Q: Are IBC totes stackable? Can they be stacked with water or other material in them?
A: Yes, IBC totes are stackable and have been engineered to be stacked during storage, transport, and use. They can be stacked when empty or when weighted with a material, such as water. When carrying a load, IBCs are generally not recommended for stacking more than 2 high, especially for personal use in residential settings. This is due to safety, and for the same reason, they are not recommended for stacking during transport if the totes are filled.
Q: Are IBC totes food grade? Are they BPA free?
A: Not all IBC totes are certified food grade containers. However, most IBC totes are made from FDA approved plastic that is ANSI, NSF 61 certified to hold potable drinking water. This includes both new IBCs and rebottled IBCs. Refurbished IBCs, also called reconditioned IBC totes, are not approved for drinking water use and should not be used for sensitive applications or systems where this level of cleanliness is important, such as in aquaponics, edible gardens, etc. Concerning BPA, yes, all IBCs are BPA free and to the best of our knowledge, have always been.
Q: Are IBC totes UV resistant?
A: Yes, the IBC tote container itself is UV resistant. What this means is an ultraviolet (UV) stabilizing compound, usually carbon black or titanium dioxide, is added to the plastic material when the container is being manufactured. The UV stabilizing compound helps to protect the tank plastic from damage that sunlight UV rays can cause to the container during long term outdoor use and sun exposure. Please note that this applies to the tote itself only. It does not protect any stored materials inside the tote from the effects of sunlight, such as water from algal growth.
Q: Can you bury an IBC tote?
A: Although it is generally not recommended due to the weight of the ground and soil on the IBC tote, it can be done and DIYers do bury their IBCs. It is not recommended to bury an IBC tote any deeper than the height of the tank itself at most. We cannot recommend this simply because IBC totes have not been designed for this use. Underground water tanks, known as cisterns, have been engineered and designed to be buried, making a cistern an ideal substitute for burying an IBC tote.
Q: Can you pressurize an IBC tote?
A: No, IBC totes are not designed to be pressurized. IBCs can be used with water pumps to move water in or out of the container or with a water pressure tank that has been connected to the overall system, but the IBC totes themselves are not made to function as a pressure vessel.
Q: How do I connect an IBC tote to a garden hose?
A: There are three ways an IBC tote can be connected to a garden hose.
- Purchase a “Garden Hose Adapter” from an online store that supplies accessories for IBC totes. The 2” NPT to Garden Hose Adapter is a common solution for most applications. The NPT side of the adapter needs to be the size of the outlet valve currently installed on your IBC tote. IBC tote outlet valves are commonly 2” NPT style valves.
- Purchase a 2” Camlock Coupler x 3/4″ Garden Hose Thread Adapter if the IBC tote is fitted with a 2” NPT ball valve.
- Completely replace current IBC valve with a garden hose size bulkhead for replacement with a traditional garden faucet style tap.
Q: How to clean an IBC tote?
A: IBC totes can be cleaned just like any plastic container. An IBC is simply a much larger plastic container. Use a soap and water solution to spray the tote interior. Use a soft bristle cleaning brush attached to a stick or pole, (something to allow reaching the corners and far parts of the tote), and scrub the inner tank walls. Do not use a hard bristle or metal bristle brush as this can etch the container. Using a pressure washer is a great option for making light work. After washing with soap and water, rinse 2 to 3 times with clean water to ensure all soap and filth has been removed.
Q: How to sanitize or disinfect an IBC tote?
To sanitize or disinfect an IBC tote can refer to the tote itself or to the water stored within the tote. To sanitize the IBC tote itself, use a bleach and water mixture (follow the bleach directions for use in disinfection), spray the mixture throughout the tank interior, allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then perform 2 to 3 rinses with clean water. Another alternative is to fill the tote with water and create the disinfection mixture within the tote followed by a drain and rinse – however, this option wastes a lot of water.
To disinfect the water stored within the IBC, such as to make the water safe for drinking, first determine or approximate how much water is in the tote. Second, use common household bleach or purchase the chemical product sodium hypochlorite that is between 5% to 9% sodium hypochlorite. If household bleach is used, only use basic bleach that is free of dyes, fragrance, other cleaning agents, and not labeled as splash-less or safe for colors. To disinfect the stored water, add 0.5 mL of bleach for every 1 gallon of water. So, for a 275 gallon IBC tote with 250 gallons of stored water, add 125 mL of bleach (approx. 0.5 cups or 4.2 ounces). Wait at least 24 hours prior to consumption or use.
Q: What is a rebottled IBC tote?
A: A rebottled IBC tote is an IBC product that has had the previously used internal plastic container removed and replaced with a brand new one. The internal plastic container is sometimes referred to as a “bottle,” hence the term rebottled IBC tote. In rebottled IBC totes, the plastic container has never been used before, but the outer steel cage has. Only steel cages that meet inspection and safety standard requirements are chosen for use in rebottled IBCs. A rebottled IBC tote is approved for drinking water applications.
Q: How to insulate an IBC tote and keep it from freezing?
A: The best options to insulate or protect an IBC from freezing include: (1) install a tote heating system, (2) cover the tank with an insulating blanket, cover or material, (3) install a circulation pump in the tote to keep the water moving, and, lastly, (4) drain the water completely from every part / component in the system. However, note that none of the above options except the last one are a guarantee to provide freeze protection for an entire system such as in rainwater harvesting. For more information on how to protect a water tank from freezing, see this blog post here.
Q: Can an IBC tote be painted? If so, how?
A: Yes, IBC totes can be painted. However, it is not common for paint to last long term without peeling or cracking and needing reapplied. This is due to the way the plastic regularly expands and contracts from heating and cooling. The best paint types to use for painting an IBC tote include an elastomeric paint or a latex based exterior house paint. There are several types of spray paint options available suitable for painting IBC totes.
Q: Can an IBC tote be cut?
A: Yes, both the IBC tote plastic container and the steel cage that supports the container can be cut. There are many hand tools and power tool options suitable for use in cutting an IBC. This is often done to make personal modifications to the tote for an individual use case and match an application, such as in aquaponics. Examples of this include to add pipes, fittings, or valves for an overflow, vents, infills and/or multiple tote connections for subsequent totes.
Q: How do I wrap an IBC in plastic to protect the tote from sunlight?
A: To wrap an IBC tote in plastic, the best and most effective method is to remove the tote’s inner plastic container from the steel cage and wrap just the container in plastic. To do this, depending on the tote’s design, the container may need to be cut from a point of attachment to the metal at the top of the cage or the cage itself may need to be disassembled or cut in some manner to allow the inner container to be released.
After the container has been released, take a roll of 6 mil plastic and go around the container until all sides, top and bottom have been fully covered. More than one layer thick is ideal. After wrapping, barely open the lid and look inside the tote to see if any sunlight is passing through. If there is light in the container, add another layer of wrap and check again. Repeat until there is no light reaching the tank interior when peeking through the lid.
Q: Can I store Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) in a used IBC tote?
A:Storing diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in a used (reconditioned) IBC tote is not recommended. Due to the strict purity requirements of DEF, a used reconditioned IBC is not recommended due to any potential contamination or chemical absorbed into the tote plastic that could be released out into the DEF solution over time, affecting its purity.
On the other hand, new and rebottled IBC totes are acceptable for DEF storage and applications, and frequently used, as the plastic liner of the IBC tote has not been used before.
