Client and Facility Overview
Our Wisconsin client is a key player in the industrial sector, with a large facility including massive silos integral to their industrial operations.
Decision Driver and Timing
The primary driver for this project was the need to maintain the longevity and operational efficiency of the silos. The cleaning and painting was scheduled before the harshest winter conditions fully set in, leveraging our vendor's support and innovative approaches to meet this critical need.
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Scope of Work
Interior Cleaning and Preparation
Cleaning the inside of a massive silo requires precision and thoroughness. Our team, experienced and certified in confined space operations, undertook a detailed procedure:
- Safety Setup: Erected a safety tripod and bosun chair inside the silo.
- Heating: Placed heaters below the cone to manage the cold temperatures.
- Containment: Covered the floor to catch any falling material from the cleaning process.
- Ice-Blasting: Used ice-blasting techniques to clean and remove debris from the walls.
- Base Cleaning: Cleaned the silo’s base to ensure comprehensive cleanliness.
Exterior Painting
Painting the exterior required meticulous attention to containment and adhesion, especially given the frigid temperatures:
- Ground Covering: Ground was covered to catch any media created during blasting and painting.
- Sandblasting: Sandblasted to bare metal adhering to SSPC (Society for Protective Coatings) standards.
- Cleanup: Cleaned up all paint chips and media promptly after sandblasting.
- Priming: Applied Sherwin-Williams’ Duraplate 235 primer according to the manufacturer's specifications, ensuring good adhesion despite the cold.
- Finish Coat: Applied Sherwin-Williams’ Corothane HS Polyurethane as the final coat per the manufacturer's guidelines.
- Post-Work Cleanup: Dismantled and removed the containment system, ensuring the site was as clean as before with only newly protected surfaces as evidence of our presence.
Notable Details
Confined Space Certification
Thanks to our confined space certification, we were able to get inside the silo and thoroughly clean it, even in areas that are difficult to access.
Vendor Collaboration and Ingenuity
To complete the exterior painting in adverse weather conditions, our collaboration with vendors and innovative approaches were critical.
Client Satisfaction
The project was executed to the client’s complete satisfaction. The combination of meticulous planning, experienced execution, and thorough post-project cleanup resulted in beautifully restored silos ready to face the Wisconsin winter.
Maintaining industrial facilities in challenging conditions is our expertise. If your facility requires expert painting, flooring, or cleaning services, don’t hesitate to Request an Estimate today.