Storage and handling - stainless steel materials

The rules for storage of stainless steel are intended to reduce the risk of deterioration of the steel - physical deterioration (mechanical etc.), chemical deterioration (especially corrosion). The ideal storage conditions are therefore listed below. When storing, it should be taken into account that violation of individual storage conditions can have a multiplying effect.

Storage environment

• store in enclosed spaces
• avoid prolonged exposure to UV, X-rays and similar types of radiation
• relative humidity max. 60%

Storage - chemical damage (corrosion)

• avoid contact of steel with other metals, esp. Cu, Al, Pb, Zn
• avoid contact with chemicals, especially Cl, S, N (solid, liquid and gaseous)
• store separately each steel grade and each heat
• avoid contact of stainless steel with other steel, including racks - individual brackets must be covered with suitable material such as: plastic, rubber, stainless steel tape, etc.

Storage - mechanical damage

• store in a horizontal position
• underlayment
  • the material must be underlaid in a sufficient number of places (in most cases a 1m spacing between pads is sufficient)
  • do not use pads with abrasive properties - wooden pads are ideal (natural wood, not chemically or mechanically contaminated, not impregnated with any chemicals)
• store in bundles according to individual heats
  • binding of materials - inert plastic tape, in case of metal tapes use only tapes of the same steel brand, especially do not use tapes of other metals or carbon steel for binding materials made of stainless steel
• stackability of bundles
  • we do not recommend
  • do not stack bars that are not tied in tight bundles
  • if necessary:
    • separate the individual steel grades and heats from the interlayers
    • separately stainless steel and other steel, other materials
    • larger bar diameters down, smaller diameters up
    • pads always exactly on top of each other and in sufficient quantity
    • only for as long as necessary

Storage - substitution of qrade, heat or lot

materials of the same size and grade of two or more different heats or lots shall not be stored in the same individual console or otherwise directly adjacent to each other and each individual package or lot shall be properly marked with the size, grade, heat and/or lot number so that no mistake can be made

Handling

• the material in the bundles must be gripped in approximately one-third of the total length, in the case of small diameters with large lengths, taking into account the following point
• the material must be gripped piece by piece in so many places and at such a distance from each other that it does not bend excessively - risk of irreversible changes/mechanical damage that prevents its normal use
• during handling, stainless steel must not come into contact with other types of steel or other materials that could cause corrosion - see above
• when handling, avoid impacts that could cause mechanical damage
• when handling outside the enclosed space of buildings, the corrosive effects of atmospheric influences must be borne in mind

Warranty time

• The warranty period is governed by the Terms and Conditions of R. F. PROFI s.r.o. and in the case of obvious defects, the buyer is obliged to claim these defects immediately after their discovery at the time of delivery of the goods. In the case of hidden defects, these conditions provide for a warranty period of 6 months from the date of delivery of the goods in accordance with these conditions.
• Due to the nature of the material, the expiry date of the material depends on the method and conditions of storage.

DOWNLOAD as PDF