FAQ
Our standard span widths begin at 12 metres wide through to 60 metres clear span. Any length can be accommodated. Common bay widths are between 8 and 9 metres.
No, we specialise in farm sheds beginning at 12 metres wide.
Yes, we have around 60 subcontract erection teams who erect our sheds. If you wish to erect or arrange erection of the shed yourself, Action will provide the shed as a kit with the required assembly plans.
Yes, every project is individually assessed and engineered to exceed the wind category and environment of the building’s location.
Action sheds are a heavy-duty construction, ensuring your building can withstand the harsh conditions of Australia’s environment.
Action Steel offers a 7 year structural defect warranty for the steelwork of all buildings manufactured. Other products used in the project such as cladding and doors also come with a warranty from the supplier.
According to the American Galvanizers Association, in a rural environment, steel with an average of 3.0 mil of zinc coating will not need maintenance for 100 years! In an industrial environment, they suggest over 70 years.
No. One of the ways that zinc coating protects steel is through cathodic protection. When the coating is damaged the zinc gives up electrons to protect the steel, providing a sacrificial coating. So, if there is zinc on the surface, the steel will be protected
Hot-dip galvanising steel prevents corrosion in three ways:
- Barrier Protection. Zinc metal is so dense that no moisture or electrolytes can penetrate the coating meaning the base steel will not corrode.
- Cathodic Protection. When the coating is damaged in presence of an electrolyte the zinc gives up electrons to protect the steel, providing a sacrificial coating.
- Patina Protection. When the galvanising process is complete and the zinc metal is exposed to the oxygen in the air, it will react with the oxygen to form a thin zinc-oxide powder on the galvanised coating. This zinc oxide will then react with the hydrogen in the air to form zinc hydroxide. Over time as the zinc hydroxide is exposed to moisture in the air a thin layer of zinc carbonate forms. This is a passive patina film that is tightly bound to the zinc of the galvanised coating and is what makes a hot-dipped galvanised coating so durable.
Yes, the new law change allows a primary producer to claim a deduction of the full cost of a fodder storage asset (such as a hay shed or a grain shed) provided they meet requirements.
An open-webbed truss is stronger than a Universal Beam Rafter. This is because with a truss the entire weight of the roof is equally shared by a series of triangles inside the main frame and evenly distributed to the load bearing walls. This also means trusses can span greater distances without needing any interior supports.
Yes, a yard cover can be built over existing yards by either being assembled in the air or built on the ground beside the yards and moved into place by cranes.
No, column lengths can also be varied to match the fall of the land. We offer free site visits throughout Victoria to take levels of the proposed site to determine the necessary length for each column.
Sky lighting certainly is a good idea as it means you can work under the roof during the day with no or very little artificial light. Although skylights do tend to have a bad reputation, the product we use is the best of quality and is not likely to go brittle. The product we use is opaque, meaning it doesn’t cast shadows on the ground below so livestock won’t baulk at the light. The effectiveness of sky lighting does depend on the orientation of your shed, and in the case of a shearing shed; the time of the year that you shear.
Bay widths can vary anywhere up to 10 metres to avoid clashing with gates or working areas. We can also vary the spacing throughout your yard cover too, to ensure the least amount of impact on your yarding.
No, but we work in with reputable livestock handling companies that we can put you in touch with, ProWay Livestock Equipment being our preferred supplier.
No, but we work in with reputable livestock handling companies, ProWay being our preferred supplier, who will be able to design a system/stands to fit in with our sheds. We share drawings so that all measurements are correct and you can be assured of a seamless and efficient build.
There are two main ventilation options used on shearing sheds; wall vents and ridge vents. Wall vents are shutters which are installed on the walls of your shed which can be opened to increase airflow through your shed. Ridge vents allow the hot air to rise out through the ridge of the shed. Leaving sections of cladding off below the grating on your shed can also assist with airflow and temperature control in the shed.
Bay widths between 8 metres and 8.5 metres are the most common for hay sheds.
Bays this size allow for three big square bales (or five round bales) to be stacked between column as well as providing good ventilation and room for loading and unloading.
For machinery sheds, we recommend bay spacings between 8 metres and 9 metres.
A girder truss or beam can allow for a wider bay to be included if, for example, a cropping operation requires a bigger opening.
Obviously, this depends on your machinery and type of operation. For example, a standard semi would require a width of 21m whereas a b-double would require a 30m span.
For most cropping operations a 6-metre high shed would be required to make sure there is enough clearance for machinery such as air seeders.
A workshop could be a designated area with work benches and a concrete floor at the back of your shed. Otherwise, some opt for one or two bays enclosed at one end of the shed. If your operation is a larger one a separate fully-enclosed, lock-up workshop specifically for maintenance may be the best option.
Some of the advantages of a drive-through machinery shed include being able to unhook implements undercover or not having to unhook them at all, easy maneuverability, ability to fit more in and, quick and easy shelter for headers during harvest if the weather conditions change suddenly. A drive-through configuration is also the most cost-effective option for wide access.
This will depend on the number and the size of the bales you intend to store. Speak with one of our building consultants, who can break-down the costings to a ‘cost per bale’ figure, to determine what configuration will work out the most cost-effective for you.
The fire requirements for hay sheds will depend on the overall floor area of your shed. Generally, for a shed of up to 2,000m2 in floor area, all that will be required is one fire extinguisher for every 500m2 of floor area.
Any shed of over 2,000m2 in size will require a water storage tank of 144,000L capacity (fitted with a CFA outlet) or a dam/bore/river within 60m of the shed site.
No, we only manufacture and erect the shed component. However, we do work in with dairy fit-out specialists, Greencon being our preferred supplier.
No, column lengths can also be varied to match the fall of the land. We offer free site visits throughout Victoria to take levels of the proposed site to determine the necessary length for each column.
Many large dairy barns are built on a gradient to aid flood washing. We can easily design sheds to suit this situation.
We have commissioned several studies into the movement of air through cow sheds and can give you the best advice suited to your location. Some options include ridge vents to allow warm air to escape and fans to assist with airflow.
To work out how much water you will be able to harvest from your shed roof, try out the calculator from Pioneer Water Tanks Mildura & Horsham.
