Large structures require special expertise

Saimaa Terminals stores timber to be shipped to Europe at the Port of HaminaKotka. The pillar-free fabric structure provides 7,200 square metres of storage space. A building 60 metres wide and 120 metres long was found to be optimal for the port, but Best-Hall’s steel frame would enable a span of up to 80 metres.

“Storing goods and working with fork lifts gets easier and more efficient the fewer obstacles there are in the building,” Westman says, in reference to the benefits of a steel-framed warehouse.

Naturally, the large structures that are 60–80 metres wide require special design expertise and special solutions.

“The structure is dimensioned specifically for port conditions and the wind loads laid down in the construction standards. In this location, the wind loads are extremely high and have a considerable impact on the structures,” describes Best-Hall’s Senior Engineer Antti Karjalainen, who designed the port warehouse to meet the needs of Saimaa Terminals.

Good ventilation keeps moisture away

The most essential thing for timber and mechanical forestry products is to keep the cargo dry during its time at the port. Most of the time, Saimaa Terminals ships goods to other countries from its warehouse in Kotka within two weeks, but minimising humidity is essential to ensure that top-quality timber can be stored safely for longer periods as well.

“Uninsulated cold storage space, which is much more economical than heated space, is perfect, provided that the ventilation is sufficient and the building does not accumulate moisture. In this regard, a well-ventilated fabric structure has been found to be an efficient solution,” Westman says.

At the Kotka warehouse, additional ventilation efficiency is provided by the extractors installed on the ridge of the roof.

“In addition to being fast and affordable to install, the fabric building meets all of the requirements of a port warehouse, so we didn’t even consider other options.”