Industrialists often face the challenge of protecting their businesses from extreme weather conditions. Industrial machinery, raw materials, pallets, and finished goods can be heavily damaged by rain, sunlight, storms, and other environmental factors. This is where industrial tarpaulins come into the picture.
Tarpaulins are large solid sheets of flexible, waterproof material that have multiple applications. They are used during construction to prevent the raw materials from getting spoiled, during painting and other similar operations, to protect open loads of trucks and trailers, to store large quantities of dry wood, and to erect temporary structures. It’s also used in printing and advertising.
Given the criticality of the applications, getting the right kind of tarpaulin is essential. You need to focus on the tarpaulin sizes and price, its grade and the type before buying it for a particular task. Can’t decide which is the best-suited tarpaulin for your business? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered!
Types of tarpaulins:
Tarpaulins are distinguished based on their sizes. Depending on the requirement, you need to figure out the right size of your tarp. You can refer to various tarpaulin size charts that are available. Further, tarpaulins are graded according to their GSM (grams per square metre) and their type. The GSM redefines the abilities and applications that these tarpaulins can be used for. So, understanding the GSM and the type of tarpaulin is your first step in the buying process. And to make your job easier, here’s a list of different types of tarpaulins that you might need.
Poly:
These tarpaulins are most commonly used, lightweight, moisture resistant, and affordable. They are made up of cross-woven strips of polyethene, polypropylene, or other polyolefin plastic and are sealed with a waterproof coating. Given their greater strength and durability, these tarpaulins have various applications ranging from light to heavy-duty tasks. Poly tarpaulins are a common sight on construction sites, in spaces being decorated or redesigned, on farms and even at home.
Canvas:
Canvas tarpaulins are made up of closely-woven hemp, flax, or cotton single duck fabric that’s used in sheets and coverings. These tarpaulins have a number of transportation and industrial applications. They are sturdier and provide better wind resistance as compared to poly tarpaulins. Along with strength, these tarpaulins have an aesthetic value to them.
Vinyl:
If your industry involves risks of corrosion or contamination by oil, acid, grease and mildew, vinyl tarpaulins can be your best ally. These tarps are made from heavy industrial-grade material and are often coated with flame-retardant polyvinyl chloride (PVC). They are generally used in situations where more reliable protection is required. That’s because they have very special applications and tend to be waterproof and highly resistant to heavy abrasion, abuse, corrosion and contamination.
Mesh tarpaulins:
Mesh tarps are one of the most versatile tarps that can be found. They are extremely durable and strong. These tarps have a wide range of applications in areas that require cooling shade, privacy, freight covers, equipment protection, and drainage. They allow the partial passage of wind and light and are widely used for enclosures, site barriers, constructions, job sites, manufacturing plants, truck beds, and tennis courts, among others.
Properties of tarpaulins:
Now that you are familiar with different types of tarpaulins, let’s move on to understanding their properties. Depending on your requirements, you can prioritise these properties.
Water-resistant
Exposure to water and moisture can be extremely damaging for certain industries. If yours is one of them, make sure to buy a tarpaulin that’s water-resistant. On the face of it, every tarpaulin is waterproof but different tarps provide varying levels of resistance to water and moisture. These can range from lesser resistance to complete water resistance.
Fire-resistant
Certain industrial materials are extremely sensitive to fire or heat. Exposure to heat might lead to damage and degradation. If you can relate to this, you need to include a fire-resistant tarp on your shopping list.
Corrosion-resistant
Are you worried about your industrial materials getting affected by UV light and other factors such as oils, acids, greases, and mildew? If yes, you definitely need to go for corrosion-resistant tarpaulins.
Strength
Considering the strength of the tarpaulin is extremely important when you use it for protection against heavy objects or other extreme situations. A tarp’s strength is determined by the materials used and its weaving design. This further determines its capacity to withstand tearing and breakage caused by heavy rains, winds, and other foreign elements.
Ready to buy the best-suited tarpaulin for your business? Check out SSVCO’s customised temporary storage protection solutions made with the highest quality materials. All the materials that are used in our tarpaulins are manufactured in our in-house state-of-the-art facility. With a rich legacy of 110 years, we have expertise in providing technically sound storage solutions across several industrial sectors. That’s not all! All our temporary storage solutions are available at an affordable price. For robust and cost-effective temporary storage solutions, get in touch with us today!
Shah Shivji Valji and Company are storage and protection solution providers, as well as leading manufacturers of all types of tarpaulins. We are a dedicated group of experts who have built an identity of trustworthiness and innovation over the last 100 years of working in our industry. We provide customized solutions for various industries based on their needs and have operations throughout India.
