Sandwich panels play a very important role in today’s structures and are fully competing with traditional materials and have been able to take their place in the construction industry. Many advantages such as lightness, insulation, saving on project implementation costs, easy installation, etc. have increased the popularity of this type of modern material. However, an important point that should not be neglected is how to maintain sandwich panels, a topic that we will discuss in this article from the Parsin Gostar website.
How to maintain different types of sandwich panels
Although sandwich panels are practical and very affordable products, there are some points that you should keep in mind when transporting and storing them. In fact, the transportation, installation, and maintenance of sandwich panels involve specific and standard conditions, which if not observed may cause the panels to be damaged and lose their optimal efficiency and performance.
Sandwich panel maintenance methods start from the production line and include installation and beyond. In this section, we will mention the most important points in this regard.
- After the production process, the packaging of sandwich panels must be such that air exchange is good and moisture does not accumulate around the panel.
- When storing or placing panels near the project site, it is best to place them on a platform or pallet to prevent moisture or dampness from entering the panels and prevent mechanical damage.
- Usually, the panels are stacked on top of each other in a sloping manner so that, firstly, the welded mesh and its wires are not damaged, and secondly, rainwater does not accumulate on the panels in the event of rainfall.
- During loading, care must be taken to ensure that the forklift forks do not damage the edges of the panels. The distance between the forks must also be large enough to maintain the balance of the panels and prevent them from falling.
- It is best not to use manual transportation and handling, and the edges of the panels should not be used as handles during transportation. It is best to hold the panels in the middle during manual transportation to avoid any damage to the edges. Damage to the edges of the panels causes their installation to deviate from the standard and they lose properties such as moisture insulation.
- The fork of a forklift or crane should not touch the panel directly. It is better to carry out loading and unloading operations using special hooks.
- When moving the panels, care should be taken to prevent them from pulling on each other. No damage or scratches should be caused to the panels. It is best to remove the panels completely vertically.
- To minimize possible damage to the panels, it is best to unload them near the installation and execution site.
Care after installing sandwich panels
After the sandwich panels have been guided from the production line to the installation site using standard methods and their installation has been carried out in a standard manner, care and maintenance methods should be followed after installation of sandwich panels. These care measures include:
- It is best to store and install sandwich panels away from direct sunlight and extreme temperature changes.
- Although sandwich panels have good resistance to factors such as chemicals, acids, and solvents, permanent and direct proximity to these factors reduces the stability and durability of the structure.
- To increase the useful life and increase productivity, it is better to carry out necessary repairs, restoration, and renovation on structures every few years.
- After installing the sandwich panels, sealing and insulation must be done in a completely systematic manner. Otherwise, rainwater penetration, proximity to humid air, and humidity will cause the panels to rot.
Sandwich panel repair and restoration conditions
In many cases, instead of replacing the sandwich panels, they are repaired and refurbished. To repair damaged sandwich panels, the outer layer of the metal sheet must be removed with great care and skill, and the old foam must be replaced with new foam. Then, we glue the special foam cover on it and put the metal sheet back in place. After repair and renovation, special polyurethane adhesives should be used for sealing.
In order for panel structures to have a longer useful life, things such as cleaning, washing, painting, or replacing rusty screws should be on the agenda.
summary
Despite being lightweight, cheap, and easy and quick to install, sandwich panels are subject to damage very quickly, and damage to a sandwich panel means a reduction in its performance and efficiency, as well as a reduction in the useful life of the structure. Therefore, practical methods must be used to protect, repair, and maintain these structures from the time of production until after installation. Paying attention to these points can result in more resistant, stronger, and longer-lasting structures for the consumer.
