Potash Buildings
Mass Timber Potash storage buildings have been used for storing potash for decades. Potash, a salt-like fertilizer, is mined and then transported near ports for storage and ultimate shipment overseas. Due to potash’s corrosive nature to steel, timber buildings using engineered wood products are the preferred building type. These buildings are some of the largest Mass Timber Buildings in the world on a PSF basis. These buildings are usually 175’ or wider, are anywhere from 600’ to 2000’ in length and have a height 100+’.
Custom Potash Building Projects
On the banks of the Willamette River at Terminal 5 on property owned by the Port of Portland is the site of (2) Potash buildings, one of which is roughly (7) football fields in length. These are just some of the storage facilities WWS has designed and helped erect.
Glulam Arches are spaced appropriately depending on load requirements are the “meat” of this structure, with Glulam purlins to support the roof. Each set of arches are pinned at the concrete abutments and near the apex of the building. The end walls can be designed in anticipation of future expansion.
Potash is highly corrosive to metal which makes engineered wood the perfect choice of building components. The steel connections used in this building can require a special coating to protect it from exposure to the potash. Metal buildings for an application can be cost prohibitive.
The floor area is now 344,800 s/f (160’ x 2155’) and is the largest wood framed clear-span building in Oregon (surpassing the Tillamook Air Museum that measures 296’ x 1072’).
The second smaller Potash building at the Port of Portland is actually wider but not as long (only 624’).
Contact Us for Custom Timber Structures Inquiries:
(503) 692-6900
Dan Herr – dan@wwsi.com