BEHLEN Steel Buildings STORING MATERIALS DURING WINTER CONSTRUCTION SEASON

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN – WINTER CONSTRUCTION SEASON

When the rain is nonstop and the snow is flying, progress on site can be slowed down or delayed. This can create site storage problems for materials susceptible to damage from moisture or accumulation of snow loading.

When it comes to steel cladding, roof and Insulated Metal Panels and components, proper site storge is very important when weather conditions change quickly. Waiting for better installation conditions can create site delays which can be further exasperated when materials are damaged by wet marking or staining. Keeping materials and components dry will ensure no further delays or problems occur. Site storage should be kept to a minimum by installing materials as soon as possible after delivery, but when this is not possible due to weather delays, and storing under-roof in a dry, well-ventilated area is not available, CSSBI recommends the following: (Take in part from Sheet Steel Facts #3 – Care and Maintenance of Prefinished Sheet Steel Building Products)

• (1) use good covers, loosely shrouded over stacks and firmly anchored to prevent wind blow off, but plastic covers should not be used for storage (2) tilt bundles for drainage (3) ventilate bundles but do not allow entry of wind-driven rain (4) block bundles off the ground for effective drainage and ventilation (5) block long panels to prevent sagging (6) store out of direct sunlight if possible (7) store away from chemically aggressive substances (e.g. salt, cement, fertilizer), away from material that could contaminate the surface (e.g. diesel oil, paint, grease) and away from site traffic.
• Shipments of bundled cladding panels should be inspected upon delivery.
• Moisture can cause wet storage staining of prefinished material and usually occurs in one of three ways: (1) condensation from high humidity and/or temperature cycling; (2) wet shipping conditions; or (3) wind-driven rain penetration (outdoor storage). The usual progression is from visible water staining to unsightly white staining (dark grey to dull black on aluminum-zinc alloy coated material) to red rust. On material where wet storage staining has occurred, it should be noted that a nominal amount of white staining is not detrimental to the functioning of the product and is usually considered acceptable.

If staining is present on steel surfaces, CSSBI Sheet Steel Facts #33 provides additional key storage and preventive guidelines for treatment of steel with wet storage staining. CSSBI 20M Standard for Sheet Steel Cladding for ICI Building Applications, for site storage and maintenance must always be followed.

Ensuring materials on site and during installation are properly stored and protected will reduce the change of further delays or complaints during and after installation.

CSSBI Resources are currently available here: https://cssbi.ca/resources