Mueller U-Panel - Manual (Page 5)

HANDLING: Proper care is required in unloading and handling
panel bundles in order to prevent damage.
1. Bundles should remain banded (if possible) during the
unloading process. Bundles should never be lifted by
the banding material.
2. Lift each bundle as close as possible to its center of gravity.
3. If the bundles are to be lifted with a crane, use a
spreader bar of appropriate length and nylon band
slings (do not use wire rope slings as they will damage
the material).
4. Depending on the panel length, some bundles may be
lifted by a forklift. When using a forklift, the forks
should be spread to their maximum spacing, and the load
centered on the forks. Sheets over 25' long require two forklifts.
5. After panel bundles are opened, individual sheets
must be handled carefully to prevent panel buckling
or damage to the panel coating. When removing a
sheet from a bundle it should be rolled off the bun-
dle to prevent scratching of the next sheet. Never
drag or slide one sheet over another sheet. Sheets
should not be picked up by the ends. Instead, lift the
sheet along its longitudinal edge and carry in a vertical
position. For sheets over 10' long, two or more people
may be required to carry the sheet.
Wall and Roof Panels
Mueller’s wall and roof panels, including color coated,
galvalume and galvanized, provide excellent service
under widely varied conditions. All unloading and erection
personnel should fully understand that these panels are
quality merchandise which merit cautious care in handling.
Under no circumstances should panels be handled roughly.
Packages of sheets should be lifted off the truck with
extreme care taken to ensure that no damage occurs
to ends of the sheets or to side ribs. The packages
should be stored off the ground sufficiently high to
allow air circulation underneath the packages. This
avoids ground moisture and deters people from walking
on the packages. One end of the package should
always be elevated to encourage drainage in case of rain.
All stacked metal panels are subject, to some degree, to
localized discoloration or stain when water is trapped
between their closely nested surfaces. Mueller, Inc.
exercises extreme caution during fabrication and shipping
operations to ensure that all panel stock is kept dry.
However, due to climatic conditions, water formed by
condensation of humid air can become trapped
between stacked sheets. Water can also be trapped
between the stacked sheets when exposed to rain. This
discoloration caused by trapped moisture is often called
“wet storage stain.”
The stain is usually superficial and has little effect on the
appearance or service life of the panels as long as it is not
permitted to remain on the panels. However, moisture in
contact with the surface of the panels over an extended
period can severely attack the finish and reduce the
effective service life. Therefore, it is imperative that all
panels be inspected for moisture upon receipt of the
order. If moisture is present, dry the panels at once and
store in a dry, warm place.
Delivery: Mueller takes every precaution to ensure that material is delivered to the customer damage-free and fully protected from
the elements during shipment. When the material is delivered to the customer it then becomes the customer’s responsibility to
protect the material from the elements, possible theft, and other damage. The following guidelines are recommended:
5
CARE AND HANDLING OF MUELLER SHEET METAL
WARNING! Mueller trim comes with a protective film
coating to aid in the prevention of scuffing. Do not
allow this film to be exposed to the sun. Exposure will
bond the film to the metal making removal difficult.