Storage of Construction Materials

Cement

sections of be prevent deterioration the work site facilitate tissue building or shed which is dry, leak-proof and as moisture proof as possible. The building shall  have minimum number of windows and close  fitting doors which shall be kept closed as far as possible.Cement stored  in bags shall be stacked and shall be kept  free from the possibility of any  dampness or moisture coming  in contact with the  bags. 

Cement bags  shall  be  stored/stacked  off  the  floor  on  wooden planks  in  such  a way  as to  be  clear  above  the  floor  by 150 mm  to  200  mm  and  a space  of 450  mm  minimum around  between  the  bags  and  external  walls.  In  the stacks,  cement  bags  shall  be  kept  close  together  to reduce  circulation  of  air  as  much  as  possible. Owing to  pressure  on  the  bottom  layer  of  bags  ‘warehouse pack’  is developed  in these  bags.  This  can  be removed easily  by rolling  the bags  when  the  cement  is taken  for use.

The  height  of the  stack  shall  be  not  more  than  15 bags to prevent the possibility  of lumping  up under pressure.The  width  of the stack  shall  not  be more  than  four  bags length  or  3  m.  In  stacks  more  than  8  bags  high,  the cement  bags  shall  be  arranged  alternately  lengthwise and  crosswise  so  as  to  tie  the  stacks  together  and minimize  the  danger  of  toppling  over.  Cement  bags shall  be  stacked  in  a manner  to facilitate  their  removal and  use  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  received.

During  themonsoon  or when  it is expected  to be stored for  a long  period,  the stack  shall  be completely enclosed  by  a waterproofing  membrane,  such as, polyethylene  sheet.  Care shall  be  taken to  see  that the membrane  is  not  damaged  any time  during  use.Different types  of  cements  shall be  stored  separately.Cement  stored in  drums  may  be  arranged vertically with  closures  on top.  After  partial use  of  cement in drums  when  it occurs,  the  closure should  be  firmly fastened  to prevent ingress  of  moisture.A maximum of  3 drums  can be  stacked  in height.

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Bricks

Bricks shall not  be  dumped at site.They should  be stacked  in  regular tiers  as and  when  they  are  unloaded to minimize  breakage  and  defacement  of  bricks.In  case  of  bricks  made from  clay  containing  lime kankar the  bricks in  stack  should  be thoroughly  soaked in  water  to  prevent  lime  bursting.Bricks  shall be  placed  close  to the  site  of work  so that least  effort  is  required  to  unload  and  transport  the bricks again  by loading  on pallets or barrows.  Building  bricks  shall  -be  loaded  a  pair  at  a  lime  unless palletized.  Unloading  of  building  bricks  or  handling in  any  other  way  likely  to damage  the corners  or edges or  other  parts  of  bricks  shall  not  be  permitted.

Bricks  shall  be stacked  on  firm ground.  For  proper inspection  of quality  and  ease in  counting,the stacks shall  be 50 bricks  length  and  10 bricks  high,  the bricks being  placed onedge. The  width  of each  stack  shall be 6  to  8 bricks.Clear  distance  between adjacent stacks  shall  not be  less  than 0.8  m.Bricks  of different  types  and  class shall  be  stacked separately.

Aggregate

Aggregate shall  be stored  at site on  a hard  and  dry  level patch  of  ground.If such a surface  is  not  available,a platform of planks or of corrugated  iron  sheets,or a floor  of dry bricks,  or a thin  layer of lean concrete shall be  made so  as  to  prevent  the  admixture  of  clay,  dust, vegetable  and other  foreign matter.Stacks of  fine and coarse  aggregate-shall  be  kept  in separate  stack  piles,sufficiently removed from each other to prevent the materials at  the edge of the piles getting  intermixed.  On  a  large  job  it  is  desirable  to construct  dividing  walls  to give  each  type  of aggregate its own  compartment.  Fine  aggregate  shall  be  stacked in  place  where  loss  due  to  the  effect  of  wind  is  minimum.Unless  specified  otherwise  or.necessitated  by  site  conditions,  stacking  of  aggregate  should  be  carried  out  in regular  sizes.

The  suggested  sizes of  stacks  are  asfollows:

Steel

Separate areas shall be earmarked for storing each classification(type and grade) of steel. It is desirable that the ends of bars and sections of each class be painted in distinct separate atmospheric agencies.Steel reinforcement matter and be stored in such a way as to avoid distortion and to prevent deterioration and corrosion. It is desirable to coat reinforcement with cement wash before stacking to prevent scaling and rusting.Bars of different classification sizes protect again stand lengths shall be stored separately to facilitate issue in such sizes and lengths so as to minimize wastage in cutting from standard lengths.

In case of long storage, reinforcement bars shall be stacked above ground level by at least 150 mm. A coat of cement wash shall be given, for such long storage,to prevent scaling and rusting.Other structural steel sections of different classification (types and grades), sizes and lengths shall be stored separately. It shall be stored above ground level by at least 150 mm upon platforms, skids or other suitable supports to avoid distortion of sections.

For long storage, suitable protective coating of primer shall be given to prevent scaling and rusting. For/storage in coastal area, similar protective treatment shall be given for ‘reinforcement bars and structural steel sections.

Roofing Sheets

Roofing  sheets  shall  be  stored  in  such  a way  as  not  to damage  them  in  any  way.Asbestos  cement  sheets  shall  be  stacked  to a height  of  not  more  than  one  metre  on  a  firm  and  level  ground with  timber  or other  packing  beneath  them.  If  stacked in  exposed  position,  they  shall  be  protected  from damage  by  wind. Asbestos  cement  sheets  of  the  same  variety  and  size shall  be  stacked  together.Damaged  sheets  shall  not be stacked  with  sound  materials.All  damaged  sheets shall  be  salvaged  as early  as possible.

Paints

All intrusion of paints,  thinners and matter and shall preferably be stored on floors with in the in a also be which protect against ventilated fire and from excessive heat,  sparks of flame and  direct rays of the sun. The  containers of paint shall be kept covered or properly fitted with lid and  shall not be kept open except when in use.