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Learn
A Bit More About Concrete |
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The
Storage of Materials
Even
the best
quality
materials can deteriorate if
stored
incorrectly.
Follow these
basic
guidelines
to make
sure
that you get the
most out of
the
money
you have
spent.
Cement
Let's
first take a look at Safety
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Avoid
eye, mouth and skin
contact
with cement (and admixtures).
-
Wash
skin exposed to wet concrete
as soon
as
possible with plenty of
fresh
water.
-
Remove
and
wash any contaminated
clothing.
-
Seek
medical advice in cases of
serious
eye contamination, ingestion or excessive
inhalation.
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For
short periods, cement can be
stored out of doors on a platform
raised above the ground and
covered with plastic sheeting
to keep it dry.
If
you are ordering more than 10
bags of cement at any one
time, you will need a storage
area or shed that is
watertight and as airtight as
possible. Provide a damp-proof
barrier
such as a plastic sheet or
wooden platform on the floor, and
stack bags away from the
walls, not more than 12
high. Use the cement as soon
as possible, preferably within
two to three months.
For
larger projects, there are
obvious advantages in
having the cement either:
Aggregate
There
is not a lot to look out for
with respect to the aggregate.
But check the following,
perhaps obvious, tips:
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Lumps
in cement
indicate that
the bag has been
exposed
to moisture.
-
If
these lumps can
be broken easily
by hand, use
the cement but
add a little
extra cement to each
batch of
concrete.
-
If
the lumps are
hard, sieve them
out, increase the
cement content
of the mix by
10-15% and use
the concrete
only for
unimportant
work.
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Before
stone and sand is delivered,
identify a storage area close enough
to access roads to allow tipper
trucks in and out, but also as
close as possible to where the
concrete will be mixed. Clear all grass,
rubble, etc from the ground.
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When
the aggregates arrive on site,
control tipping to prevent segregation
and intermingling. If
more than one stone size or different
sands are to be used, make sure that
they are separated physically
and provide clearly legible labels
on stakes for each type.
-
It
may be necessary, where wind-blown
dust or sand could contaminate
the material, to provide some form
of shelter or protection
for the aggregates.
Please
navigate in the especially provided
table at the top.
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Warning:
Safety requires a commitment from everyone
involved. Although erecting a bolt-together
pre-engineered steel building does not require
specialized skills like carpentry or masonry and
many of our customers do it themselves,
construction work is dangerous, and larger
buildings bring larger hazards.
Everyone
at the site should wear appropriate protective
clothing, including:
-
Hard
hats
-
Gloves
-
Rubber-soled
shoes
-
Eye-protection
On
the up side, your erectors will have an
outstanding set of clear common-sense drawings
and can call on us for support if necessary.
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