Grain Silo Installation Checklist consolidates most of Installation checks that one should perform while doing installation of Grain Silos so that nothing goes wrong after the installations

1. INSTALLATION & COMMISSIONING
(PRACTICES AND PRECAUTIONS)
General Practices
and Precautions
to be taken while
undertaking Civil
and Mechanical
Works

2. CIVIL CONSTRUCTION OF SILO FOUNDATION
Making of Foundation for Corrugated Steel Silo
Foundation Reinforcement Foundation Footer

3. NEVER USE PULVERIZED FUEL ASH
Grains breathe out Carbon Dioxide.
Carbon Dioxide is acidic and reacts
with Concrete, which is alkaline. This
process is called carbonation of
concrete and it destroys the ability of
concrete to protect the reinforcing
steel from corrosion.
Hence never use pulverised fuel ash
(power plant byproduct) for silo
foundations as it has very low
resistance to carbonation
Making of Foundation for Corrugated Steel Silo

4.  Civil Works
 Incomplete civils
 Aeration trench errors
 Uneven Finish / Levels
 Anchor Bolts misplaced
 Missing Insert Plates
 Storage
 Improper Storage of Silo Parts
 Inaccessible components
STOP….LOOK…..GO……

5. CIVIL CONSTRUCTION OF SILO AT SITE
Foundation Sidewall and Tunnel Foundation Backfilling
Making of Foundation for Corrugated Steel Silo

6. CIVIL CONSTRUCTION OF SILO AT SITE
Aeration Trench and Discharge Openings Completed Foundation Base
Making of Foundation for Corrugated Steel Silo

7. Foundation Tunnel View Side Wall with Roof
CONSTRUCTION OF SILO AT SITE

8. CIVIL CONSTRUCTION OF SILO AT
SITE
Roof and Sidewall Jacks Ready for Lifting
Making of Foundation for Corrugated Steel Silo

9.  Remember to check top two rings thickness
 Stiffener holes must align with anchor bolt position
 Roof center support must be centred and secured
 Decide location & Install all components
 Roof Manhole
 Roof Ladder and Handrail
 Manual and Motorized vents
 High / Very High Level Proves
 Sidewall manhole
 Goal post or catwalk support
 Quantity and location of temperature cables
 Lifting brackets in case of hopper bottom silo
 Any other additional equipment that the silo may have
Remember that nothing on the roof should be tightened until the
entire roof is assembled.
INSTALLATION OF ROOF

10.  Motorized Ventilation Fans should be mounted as high on the
roof as practically possible
 Suction Point of Fumigation Pipelines should also be on the
upper portion of Silo Roof
 Roof Manhole should preferably be on the right-hand side of
Roof Ladder.
 Sidewall manhole at the 2nd ring from Bottom should be
installed near parking position of Sweep Auger
 Free ends of Temperature Cables should be above 1.5 mtrs
from Silo Floor Slab.
 High Level Probe should be mounted close to Roof Manhole so
that its maintenance could be easily carried out
LOCATION OF ACCESSORIES ON SILOS

11. Almost Complete Complete
CIVIL CONSTRUCTION OF SILO AT SITE

12.  Silo lifting Jack Rule
 One sheet one jack
 Calculate silo weight & Check total safe load capacity of jacks
 Do not forget to anchor the jack
 One man per jack rule keeps you safe
 Lift Silo equally so that there is equal pressure on jacks
 Bolt Tightening Rule
 Never tighten any bolt unless complete ring is installed
 Always set the silo down before tightening the bolts
 Only tighten the bolts in the ring above the ring just installed.
 Apply caukings and sealant as mentioned in installation manual
 No EPDM/Neoprene bolt washer should get damaged during bolt
tightening
 Before tightening final ring take Sweep Auger, Aeration Panels etc.
inside the silo
 Level the silo with shims and tighten the anchor bolts
INSTALLATION OF SILO SHELL

13.  Level the with shims the surface where the sidewall sheets meet the
concrete base.
 Ensure Silo Bottom Sealing with waterproof sealant which forms proper
bond with concrete and steel. Bond Breakers are good help
 Not every tar, asphalt etc, will make a watertight bond between the
concrete and Silo. Neutral Cure Silicones are The Best
 Slope the concrete away from the silo
 Keep Silo Center pad higher than silo Ring for effective seal.
FINALIZING SILO INSTALLATION

14. Never leave silo unfinished at the end of the day without tying it
properly with guy ropes at four sides.
While jacking up silo, you must access the speed of wind.
Many accidents happen while silo is being lifted. Always take proper
insurances
PRECAUTIONS DURING INSTALLATION

15. GALVANIC OR BI-METALLIC CORROSION
TAKE CARE THAT T WO MATING PARTS SHOULD NOT BE FAR APART IN
GALVANIC SERIES OR ELSE CORROSION WILL PROPAGATE FASTER

16.  Avoid Standing Water
 Avoid Copper Contact or Water Contact Flowing Through it
 Insulate from Lead
 Avoid Contacts with Stainless Steels except 300 and 400 grades
 Brass and Monel metals too should be avoided
 Always Use Graphite Free Washer
 Keep Away from Wet Concrete
 Keep away from Vegetation and Earth or Soil
 Avoid extensive farming activities of Pigs, Cattles, Turkey and
Chickens
PREVENT SIDEWALL SHEETS FROM
ACCELERATED CORROSION

17. INSIST FOR CHORDS
REJECT ANGLES OR DEGREES
LAYOUT MARKING SHOULD ALWAYS BE AS PER CHORD

18. COMPONENT STORAGE
Store hardware / instruments / panels etc indoors
Sidewall Sheets and Roof Sheets should be stored
as shown in Picture Below

19. NEVER FORGET TO REVERIFY CENTER POLE
DIMENSIONS WITH INSTALLATION MANUAL

20. Bolt Diameter Grade N-m
1/4" Grade 8.2 8
5/16" Grade 8.2 24
3/8" Grade 8.2 42
7/16" Grade 8.2 68
1/2" Grade 8.2 108
5/8" Grade 8.2 203
3/4" Grade 5 365
RECOMMENDED IMPACT WRENCH TORQUE VALUES FOR
TIGHTENING NUTS & BOLTS

21. UNDERSTAND SILO FAILURES
High Angle of ReposeWind Load Failure Design Load Failure
Wrong Side Draw Failure

22. For any further information,
Please Contact
PK Bhardwaj
Phone : +91-9810010076
http://www.linkedin.com/in/pkbhardwaj
Thank You Very Much