Aggregate Storage: Three Ways Aggregate Suppliers Can Keep Their Materials Dry

August 30, 2018   

Aggregate storage needs run the gamut. From snow removal contractors to backyard landscapers, those that serve the municipal and private sectors need a place to store valuable equipment and materials. Aggregate suppliers know how quickly moisture can accumulate and do irreversible damage to goods. To create and maintain a moisture-free environment, it’s critical for a storage facility to be engineered to protect against inclement weather, have plenty of ventilation and be designed to the exact specifications an individual supplier needs.

Ventilation is Key to Protecting Aggregate Storage

Having a regular source of cool, dry air is the most important factor in keeping aggregate supplies dry. Since many tension fabric buildings are totally free of internal poles and columns, there is a high amount of natural air circulation. If the building is to be located in a windy area, placing the structure in the direction that the wind blows will give an added boost of natural ventilation, as well.

Construction sites sometimes opt for a fabric building that is completely open on one side, so aggregate materials can be exposed to the maximum amount of fresh air. It is also much faster to maneuver forklifts and other heavy machinery with a wide, open space where a door would normally be. It not only makes for a more efficient work day, it comes in handy when materials need to be stowed away quickly before a storm.

Natural ventilation by way of open sides, high ceilings and a lack of internal support posts is easy on business owners’ wallets, since it doesn’t use any electricity. However, if more precise control over temperature and humidity levels is desired, a fabric storage building can be outfitted with circulation fans, portable heaters and other ventilation accessories.

Aggregate Suppliers Need a Weather-Proof Structure

Quality fabric buildings are engineered to protect against extreme weather, making them particularly well-suited to the aggregate storage industry. The framework of a well-made fabric storage building is supported by triple galvanized steel, meaning that each steel tube has been dipped in zinc three times for the utmost resistance to rust and corrosion. Of equal importance is a ripstop fabric cover, which is designed to resist tearing and can withstand balanced and unbalanced snow loads, as well as wind speeds of 90 mph.

White fabric covers allow lots of sunlight to pass through. A steady supply of natural light decreases humidity, mold and moisture inside of a building. Some fabric covers can even keep the inside of a building up to 15 degrees cooler in the summer and 15 degrees warmer in the winter, adding an extra layer of climate control.

In some cases, it’s just as important to keep aggregate materials separated as it is to keep them covered. Dividing walls can be added to any fabric storage building to give each aggregate its own separate compartment. This is an easy, cost-effective way to organize materials by type and in neat piles. This way, aggregate suppliers won’t have to worry about different particles mixing together and becoming cross-contaminated.

Customize the Building Specs

Buildings made from iron, steel or wood are typically limited to foundations made of concrete. Although concrete can be ideal for some applications, its tendency to retain water can raise humidity and increase the risk of moisture damage. Fabric building companies usually offer a slew of alternative foundation options that won’t hold onto moisture, including piers, shipping containers, helical anchors and much more. Piers and shipping containers are a simple, cost-effective way to add extra height to a fabric building. The increase in clearance not only increases ventilation, it makes it easier to maneuver tall vehicles and equipment as well.  

One of the most valuable features of fabric buildings is the ability to customize them. Many fabric structure manufacturers can build up to 300 feet wide and at any desired length, ensuring plenty of natural air flow and space to organize aggregate materials. It’s also possible the customize the roof of a fabric building. For instance, a rounded rooftop can encourage water and debris run-off, providing maximum protection from rain, sleet and snow. It’s also easy to add side panels to an open-sided structure to act as a partial or complete shield against the rain.

Acquiring a storm-safe structure that is designed according to the size and amount of aggregate storage it will hold, coupled with adequate ventilation, is a guaranteed way to maintain a dry environment year-round. Not having to worry about a heavy rainstorm or stagnant air threatening to spoil materials will enable any aggregate supplier to increase their productivity.