How Do You Protect Your Farm Equipment When a Storm Happens?

Did you now that it’s already winter growing season in Australia? I know, it’s still warm outside and it feels like summer was just here, but the winter growing season starts in April. This is the time of the year farmers start the process of planting canola, cereal and other grains in preparation for the winter harvest that runs from September to January. As farmers gather their seeds, hay and farm equipment together, they might find that they need more space. A farm shed is an important investment that will you keep your equipment and materials safe from the elements as well as theft. But which farm shed should you buy? When everything else is even, you’ll want the ShedSafe stamp of approval.

What is ShedSafe? In March of 2006, Cyclone Larry made landfall in Queensland, Australia and left destruction in its path. In total, over one billion AUD in damages can be attributed to the Category 5 cyclone. In the wake of this, the Australian Steel Institute decided to revamp its guidelines for steel shed design because it noticed that many sheds experienced structural failure during the storm. This accreditation scheme would become ShedSafe.

What does ShedSafe do? ShedSafe offers accreditation to manufacturers who are compliant with the standards set forth by the Building Code of Australia and the Australian Steel Institute Design Guide Portal Frame Sheds and Garages.

Does this matter? It depends if you’re worried about your safety and the protection of your farm equipment and materials. ShedSafe accreditation gives customers the assurance that the manufacturer was judged by a third party and is compliant with all standards set by the Building Code of Australia. After Cyclone Larry, it was discovered that many sheds weren’t built to those standards, which is why they suffered structural damage from the storm.

Can ShedSafe accreditation be bought? No. If a manufacturer gets ShedSafe accreditation, it was earned through best practices and a record of compliance.

There’s no question that farm sheds are an important part of the winter growing season. They help your farm equipment brave the elements and keep everything housed in one location. You never know when another Cyclone Larry can occur. In those times, it’s important to have a shed that can withstand the torrential winds and rains. Searching for shed manufacturers who have ShedSafe accreditation is a first step in making this happen.