A raised ridge of compacted soil built on a construction site. Contractors build them to direct surface water runoff away from excavations, block noise, or separate different areas of a site. They act as physical barriers and are often seeded with grass to prevent erosion.
Heard on the job
The inspector wants a two-foot berm around the fuel tank storage area to contain any spills.
Do not mix it up with
- Swale: A berm is a raised mound of earth, while a swale is a shallow ditch or depression used to channel water.