CORRECT STORAGE: Crate or bundle properly blocked on a slope to permit drainage

CORRECT STORAGE: Crate or bundle properly blocked on a slope to permit drainage.

This is an important part of the construction process. The final appearance of the installed material depends on the success of the material storage. There is a well established sequence of events that needs to take place on receipt of material.

a) Inspect all incoming shipments of stacked panels for damage or moisture penetration.
b) Store material for as little time as possible. The sooner it can be installed after receipt, the better.
b) Aim for “first in, first used” to minimize storage time.
c) If longer term storage cannot be avoided, storage under cover in a dry and well ventilated area is preferred.
d) If storage must be done outdoors, there are several things that can maintain the quality of the product:
• use a good quality covering (not plastic) loosely covering the bundles and secured against wind effects.
• bundles should be tilted endwise to permit drainage.
• ventilation should be provided but guarded against wind-driven rain.
• bundles should be raised off the ground on blocks (long bundles -use extra blocks to prevent sagging) to permit ventilation and drainage.
• keep material out of direct sun wherever possible
• storage should be well away from aggressive chemical products (such as cement, salt, or fertilizer), contaminants (such as diesel fuel, grease, paint) and site traffic.
e) Moisture can cause wet storage staining of metallic coated material and usually is the result of
            1) condensation in periods of high humidity and/or temperature variations.
            2) wet shipping conditions (see (a) above) and/or                             
            3) wind-driven rain penetration during outdoor storage.
This staining can range from water staining to white staining (dark grey staining on Galvalume™T material) to red rust. On material where staining has occurred, it should be noted that a small amount is not detrimental to the product’s function. Wet storage staining can also occur on pre-painted material - the appearance will be different. Proper storage procedures should be followed.

CSSBI Fact Sheet