TM 5-840-2
CHAPTER 4
STORAGE SHEDS
4-1. General.
TM 5-822-5/AFM 88-7, Chap. 3
TM 5-822-7/AFM 88-6, Chap. 8
Sheds are covered storage buildings either of the
TM 5-809-12/AFM 88-3, Chap. 15
portable or permanent type, having incomplete
Storage items such as structural steel, steel bar
exterior walls. Portable or transitory sheds are a
stock, helicopter blades, airplane wings, and other
prefabricated metal type of shelter that can be
large items require special storage and handling
dismantled and moved to a more convenient loca-
consideration. In addition these type storage items
tion for reassembly. Due to their transitory nature,
impose heavy and sometimes unusual loads on the
these types of sheds seldom have any utilities.
floor which must be taken into consideration and
Permanent sheds can be either wood, metal,
accounted for in design of flooring.
concrete or masonry block, but are permanently
b. Columns. Sheds are usually designed to have
anchored to the foundation. These types are more
exterior columns only. This allows maximum stor-
likely to have utilities such as lighting and fire
age flexibility within the shed area. Wider sheds can
sprinkler systems.
usually be accommodated with one interior column
midway between the exterior columns; however,
4-2. Location.
this arrangement is not practical if a central aisle is
Sheds should be constructed on high ground, re-
desired.
mote from water areas, and on terrain that is well
c. Walls. Most sheds do not have exterior walls-
drained to carry runoff away from the base of the
They may have no walls at all, or partial walls
structure. The ground should be level beneath the
extending down from the eaves to protect the joists
structure so that material stored on grade in a shed
or trusses from deterioration from direct exposure.
with unimproved base will not become unstable
In cases where ventilation is important, walls are
under high stacking loads. The grounds around the
not desirable; where it is necessary to protect
shed should be cleared of brush and low growth
material, however, several methods of upgrading
since these conditions reduce ventilation and
shed storage are available. Pallets stacked from
provide cover for pests. They can be built with
floor to roof at the exterior of the shed provide
grade even with the road, such as in figure 4-1, or
excellent protection from the weather while elimi-
raised such that the slab occurs at truck or rail dock
nating the waste of interior space that would be
height, as in figure 4-2. Material that is in storage
used to store them. Alternatively, pelletized drum
for a significantly long time can be stored out of the
storage, as shown in figure 4-4, provides interior
mainstream of depot activity in sheds that have a
protection while using the exterior space for useful
more limited accessibility.
storage. Sheds can also be upgraded by closing off
the sides with metal or wood siding. Metal upgrad-
4-3. Structural requirements.
ing is shown in figure 4-5. Sheds with open sides
a. Slabs. The type of shed storage determines
can be stocked from the center working outward
the required bearing capacity of the structure, and
using the sides of the shed as working aisles to
the floor can range from graded earth to a concrete
access the goods, whereas sided sheds must have
slab. Typical slab types are concrete, asphalt, and
aisles within the shed to allow access to the goods.
wood planks. The slab should be designed for the
climate and type of load that is expected. Slabs
4-4. Container storage.
should be sloped to drain water, but not so much
a. General. One method which has evolved for
that they would present a problem in stacking
material transfer is containerization of cargo. Han-
stored goods. Graded earth floors can be upgraded
dling of goods is reduced when a large container
by concreting or laying down military landing mat,
can be removed rather than smaller quantities of
as shown in figure 4-3. Upgrading earth floors
goods in repetitive movements. The general types
holds down dust and allows the use of heavy
of containers, employed in the containerization of
material handling equipment. Pavement thicknesses
goods are 6 m (20 ft) containers, 12 m (40 ft)
should be designed for heavy-duty traffic use.
containers, 6 m (20 ft) refrigerated containers, and
Compliance with design criteria given in the
the 12 m (40 ft) FLATRACK. Operations involved
following manuals should provide adequate guid-
container storage often require the use of heavy
ance for pavement and slab designs:
container handling equipment (CHE).
4-1
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