How to choose the right silo?

Sawdust and dust are the standard side products of wood processing. They are also a serious problem for many workshops and production plants as the excess of dust and sawdust can cause serious threat for the people working there in terms of their health and safety. An appropriate and efficient dedusting system is not enough – there is also a need of a silo in which the waste material can be stored in a safe way. How to choose the right tank?

What dimensions should a silo have?

A size of a silo is one of the most important parameters that needs to be considered when choosing one. In our offer you may find a wide range of silos, each of different size and capacity (m3). The smallest model is FSA3 with a capacity of 50 m3, and the largest silo is FSC9, which can store up to 500 m3 of waste material. What should the choice of a specific model depend on? First of all, it should depend on the volume of the produced waste material – the more intensive wood processing, the higher amount of produced sawdust which needs to be stored safely and efficiently. It is also crucial to pay attention to the diameter and the total height of a silo as these parameters define the possible location of the silo within the company’s grounds. For example, if there is not enough space directly around the production plant, and there are other installations which need to be built, or some access roads need to be defined, than the silo FSA7 might be a better choice than FSB4. Both silos have the same capacity but the first one has a smaller diameter and is taller – thus it can fit into limited space better.

Silos compliant with the ATEX directive

ATEX is the EU directive which defines requirements for the devices and machines working in explosion risk zones. According to this directive, a silo for sawdust should be equipped with the following explosion and fire protection devices:

• a dry raiser with sprinkles
• pressure transducers
• certified decompression panels

Only a silo that is ATEX compliant gives you a warranty of a safe installation. Moreover, one should also remember that a silo should be equipped with inspection windows which enable to control the fill-up level, a ladder enabling safe access to the roof, and railing at the top.

How a silo should be constructed?

The structural elements of our silos are produced of high quality galvanized steel. The coat of the silo is made of galvanized construction steel sheets of 2 mm which are bolted together to the horizontal and vertical structural reinforcement elements. The structures of the roof and of the hopper are made of galvanized steel sheets of 3 mm, bolted to the tank. Other elements, such as the supporting structure and bracket structures, are produced of sanded and coated carbon steel. 

Is it worth investing?

We are aware of the fact that decision to buy a silo is a difficult one. Therefore, we encourage you to contact us and our specialists will be happy to advise you on the right selection of a silo.