World Grain - March 2015 - 84

GRAIN OPERATIONS

Steel bin installation
and maintenance
Important factors to remember to prolong
the life of your grain storage tank
by Arvin Donley

During the recent GEAPS Exchange in St. Louis, Missouri,
U.S., Kirk Nelson, international sales manager, Behlen Manufacturing, addressed a number of key issues involving the installation and maintenance of steel grain bins as well as safety
issues that affect grain elevator workers.
Steel bins have been utilized for grain storage for many decades and are popular in the grain industry because of their
durability and longevity. But even sturdy steel structures will
lose their strength and deteriorate if not properly maintained.
Nelson said before erecting a steel bin a company should
test the soil at the site and take into consideration seismic and
wind conditions in the area.
He said one grain company that failed to do proper soil testing ended up with a bin tilting at a 27-degree angle. "You must

of dust in your facilities so you want to make sure it is cleaned
off to keep rust from occurring as well as preventing slip and
Any thorough inspection also includes looking for loose,
broken or missing bolts, especially on roof stairs, roof ladders
and outside ladders, he said. The ladders must be inspected

be replaced.
The same goes for sidewall sheets and stiffeners. "Check
to see if there are any missing bolts, broken bolts, buckled

Closely examine any openings in the sidewalls. Most bins
have some type of access door in the sidewall, but the opening
must be properly supported to withstand the hoop stresses. Most
doors use some type of tie-bar system. This may be an integral
part of the door, such as special door boards, or tie bars that are

better able to endure the seismic tremors.
noticed in these areas, it is essential that the pressures be reduced
look at a bin that is short and wide as opposed to one that
types of bins are better-suited to windy areas.
Another factor to consider prior to construction at a new site
is the storage of the galvanized sidewall sheets. "You don't
want them sitting on site too long where they get rain dam-

Be vigilant in looking for any signs of rust and when it is spot-

between the panels sitting close together, this sort of thing can
happen. We recommend that you store those sidewall sheets
in a dry warehouse if at all possible. White rust over time can

GRAIN BIN MAINTENANCE
Nelson said proper grain bin maintenance will ensure that a
structure can provide many years of service.
He said a steel bin should be examined on a regular basis
from top to bottom, beginning with the roof, roof vents, stairs
and ladders. "You want to make sure you have grain cleaned
off the roof, peaks, vents and stairs. There's going to be a lot
84

A crack in the foundation has led to problems at the base of this steel bin.
Photos courtesy of Nohr Engineering Company.
March 2015 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

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World Grain - March 2015

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