Divided into six modules: transportation and warehousing, cutting and processing, installation and construction, moisture-proof, fire-proof and explosion-proof, export shipment, and post-use and maintenance, this system is suitable for overseas engineering procurement and construction site reference.
I. Transportation, Warehousing and Handling Precautions (Export Shipping + Construction Site Storage)
Handling Standards: Sheets must be lifted upright by two people. Dragging or lifting by a single corner is prohibited. Sheets thicker than 9.5mm are heavy and must not be handled by a single person to avoid edge bending and core material cracking/delamination.
For long-distance sea freight, each bundle should not exceed 8 sheets. Use pearl cotton/cardboard between sheets and add corner protectors to prevent bumps and knocks. Use soft straps for binding; do not place steel wire ropes directly on the steel sheet surface to avoid scratching and rusting the galvanized layer.
Site Stacking Requirements: The ground must be flat and firm. Use wooden blocks to elevate the sheet at least 10cm off the ground to isolate it from moisture. Avoid prolonged exposure to rain and sun. Cover with a waterproof tarpaulin and leave ventilation gaps to prevent internal condensation.
Stack the boards according to specifications, with a single stack height ≤ 10 layers and an angle ≤ 15° between the board surface and the vertical wall to prevent tipping and deformation; store away from acids, alkalis, chemicals, and open flames.
Storage Duration: On-site storage should not exceed 3 months. For humid coastal/Southeast Asian projects, installation should be done as soon as possible upon arrival. Long-term stacking will cause the exposed edges to slowly absorb moisture, leading to bulging of the board seams later.
II. Safety and Process Points for On-site Cutting and Hole Drilling:
Dust Protection (Mandatory): Cutting fiber cement cores will generate fine dust. Construction personnel must wear dust masks and goggles; maintain ventilation in the workshop and use a dust extraction cutting machine to avoid long-term inhalation of dust that can damage the respiratory tract.
Edge Sealing After Cutting (Core Moisture-Proofing Step): Factory-prefabricated edge-sealed boards only have a waterproof steel plate on the front. After on-site cutting and hole drilling, the cement core is completely exposed, making it extremely prone to water absorption, swelling, and delamination. Immediately after cutting, apply a special waterproof edge-sealing adhesive with a width ≥ 50mm, and allow it to dry completely before mounting on the wall.
Processing Restrictions: Violent hammering and grooving are strictly prohibited. The width of pipe grooves must not exceed 1/3 of the panel width. Door and window openings and wall penetrations should be prefabricated in the factory whenever possible. After on-site drilling, the perimeter should be reinforced with L-shaped galvanized steel plates to prevent edge chipping under explosion-proof stress.
Tool Matching: Use diamond cutting discs to ensure a smooth, burr-free cut. After cutting, grind the rough edges of the steel plate to avoid scratching construction workers or puncturing the sealant layer.
III. Key Considerations for Keel, Fixing, and Joint Installation (Applicable to Explosion-Proof/Firewall Structures)
1. Keel Selection (Thin-walled keels are strictly prohibited in explosion-proof scenarios):
Ordinary fireproof partitions: Light steel keel wall thickness ≥ 1.0mm; Chemical explosion-proof partitions must use 8#/10# thickened galvanized keels, wall thickness ≥ 1.2mm, vertical keel spacing ≤ 600mm, horizontal keel spacing ≤ 1200mm, to prevent keel bending and panel detachment caused by shock waves.
1. Hot-dip galvanized keel should be used in damp coastal areas and basements. Wooden keel is prohibited in areas with consistently high humidity.
2. Screw Fixing Standards:
Only stainless steel/hot-dip galvanized rust-proof self-tapping screws should be used. Ordinary black screws will rust and expand within six months, cracking the board and contaminating the steel surface.
Screws should be at least 15mm from the edge of the board and at least 50mm from the four corners. Screw spacing should be ≤150mm around the edges and ≤300mm around the center. Screws should be slightly recessed into the board surface (within 0.5mm) and must not puncture the waterproof layer of the steel plate.
The fixing sequence should be from the center of the board outwards, with nails driven evenly. Forcing the keel to adhere to one side is prohibited to avoid stress cracking within the board. 3. Expansion Joints and Staggered Joints (To Prevent Cracking, Water Leakage, and Fire):
Leave a 2-3mm expansion joint between panels. Leave an 8-10mm gap between the bottom of the panels and the ground, corners, and pipes to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction.
Vertical joints on both sides of the wall panels must be staggered by ≥600mm to prevent continuous seams; otherwise, explosive shockwaves and flames will penetrate the wall, compromising its explosion-proof and fire-resistant properties.
Dedicated expansion joints should be installed every 10 meters on large wall areas, filled with flexible fire-resistant sealant.
4. Joint Sealing (Core of Explosion-Proof and Fireproofing)
Fireproof foam rods are filled into the gaps, followed by injection of high-temperature fireproof sealant with a fire resistance of ≥1.5h. The sealant surface should be rounded and full, protruding 1-2mm above the panel surface.
Inside and outside corners are reinforced with integral L-shaped steel plates; 45° splicing is prohibited. All junctions between the panels and doors, windows, pipes, and concrete walls are sealed with anti-mold and fireproof sealant to block moisture and flame paths.
The construction temperature should be controlled between 5~35℃. Avoid rain and vibration for 24 hours after application, allowing the sealant to fully cure.
IV. Specific Precautions for Moisture-Proof, Corrosion-Proof, Explosion-Proof, and Fireproof Scenarios
Damp/Coastal High-Salt-Spray Areas
Prioritize 304 stainless steel panels; apply a full coat of moisture-proof primer to the back of galvanized steel wall panels; ensure the moisture content of the base concrete is ≤10% before construction; add anti-corrosion pads to the bottom of floor panels; prevent direct contact between panels and water-filled surfaces.
Chemical Acid and Alkali Workshops: Joint sealant should be a special acid and alkali resistant type; the steel plate surface can be additionally coated with a fluorocarbon anti-corrosion coating; a water-retaining sill should be added to the bottom of the wall to prevent chemical waste from soaking the bottom edges of the panels.
Explosion-Proof Class A Workshops (Crucial): The entire wall frame, panels, and sealing accessories must be equipped with explosion-proof test reports of the same level; ordinary fireproof board accessories cannot be mixed; the interlocking structure between the steel plate and the cement core of the panels must be intact; perforated interlocking panels cannot be cut in large areas on-site, as this will damage the explosion-proof load-bearing structure; all holes for cables and pipes passing through the wall must be completely sealed with fireproof and explosion-proof sealant, leaving no gaps to prevent penetration by explosive shock waves.
Fireproof Partitions/Duct Covering: Do not intentionally drill holes that may damage the integrity of the panels; pipe penetrations must be accompanied by fireproof sealing kits; double-layer staggered installation is required to prevent vertical fire transmission through seams and ensure that the design fire resistance limit (1-4 hours) meets the standard.
V. Important Notes for Export Orders (Avoiding Pitfalls for Overseas Customers)
Material Matching to Customer's Working Conditions: Stainless steel panels are recommended for coastal projects in Europe and America; galvanized panels are optional for inland dry plants. Inform customers in advance about the steel plate thickness and core material density to avoid delivery failing to meet local fire/explosion-proof regulations.
Complete Certification Documents: The product comes with an A1 fire resistance test report, an explosion-proof pressure test report, and asbestos-free environmental protection testing, meeting EU and North American building material access standards.
Packaging Protection: Single-sheet film coating + wooden pallet bundling, buffering and isolating between boards, and sealing the entire container with stretch film to prevent moisture absorption at sea.
Inform customers in advance of mandatory construction requirements (cutting and sealing edges, thickened keel, staggered installation). Delamination issues often occur after sales due to the omission of edge sealing procedures on overseas construction sites.
VI. Post-Completion Use and Maintenance Precautions
Avoid impacts from heavy objects on the panel surface within 7 days of completion. Do not spray excessive water before the sealant has fully cured.
Do not drill directly into the wall to hang heavy equipment. If hanging is necessary, pre-embed reinforcing steel plates at the keel location.
Use only neutral detergents for daily cleaning. Long-term wiping with strong acid or alkali disinfectants will corrode the galvanized surface layer.
Regularly check the sealant at the panel joints. Repair any cracks or peeling promptly to prevent moisture from seeping into the core material.
Do not bake the panel surface with open flame or cut it at high temperatures, as this will damage the composite bonding layer between the steel plate and the cement core.
VII. Summary of Common Mistakes and Pitfalls
Unsealed edges during cutting:Core material absorbs water and delaminates, surface bulges;
Using ordinary black screws and thin-walled keel: Rusting and failure, explosion-proof wall collapse;
Leaving no expansion joints, aligning seams:Thermal expansion and arching, direct flame penetration;
Long-term open-air storage without proper support: Moisture absorption and deformation, galvanized layer corrosion;
Using ordinary sealant and simple keel in explosion-proof scenarios:Incapable of withstanding shock waves, safety substandard.
