achieved. To add a new module to an existing building, a new middle module would be shipped to the customer, and the middle module placed in between an existing end module such as module 280 in FIG. 11 and an existing middle module such as 281 in FIG. 11. This would necessitate breaking the weld for the nuts that are threaded onto the rods.

Referring now to FIG. 13, the grid design system of the invention will be explained. Each module is designed to have an interior flooring grid system, with each grid being a square having sides of twenty-four inches. The grids can be marked on the floor if desired, but this is not necessary. As was explained hereinbefore, containers of hazardous waste are stored in cylindrical barrels having a diameter of about twenty to twenty-three and one-half inches and a height of about two to four feet. FIG. 12 shows the footprint of a barrel 300 in grid 302. The footprint is defined as the area of the floor underlying the barrel 300 when it rests on the floor. The barrel 300 is positioned in the grid so that there will be maneuvering room and spare space to allow a user's fingers to access the barrels. The grid design system keeps the building's total square footage to a minimum because the maximum amount of barrels is fit into the minimum amount of space. The grid design system also provides a method to allow aisles in the building by not placing barrels in certain grids. This allows "free and clear" access to the barrels in the building.

It will be appreciated that one method of the invention includes providing a first module having a floor for supporting containers of hazardous waste material and tube means underlying the floor and a second module having a floor for supporting containers of hazardous waste material and tube means underlying the floor. The method further comprises effecting relative closing displacement between the first and second modules and joining the first module to the second module by providing mechanical joining means extending at least partially through the first module tube means and the second module tube means.

An alternate method of the invention includes providing a first module having a floor for supporting containers of hazardous waste material, a plurality of sidewalls extending generally vertically from the floor, a roof disposed on the top of the sidewalls and securing means attached to the roof and extending generally vertically upwardly therefrom. The method further includes providing a second module having a floor for supporting containers of hazardous waste material, a plurality of sidewalls extending generally vertically from the floor, a roof disposed on top of the sidewalls and securing means attached to the roof and extending generally vertically upwardly therefrom. The method further includes effecting relative closing displacement between the first and second modules and joining the first module to the second module by providing fastening means passing through the first module securing means aperture and the second module securing means aperture.

It has been known in connection with buildings for storing a plurality of hazardous material containers to employ rigid doors hinged about a vertical axis to permit access to the interior of the building for introducing hazardous material containers into the building or removing the same. Among the limitations of such doors are the partial physical obstruction of the door opening by the door, the need to introduce only one pallet of containers at a time, and the limited fire rating.

In the present invention, a building such as the three module unit of FIG. 11, for example, may be provided with roll-up overhead doors on the ends of the building. Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a module having such doors will be considered. It will be appreciated that, as desired, other features of the invention as disclosed herein such as, for example, providing a hazardous material storage building assembled from a plurality of modules, the presence of a sump, and the use of unique joining means and lifting means may be employed with these doors.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, three sections 320, 322, 324 of a single module provide a unitary area for storage of hazardous material containers, such as drums on pallets 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352 leaving inspection aisles 360, 362, 364, 366, 368 therebetween in the arrangement illustrated. Each modular unit has a roll-up overhead door 380, 382, 384 which may have a door curtain made of any suitably flexible and durable, appropriately fire rated material. In the form shown, the door curtain is made of corrugated steel sheet. The doors, 380, 382, 384 have respectively overlying box-like enclosures 400, 402, 404 wherein the reel which receives the curtain when the door is in the open or partially open position is rotatably housed. As numerous constructions of this type for motorized overhead doors and manual overhead doors are known, details of construction need not be provided herein. See generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,131,450 and 5,163,495. The doors 380, 382, 384 have respectively headers 410, 412, 414 and sills 416, 418, 420. Door 380 has a pair of spaced vertical frames 420, 422 which provide tracks within which lateral edges of the curtain of door 380 move when the door 380 is opened or closed. Similarly, door 382 has vertical frames 430, 432 which provide tracks and door 384 has vertical frames 436, 438.

Vertical frames 422, 430 are secured to column 440 and vertical frames 432, 436 are secured to support column 444 in a manner described in greater detail hereinafter.

One of the problems with existing door constructions is the inadequate clearance for the pallet which supports the hazardous material containers and is typically 4 feet wide. The present invention preferably employs an overhead door which has an opening of about 9 feet to thereby permit movement of two pallets through the open door in side-by-side relationship with adequate clearance between the pallets and the door frames.

Referring to FIG. 16, it will be seen that door 382 is in the closed position and has its upper end wrapped partially around elongated reel 440 which is rotatably secured within housing 442. Housing 442 is elongated and substantially completely surrounds reel 440. Elongated L-shaped rain shield 450 is secured in overlying contact with housing 442 and is secured to header 412 by bolt 492. This resists undesired entry of rain, snow, and other airborne moisture which could otherwise enter the building and interact with chemicals stored therein.

The curtain portion of door 382 passes through opening 446 in housing 442 and has its exterior surface 448 contacted by elongated brush seal 449 which is preferably coextensive with the width of the curtain portion. The outer surface 450 of the curtain faces the exterior of the building. The lower end of the door curtain has elongated generally T-shaped bottom bar 454 secured thereto with a pair of elongated generally coextensive brush seals 456, 458 projecting respectively downwardly and outwardly and downwardly and inwardly. It will be appreciated that the elongated brush seals 449, 456, 458 resist undesired entry of foreign material into the building. Similar seals (not shown) to brush seals 456, 458 are provided on both edges of the door curtain to engage vertical frames 430, 432. On the bottom brush seals 456, 458 are in intimate engagement with the upper surface 464 of elongated door support plate 460 when the door is in the closed position. Also, the brush seals serve to provide a beneficial fire-resistant feature by both resisting passage of smoke from the building interior to the outside and resisting entry of air which could support a flame to the interior of the building.

A feature of the invention is positioning of upper surface 464 of plate 460 a distance D below the upper surface 470 of sill 418. This distance D is about 1 to 6 inches and preferably is about 2 to 4 inches. This difference in elevation not only resists the entry of air and airborne foreign matter into the building, but also resists the flow of water under the door 382 and into the building.

The brush seals provided on all four sides of the door provide a smoke seal which causes the building to have a fire rating of about 3 hours.

Referring still to FIG. 16, it will be appreciated that the overhead door assembly is in part disposed forwardly of the front of the building which falls generally within the plane defined at front surface 480 of header 412 and front surface 482 of underlying sill 418. Preferably, the longitudinal center of the door curtain is about 2 to 4 inches in front of the plane defined by surfaces 480 and 482. This facilitates not only the seal of the lower door curtain on surface 464 at a level D below sill surface 470, but also facilitates ready installation of the door on the modular building unit. Also, as the doors are secured to the building by bolted arrangement, shown in the figures, the doors may be removed and the modular building enlarged by attaching one or more additional modular units where the doors had been, and attaching the doors to the exposed walls of the additional module or modules, if desired.

Floor 462 overlies sump 463 and is supported by elongated angle 465.

The features disclosed with respect to door 382 are also preferably provided on doors 380 and 384. While an example employing three doors as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 has been shown, it will be appreciated that any desired number of doors may be provided.

Referring to FIG. 17, the lateral edges of the curtain of door 384 are received respectively in the vertical slots 510, 512 defined by elongated frames in members 514-516 and 518-520, respectively. Vertical brush seals 523, 524 seal against the framing members 516, 520 respectively. The plan of door curtain is, in the form shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, disposed exteriorly of the front surfaces of columns 444 and 460 and is, therefore, disposed exteriorly of the building. As a result of this construction, wind driven rain will not go under the door and into the building as the brush seals 456, 458 and step on 418 preclude such entry. If the rain were to pass through the interior of frames 514-516 and 518-520 and reach the rear of the door curtain, it would fall under the influence of gravity onto surface 464 (FIG. 16) which may have suitable weep holes (not shown) formed therein.

It will be appreciated that a hazardous waste material container storage building is provided comprising a plurality of modules which are joined together to form a single unitary hazardous material container storage building.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.