Important points follow during storage of cement

How to Storage of cement at the site?

Cement is a cohesive material used to bind the other ingredients in the mix. Cement is a hygroscopic material that may absorb free water or moisture from the air. If water absorbed is up to 1 to 2% then it does not affect the quality of cement but if the quantity of water absorbed is more than 5% then the cement becomes unfit for use.

Utmost care should be taken for the transportation and storage of cement so as to prevent it from coming in contact with moisture.

Storing of cement in a Warehouse

Cement is produced in factories and packed. Before dispatching the packed stock to the destination it is required to store cement at proper places where the effect of moisture can be minimized. The weatherproof building used for storage of cement is known as the warehouse.

Requirements of a warehouse for storage of cement

For effective storage of cement, it is essential that the warehouse must fulfill the following requirements are given below.

• It should have walls constructed of waterproof material e.g. brick masonry in cement mortar with plaster on both sides.
• The roof should be made of RCC with proper drainage.
• The floor should be at least 15 cm thick concrete laid on properly compacted lean concrete.
• It should have a few windows of small sizes and should be constructed near the ceiling. Doors should be properly arranged for convenient loading and unloading.
• The height of the floor should be in accordance with the height of a truck so as to facilitate easy loading and unloading of cement bags.
• The surrounding area near the building should have an apron of cement concrete having an outward slope.

Method of storage of cement in a Warehouse

The cement in a warehouse should be stored in accordance with the specifications and guidelines mentioned below in the following points.

• Cement bags should be stored in piles (when the number of bags is arranged closely together in a group).
• Cement should not be placed directly over the floor rather it should be placed on a raised wooden platform or on tarpaulin sheets to avoid its contact with dampness from the floor.
• Cement bags should not touch the walls of the building. It should have a minimum space of 30 cm.
• Bags should be placed closely in different piles so that the free circulation of air is prevented.
• The height of each pile should not exceed 2.7 mi.e., when placed one over the other it should not be more than 15 bags.
• The width of the pile should not exceed 3-0 m.
• Cement bags should be moved out on the principle of first in and first out so that old stock gets cleared first.
• The cement should be removed from different tiers and not from one tier so that over toppling can be avoided.
• The piles of cement bags should be covered with plastic sheets so as to have an additional protective cover against moisture.

Important things determination of Capacity of a Warehouse

For calculating the capacity of a warehouse the following guidelines should be adopted the following given below.

• Floor area covered by one bag of cement = 0.3 m2
• The average height of one bag = 0.18 m
• Maximum width of each pile = 30 m
• Maximum height of each pile = 2.7 m  (with 15 bags = 15 X 0.18 = 2.70 m)
• The passage (clear distance between two piles = 1.2 m
• Clear distance between the exterior wall and the pile of cement = 0-30 m
• Headroom (distance between the top of the pile to bottom of the ceiling) = 1.0 m

Important points storage of cement at Site

Storing of cement is necessary for uninterrupted progress of work. At the site, the cement should be stored properly so that it should not get in contact with dampness. The following arrangement should be made for the effective storage of cement are given below.

• A dry platform (preferably of wood) should be raised 0.15 m above the ground level. The wooden planks must be supported on cement concrete cubes.
• The number of bags stored should be sufficient for 1 - 2 days consumption.
• Cement should be used on a first-come first-used basis.
• Fresh cement should not be piled over the previous lot.
• The piles of cement should be properly covered with tarpaulin sheets. These sheets must be properly overlapped and anchored.

storage of cement at Site Effect of Storage on Strength of Cement

Being a hygroscopic material, utmost care must be exercised to store the surplus stock. Long storage of cement reduces the strength of cement. If the old stock is to be used for some important work then it is necessary to get it tested in the laboratory for strength and other parameters. Long storage of cement may show gradual deterioration in strength. 

This table shows the percentage reduction in the strength of cement concrete produced with stored cement.

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