Checklist
Different Methods of Cement Transportation
Cement is produced in manufacturing plants, usually far from the locality. So, cement must be transferred long distances before reaching the end consumer. There are four primary ways transportation can be carried out:- Cement bags
- Bulk cement in trailers
- One-ton packaging bags
- Small-packaged cement
Precautions to Transport Cement
Cement should be handled carefully while transporting. It is a very fine powdery substance that can create a lot of dust and harm the human body. Cement also requires specific conditions to remain operable. Failure to provide a precise environment for cement may render the product useless. So, one should be careful while working with cement, especially while transporting it. Here are some precautions to transport cement:Solidification of Cement
Cement goes through a hydration reaction which hardens it. So, when cement comes into contact with water, it starts settling. If cement is exposed to water while transporting it, it will undoubtedly get hard and render the product useless. For this reason, all vehicles, containers, or platforms where cement or even cement bags will come into contact must be thoroughly cleaned. All surfaces must be adequately dried before their use for transportation. So, it is essential to make sure the vehicle and platform to carry cement are free from water and dampness. Checks for leakage signs are an essential precaution before transportation through the barge. If there is any water residue, the cement will start hardening up and become completely useless. It can become a substantial financial burden. Cement is a valuable building material, and cement transportation can play a crucial role, especially when construction sites are far away. All factors should be well-scrutinized to reduce the chances of loss due to transportation.Contamination
Another primary precaution to transport cement is to check for any contamination source that can threaten the purity and quality of the cement. Sometimes containers have residue from previously transported products. If it is not cleaned correctly, there is a high chance that the cement will get contaminated. There are standard definitions of the level of cleanliness required for the loading of cement in the vessels. It should not contain any foul smell. When cement reacts with raw sugar, its hardening ability gets severely affected even with a small amount. It is advisable to take no chances with this requirement as a bit of contamination can ruin the whole batch of cement according to Oyster Homes. Powder tank trailers are designed to carry other similar products like cement. Hence, it is crucial to check thoroughly before loading cement into the vessel. It must be cleaned properly so that no residue is left. When cement transportation is done through the barge, it is advisable to seek the help of professionals to clean the barge sufficiently.
Temperature
Cement depreciates very quickly at high temperatures. So, before loading cement into the vessel, it should be made that the temperature does not exceed 90 degrees Celsius. Sometimes, staying under the hot sun can rapidly raise the temperature inside the vessel. So, making sure precautions are taken to avoid such situations is an important task. Cement remains at a very high temperature soon after leaving the production line. Cement should not be loaded into vehicles at such high temperatures. The temperature should not exceed 100 degrees Celsius because water vapor starts to form and dampen the cement. Before loading the cement into the vessel, Preloading surveys should be held to ensure the temperature remains under a specified range. Source: AnsterProper Packaging
Generally, cement is bagged in 50KG bags. If bulk quantities are not required, cement is transported using these 50KG cement bags. It could also be carried in a one-ton polypropylene bag. Another primary precaution to transport cement is checking the packaging of cement. All packaging should be waterproof because the absorption of moisture and carbon dioxide from the air can severely impact the quality of the cement. Even when there is no clear indication of damage, cement can be affected due to moisture absorption. So, verifying the quality of cement is an essential prerequisite before starting to use it.Vehicle Condition for Loading and Transportation
Cement is carried in cargo trucks that have large vessels attached to them. When the incoming air is cooler than that of the vessel’s insides, the ambient air cools and turns into a vapor that will condense at some point. This is another chance for cement solidification. It can cause the cement inside the vessel to harden, eventually losing its properties. It can create a massive loss of cost and the vessel as it would require vigorous cleaning procedures to rub out the hardened cement. To avoid these situations, the following points must be undertaken.- The vessel should have sufficient ventilation. A sound ventilation system can reduce the chances of forming vapor inside cargo chambers. However, some other precautions must be followed when the weather has high humidity.
- Large trucks sometimes have fuel tanks underneath the vessel compartments. When trucks travel long distances, the fuel inside the tank can get heated up. This heat is sometimes transferred to the whole cargo. High temperature is one of the biggest foes of cement. So, precautionary measures should be taken to reduce heat inside the vessel. Otherwise, the cement inside can get damaged easily.
General Precautions to Transport Cement Bags
From small to medium construction sites, cement bags are the usual method of transporting types of cement. Many types of vehicles carry these bags to construction sites. Cement bags are made to protect the cement inside from outside pollutants. You should check for some points before purchasing cement bags and make sure they are transported according to guidelines. There are some rules on how cement bags should be handled in transportation.- After selecting the cement transporting vehicle, ensure the loading area is adequately cleaned. Remove any sharp objects, protruding screws, and steel parts before loading cement bags, as they can puncture the bags. Another precautionary measure is to ensure the platform where cement bags will be placed is completely dry. Even if there is a small amount of dampness, the cement will start hardening and lose its properties and quality.
- Loading cement bags into the vehicle is a crucial task. Most of the cement loss occurs at the loading and unloading of cement. Please make sure the bags are covered to be protected from a sudden burst of rain and tied down to the vehicle in a secure manner. Stack the cement bags in the same way, to be placed uniformly. Sometimes potholes in roads can cause the vehicle to shake up and down. Transportation poses a significant threat in Bangladesh as many roads are not smooth enough for vehicles. Potholes and speed breakers are prevalent. So, extra care should be taken while tying down the bags.
- Workers should never drop the cement bags from the top of the vehicles. Impact on cement bags can tear it apart, making the cement completely useless. Sometimes workers use hooks while transporting cement bags from the vehicles. Hooks can make the process much easier, but it is unsafe for the cement. Any leaks in bags expose it to the outside moisture, damaging the cement.
- It is a common practice in Bangladesh to overload the carrying capacity. This is an unsafe practice as it can damage the vehicle and reduce its maneuverability of the vehicle. This can increase the time and cost of transportation. It increases the chances of accidents which are extremely dangerous for everyone. So, make sure cement bags are loaded in the vehicle in accordance with local rules.
- If there is a chance of rain or fog while transporting, the cement bags should be stacked on pallets on the truck’s bed. It should be tightly covered so that no rainwater can enter. The cement bags should not rest directly upon a moist truck deck. A waterproof canvas should be placed beneath the bags. Furthermore, all precautionary measures should be taken to prevent wetting the cement bags from any water splashes. Tarpaulin sheets are not fully waterproof, and water can seep through them if it collects on the top. So, it is recommended that good quality plastic sheets cover the cement. After that, the second layer of the tarpaulin sheet can be used to provide more rigidity to the system.