Building Construction Handbook, Eighth Edition

Site Storage Space ~ the location and size(s) of space to be

allocated for any particular material should be planned by

calculating the area(s) required and by taking into account all the

relevant factors before selecting the most appropriate position on

site in terms of handling, storage and convenience. Failure to carry

out this simple planning exercise can result in chaos on site or

having on site more materials than there is storage space available.

Calculation of Storage Space Requirements ~ each site will present

its own problems since a certain amount of site space must be

allocated to the units of accommodation, car parking, circulation

and working areas, therefore the amount of space available for

materials storage may be limited. The size of the materials or

component being ordered must be known together with the

proposed method of storage and this may vary between different

sites of similar building activities. There are therefore no standard

solutions for allocating site storage space and each site must be

considered separately to suit its own requirements.

Typical Examples ~

Bricks † quantity = 15,200 to be delivered in strapped packs of 380

bricks per pack each being 1100 mm wide¾670 mm long¾850 mm

high. Unloading and stacking to be by forklift truck to form 2 rows

2 packs high.

Area required :- number of packs per row = 380 15,200

¾^2

=20

length of row = 10¾670 = 6„700

width of row = 2¾1100 = 2„200

allowance for forklift approach in front of stack = 5„000\minimum

brick storage area = 6„700 long¾7„200 wide

Timber † to be stored in open sided top covered racks constructed

of standard scaffold tubes. Maximum length of timber ordered =

5„600. Allow for rack to accept at least 4 No. 300 mm wide

timbers placed side by side then minimum width required = 4¾300 =

1„200

Minimum plan area for timber storage rack = 5„600¾1„200

Allow for end loading of rack equal to length of rack

\minimum timber storage area = 11„200 long¾1„200 wide

Height of rack to be not more than 3¾width = 3„600

Areas for other materials stored on site can be calculated using

the basic principles contained in the examples above.

Materials Storage