1. The steel manufacturer needs to apply the chemical treatment and/or oil in the specified manner to cover the entire surface area of the sheet. It may be noted:

Lubricated strips and sheets have a low friction coefficient and slide easily. Coils may collapse (telescope, etc.) due to repeated uncoiling and recoiling. Cut sheets in piles may slide due to impact. Use carefully in handling and work around storage areas.

2. When possible or required, wrap the coils with either paper or plastic that is specially made for this application. 

3. When receiving product, check for moisture in the package. Dry immediately if wet.

4. Repair broken packaging if long-term storage is required. Abrasion marks (black dents) may occur due to pressure if transportation or if transportation or storage conditions are improper.

5. The shipper needs to protect the steel during shipment to the customer’s plant. Even if the coils/bundles are wrapped, ship only in covered watertight conveyances. If it is necessary to use an uncovered conveyance, wrap the load completely with a tarp to assure no water intrusion if it rains during shipment. Avoid tearing the paper. 

6. The best practice is to store coils in a climate-controlled warehouse. Use the material promptly. Whenever possible, do not allow the product to remain in storage for extended periods of time (in excess of two months). Storing galvanized coils in unheated warehouses over the winter in the northern U.S.A or Canada or North Europe/Asia carries the risk of condensation forming between the laps due to sudden temperature drops after a warm period. This can occur even when the coils are paper wrapped and encased inside metal shipping shrouds. In this circumstance, white rust can form after a few weeks, even on well-passivated sheet. Even in climate controlled warehouses there is a risk of condensation forming on between laps if cold steel is brought in below the dew point temperature in the storage area. 

7. For shipping from the manufacturing plant to the final location, the product again needs to be protected, especially if sheets/parts are in intimate contact with each other. When this is the case, the product is very susceptible to storage stain, as the zinc surfaces will not dry properly if they get wet.

8. Paper wrapping is one way to protect the sheets while in transit or during storage at a jobsite. Be careful to not wrap the bundle if the sheets are wet. This traps moisture in the bundle and prevents drying. 

9. If bundles of galvanized sheets or blanks get wet, the only way of preventing or minimizing storage stain is to immediately separate all the pieces so they can individually dry. Unfortunately, if the material is unpassivated, it may be too late, as storage staining will occur immediately after becoming wet. 

10. Do not wrap the sheets tightly in plastic. Allow the product to “breathe” by providing air circulation

11. If outdoor storage is unavoidable, place bundles above ground by at least 12 inches to allow air circulation underneath. If bundles are stacked, ensure free circulation of air between bundles using cured lumber spacers. 

12. Inspect frequently to assure that the panels have not become wet. 

13. Elevate one end of a bundle of sheets to allow water to drain if moisture gets between the sheets. Make sure there are no low spots along the length so as to allow water to flow freely if necessary. If bundles have been found to be wet, separate all the sheets immediately.

14. When shipping manufactured parts or storing them outdoors, they must be dry and free of roll or press forming lubricants and protected from the weather. If not protected from the weather, then each part should be ‘free standing’ (not touching other parts), with any concave parts being placed so the concave side is down and not able to collect water.

15. Steel sheet products have sharp edges. Handle carefully using gloves to avoid injury.