Silo Delivery
Once you have decided to place an order for a Nexcrete dry silo mortar system, we will need to know the mix required, total tonnage and intended power supply.
One individual silo is required for each different mix. Our mortar is designed for use with all types of masonry units, above and below damp proof course. Please contact us should you require advice on the appropriate mortar designation for specific applications.
Quantities of bricks and blocks that can be laid per tonne vary, depending upon the type of brick being used (i.e. solid, perforated or frogged) and varying nominal size of blocks. These factors need to be considered when finalising the quantities you require.
Prior to delivery, each site will be subject to a survey conducted by an authorised member of the Nexcrete management team, who will advise the appropriate on-site personnel on all aspects associated with the provisions needed for the dry silo system. A provisional delivery date will also be agreed. See the Preparation section below, as well as the Power and Water Requirements sections, for provisions needed before delivery can be made.
Preparation
Access
Once we have agreed where to locate your silo on site, clear unobstructed access must be provided from the highway to the silo base on a hard road or other suitable surface, which is capable of carrying vehicles weighing up to 44 tonnes gross.
Please give consideration to the location of compounds, buildings, overhanging scaffold, power lines, and material storage points, etc., when deciding where to site your silo base. Nexcrete vehicles are rigid or articulated and require a minimum headroom of 4.2 metres and a minimum width of 3 metres.
Daily Silo Use
Ensure power leads and water hoses are correctly and securely connected.
Place tub under discharge chute.
Press start button on control panel to run mixer before opening manual butterfly valve.
Open butterfly valve to allow material into dry chamber, which will then be fed into the wet chamber where water addition takes place.
Adjust workability of mortar, as required, by using the water flow control valve.
Adjust workability of mortar, as required, by using the water flow control valve.
When the amount of mortar being discharged into the tub is nearing the required amount, close the butterfly valve and keep the mixer running. The remaining mortar inside the unit will then be discharged into the tub. When all of the mortar has run out of the discharge point and only water is left running from it, you will know that the mixer is clean and you can press the stop button.
Using the Timer
It is possible to run the silo mixer unit via the timer on the control panel.
Simply set the desired running time and press the start button. The mixer will stop automatically when the set time has expired.
Please note the following when the timer method is utilised:
If the mixer is left for over an hour after it was last used, the mortar left in the wet chamber will start to set, especially in hot weather. This will overload the mixer motor next time it is used and could result in damage to the motor and its eventual failure. To avoid this, ensure that the butterfly valve is closed and press the start button to run the residue out of the mixer chamber before the material has time to gain an initial set. When only water starts to run out of the discharge point, this means the mixer is clean.
Power Requirements
3 Phase Electrical Supply (Mains or Generator) 415 volt
A 32amp 5 pin female socket (industrial), rated IP44, must be provided from a 32amp 3 phase motor, rated MCB type C or D. The electrical supply to the silo must be backed up by a 30mA RCD, which is exclusively for silo use. Fuse protection to be 50Hz.
The socket is to be provided within 5 metres of the silo.
Single Phase Electrical Supply (Mains or Generator) 240 volt
A 32amp 3 pin female socket (industrial), rated to IP44, must be provided from a 32amp motor, rated MCB type C or D. The electrical supply to the silo must be backed up by a 30mA RCD, which is exclusively for silo use. Fuse protection to be 50Hz.
The socket is to be provided within 5 metres of the silo.
Please note that when two or more silos are in use on a site independently, a separate socket is required for each silo, i.e. where a natural mortar is being used internally on blockwork and coloured mortar is being used externally on brickwork both at the same time.
Generators
If using either 3 phase or single phase generators, the unit must have a minimum capacity of 12kva (per silo – if two or more silos are being used at the same time).
Water Requirements
Mains
A ¾” water hose connected to a standard tap with a ¾” external thread must be provided within 5 metres of the silo. Water pressure must be a minimum of 2 bar working pressure. In the event that the working pressure is less than 2 bar, a pump will be required to increase the pressure to the appropriate level.
Tank
Where mains water is unavailable, it is possible to operate the silo mixer unit from a water storage tank. The tank must be located directly alongside the silo, the base of the tank being at least 6′ above ground level. The water feed must be through a ¾” hose running directly downwards to the silo base. A Remix engineer will couple the hose where required. Approximately 150 litres of water are used per tonne of mortar produced.
