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Environmental conditions for storage of Machine Parts

My factory is reloacting our inventory of spare machine parts (very expensive drives, motors, circuit boards, ballscrews, bearings, etc) to a non airconditioned space. So far upper management is unwilling to pay for installation of air conditioning in the building.

My gut feel is that this is a bad idea due to corrosion concerns. Does anyone have any recommendations for how I can provide "data" to my managers.

I believe they are specifically looking for humidity and temperature conditions and fluctuations that will lead to corrosion in copper and steel.

Any source you can provide would be great.

Thanks,

Brian Hansen
Maintenance Manager - Greenville, South Carolina
2004

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I don't know where to find specific data on corosion in non-airco storage, but I can tell you that in this area there will be a good many days (especially when warm, wet weather follows cold weather) that you will get significant condensation on metal parts, and that will cause rust unless the parts are somehow protected. You could use sealed poly bags, or heavy oily rust preventives, or you could simply install enough heat to keep the temperatures always above the dew point (but that might be uncomfortably warm in summer). I suppose it's an economic decision. Is it cheaper to use rust preventive measures, or to provide tempertaure/humidity control, or just "eat" the inevitable rust which you will get if you do nothing.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2005

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