Safety First With Industrial Equipment and Supplies

Understanding The Basics Of Proper Construction Material Storage

30 January 2018

Lucille Palmer

When you're starting your first construction project and construction material delivery occurs, one of the things you need to address is how you're storing all of your construction supplies. Not only do you need to be sure that everything is secure and protected from damage, you'll also need to ensure that you stack and store everything correctly for safety as well. Here are some things to consider as you're preparing for your first construction material delivery.

Know The Building Capacity

If you will be storing some of your construction materials indoors, the very first thing you need to consider is the actual building capacity. While that does to some extent refer to how much space there is in the building, it actually goes beyond that. The weight rating of the floor is another important factor.

You should ask about the maximum load limits that the floors are rated for before you put any construction materials inside. That way, you can be attentive to the weight of the materials and avoid overloading the floor. Since excess weight on the floors can lead to a structural collapse, this isn't something to be taken lightly.

You can calculate the floor load limit on your own if necessary, or the structural engineer on your project can provide it if the building is still under construction. If you're storing materials in a building that's under construction, that load limit needs to be posted in the areas where you are storing things. This reduces the risk of someone inadvertently overloading the space.

Store Tiered And Cylindrical Products Carefully

Any time you're dealing with things that are stacked in tiers or things that are cylindrical in shape, you need to be sure that you secure them properly when you store them. Items like steel poles and pipes are best stored on a rack, but if you can't do that, you should stack them and then secure the stack with ties or something else to block it in place.

Don't skip the step of securing them because that leaves the entire stack vulnerable to shifting. If it shifts, it may actually fall. This can not only cause damage to the property, but it can also potentially injure the workers on the job site if anyone is in the area.

Cross-Stack Bags

Any items that arrive in bags should be stacked evenly, with each layer set at a cross-angle to the ones beneath them. This provides greater stability to your stack of bags, reducing the risks of anything falling over once they are in place. Avoid stacking bags higher than the current wall height if the building is still under construction. Stacking them beyond the wall height can put you at risk of having something shift and fall over the wall, potentially injuring workers.

Keep Bricks At A Manageable Height

When you are stacking bricks, avoid going beyond six or seven feet in height. In addition, after you have reached about four feet, taper the entire structure back a couple of inches per foot for every foot of bricks stacked over three to four feet high. The same applies to masonry block.

Handle Lumber With Caution

Lumber needs to be stacked so that it is flat, level, and solidly supported. Ensure that it is stable, even if it means strapping it together and securing it to a wall. Don't stack the wood more than about 15 feet high. Before you stack it, inspect each piece to be sure that there are no errant nails or screws in the wood. This shouldn't be a concern with new lumber, but it's always in your best interest to check.

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