Specific Storage Environment Requirements for Yokohama Pneumatic Rubber Fenders

• Temperature range: Permanent storage temperature shall be kept at 0 ℃ ~ 25 ℃; short-term temporary storage cannot exceed 35 ℃. High temperature accelerates rubber aging, hardening and inner air pressure surges; low temperature makes rubber brittle and prone to cracking when handled. Direct sunlight exposure is strictly forbidden for inflated fenders.
• Relative humidity: Maintain RH 40%–70% in the warehouse. High humidity causes galvanized metal accessories (shackles, chains, flanges) to rust; overly dry air ages rubber materials faster.
• Temperature fluctuation should be gentle; violent temperature swings will repeatedly change internal air pressure and fatigue the rubber liner.

• Must store indoors in dark or low-light shaded warehouses; block ultraviolet (UV) rays completely. UV radiation causes rubber surface chalking, cracking, loss of elasticity and abrasion resistance.
• Inflated fenders cannot be placed under glass windows or open outdoor yards for long-term stockpiling. Cover outdoor temporarily parked fenders with opaque tarpaulins with good ventilation.

• Keep storage space clean, well ventilated, free of oil mist, gasoline, diesel, acid, alkali, solvent vapors and chemical corrosive gases. Petroleum products and chemical agents will swell, dissolve and damage rubber layers irreversibly.
• Isolate fenders from welding workshops, paint spraying areas and chemical stock rooms.
• Keep away from ozone-generating equipment (ozonizers, high-voltage electrical equipment) — ozone severely cracks rubber.

• The ground must be flat, smooth, dry, clean and free of sharp stones, metal fragments, steel bars, rough concrete protrusions and sharp waste. Hard sharp objects pierce the rubber outer casing easily. Wooden pallets or rubber mats are recommended for bedding.

1. Inflated finished fenders (ready for delivery/standby use)

• Place horizontally, no stacking heavy goods on fender bodies. Minimal stacking is allowed only with dedicated soft spacers between layers.
• Avoid long-term concentrated stress on a single part of the cylindrical body to prevent permanent rubber deformation.

2. Deflated spare fenders (long-term inventory)

• Do not fold tightly or bend with small-radius creases; loose rolling or loose flat stacking is required. Sharp folds will form irreversible cracks on the inner airtight rubber layer.
• Do not hang deflated fenders by end flanges for a long time, which causes flange deformation.

Chain nets, slings, shackles, flanges and safety valves attached to fenders need anti-rust treatment:

• Wipe off residual seawater, salt crust and dirt before warehousing.
• Coat exposed metal parts with anti-rust grease; avoid direct contact between anti-rust oil and the rubber body.

• Warehouse classed as ordinary combustible storage; equip with dry powder fire extinguishers. Keep away from open flames, heating pipes and heating devices (minimum safe distance > 3 m).
• Prevent collision, extrusion, trampling and mechanical impact during handling and storage transfer. Forklift operations cannot directly contact the fender rubber surface.

1. Deflate the fender to 40%–50% of its rated working pressure instead of full inflation to reduce long-term tensile fatigue of rubber and reinforcing cords.
2. Rotate the placement direction every 2–3 months to avoid permanent deformation from static compression at the bottom contact area.
3. Perform a visual external inspection + simple air tightness check every 3 months.
4. Cover the whole fender with breathable black PE cloth to block dust and UV irradiation.

If outdoor placement is unavoidable during port transit:

• Use thick opaque waterproof & UV-proof tarpaulins for full wrapping; reserve gaps for natural ventilation to prevent moisture condensation inside the cover.
• Lay thick rubber sheets or wooden boards underneath to isolate ground moisture and sharp sundries.
• Limit outdoor storage time to within 14 days as much as possible.