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Moisture severely affects the quality of cement. Cement must be protected from moisture from the ground and the environment. To prevent moisture absorption, store cement in a moisture-proof, elevated area. Cover the bags with 700-gauge polythene sheets, especially during monsoons. Air-tight bags must be deployed for the storage of cement to minimise exposure to the atmosphere. The storage space or warehouse must be higher than the nearby locations to prevent water accumulating in the surroundings from entering inside. Always place them on wooden planks or raised platforms, 150-200mm above the ground.
The arrangement of cement bags should be conducive for easy stacking and removal. The cement bags must be stacked in a way that ensures at least 600 mm of passage space should be provided between individual piles. Also, keep the cement bags close to each other to minimise air circulation. Limit the height of the stack to a maximum of 10 bags to avoid lumping under pressure. The storage of cement bags on site must be done so that the stack’s width does not exceed four bags in length or 3 meters. To prevent toppling over, stacks over 8 bags high should be tied together and arranged alternately length-wise and cross-wise.
Avoiding dropping cement bags or lifting them from the end. Also, provide support on the underside to prevent splitting and sagging in the middle. To avoid splitting, roll bags over before lifting to loosen the contents. When laying them down, the broad side of the bags should face downwards.
Using hooks to lift or stack cement bags has significant risks. Hooks can puncture or tear the bags, potentially allowing dust and moisture to penetrate, which can degrade the cement's quality. To safeguard your investment and the integrity of your materials, opt for purpose-built cement handling tools like forklifts, pallet jacks, or lifting straps. These tools offer secure and damage-free handling, ensuring that your cement remains in the best condition and ready for construction when you need it.
It's essential to store different types of cement separately and not with other materials to prevent any potential contamination that could affect quality. Storage of cement bags must be done in a dedicated storage area, separate from other products like fertilizers, to ensure the integrity of your cement.
Practice a first-in, first-out system in using cement bags. The oldest bags should be used first. A label showing the date of receipt on each stack of cement bags can help determine the age of the cement. While planning the storage of cement in warehouse, arrange the bags in a way that facilitates their removal in the order they were received.
Leftover cement must be stored in half-empty bags and must be utilised first. If you have leftover cement, use heavy-duty plastic bags to rebag them. The mouths of the bags must be sealed with duct tape or strings to avoid holes.
Proper storage of cement bags is critical since it is important to protect the cement from moisture, direct sunlight, rain, wastage, etc., for its intended use. Cement is used to prepare concrete, mortar, etc., essential for the structure's life. Therefore, it is important to learn how to store cement in the right way to maintain the cement’s quality. Follow the above steps for the storage of cement to ensure good quality cement that enhances the life of structures built using it.
