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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

The top FumoFlow questions - answered! From shed design to safety.

A FumoFlow grain shed is designed to reduce operator exposure to phosphine during the highest-risk parts of the fumigation process.

In many traditional tarped sheds, a person may need to enter the shed to introduce the fumigant and then re-enter later to start venting it, which can expose them to hazardous phosphine concentrations. In many sealed sheds, operators may still need to manually open doors and rely on passive ventilation before it is safe to go inside.

This is becoming even more important as phosphine exposure limits tighten, with Australia’s workplace exposure limit reducing from 0.3 ppm to 0.05 ppm from 1 December 2026.

With FumoFlow, fumigant can be introduced from outside the shed, and the shed can also be vented from outside.

The FumoFlow system uses the fans to speed up the venting time considerably, rather than relying on passive ventilation alone. Gas levels can then be monitored during ventilation so entry does not occur until concentrations have dropped below the applicable exposure limit. This creates a much safer, more controlled process and helps reduce the risk of phosphine exposure for anyone working around the shed.

No. A FumoFlow grain shed is not a fully sealed shed in the same way as a gas-tight silo or a purpose-sealed bulk grain storage shed. Instead, the tarp is sealed to the shed structure, so the fumigation zone is the sealed space under the tarp, not the whole shed envelope. For fumigation purposes, it is the area under the tarp that must hold gas at the required concentration for the required time.

This approach has some important advantages:

  1. Less fumigant is required
    Fumigant dose is based on the volume of the enclosure being treated. Because a FumoFlow system only seals the space under the tarp, rather than the full shed airspace, the treated volume is smaller, so the total fumigant required is lower than it would be for a fully sealed shed of the same footprint.
  2. Less pressure-driven gas loss from thermal movement
    In rigid silos and sheds, normal ambient temperature changes create pressure changes inside the storage. These pressure changes can force air to exchange through any leaks and greatly accelerates fumigant loss. A FumoFlow tarped enclosure is more flexible than a rigid sealed vessel, so it is less prone to those same expansion and contraction pressure effects pushing gas out or pulling fresh air in. This helps the fumigation environment remain more stable.

A FumoFlow grain shed is designed to support the main fumigants used in grain storage, subject to the grain type, market requirements and label directions. Phosphine remains the main on-farm fumigant, while sulfuryl fluoride may also be used in some cereal grain applications by licensed fumigators.

Where sulfuryl fluoride or methyl bromide are used, active gas recirculation becomes especially important. These fumigants typically require stronger recirculation performance than phosphine to achieve even gas distribution through the grain mass, and FumoFlow is designed to provide that capability.

The patent-pending FumoFlow grain shed is a purpose-built concrete panel grain shed that uses a tarp on a pulley system to seal the shed, and a recirculation duct and fan system to recirculate phosphine and then vent post-fumigation.

FumoFlow grain sheds decrease the amount of time it takes to fumigate and vent stored grain, while making the process safer, safer and easier.

For example, a FumoFlow grain shed is purpose-built to treat grain, making it less labour intensive than tarping improvised spaces.

Also, being able to vent a FumoFlow grain shed shortens the time required to reach compliant exposure limits post fumigation, helping avoid loads being rejected at receival sites.

And it could open up new market opportunities for you such as PRF markets.

All while providing the usual benefits of an Action grain shed, such as low cost per tonne, efficient loading and unloading, and versatile uses.

FumoFlow grain shed sizes typically use a standard Action 27 metre span width.  This is most popular for grain sheds as a 27 metre span allows a truck to turn inside the shed.

The length of the shed will be dictated by the number of bays, with 6.5 metre bay spacing being most common. As with a standard Action grain shed, the longer the shed, the more cost-effective per tonne. For example, 71.5m long is popular for bulk storage sheds.

The most common FumoFlow grain shed height is 7.5 metres.  A 21-degree roof pitch is also incorporated for tipping inside the shed and to accommodate the angle of repose.

The leadtime for a FumoFlow grain shed is typically around four to six months, and then the installation stage can take several weeks – depending on the size and complexity of the project.

Test results show that the FumoFlow system reaches required concentration levels and compliant exposure levels faster, reducing the time to treat grain by as much as 50%. Data is still being collated for the white paper – signup via the Enquire form to be notified when this is released.

Recirculation speeds up the fumigation process by reaching the required phosphine gas concentration (required to control pests at all life stages and prevent resistance) faster – in some cases as much as half the time.

No, Action is a farm shed company that designs, manufactures and installs FumoFlow grain sheds. Fumigation is either conducted by the grower or a licensed fumigation contractor such as Grain Protect.

A FumoFlow grain shed consists of a heavy-duty, hot-dip galvanized Action shed frame, which requires little to no maintenance.

The main maintenance consideration is the tarp and the panel flashing.

For example, the tarp lifespan depends on how often it is deployed and how it has been handled over time, particularly whether it has been cut and taped during fumigation and stored correctly.

Routine maintenance typically includes:

  • Inspecting tarp for wear or damage before and after fumigation
  • Checking panel flashing remains intact, sealed and safe to walk on
  • Ensuring fans, ducts and vents are clear and operating correctly

Overall, maintenance is comparable to a standard Action grain shed, with additional checks focused on the tarp and components used during fumigation.

Being purpose-built for treating grain, the FumoFlow system makes the process quicker and easier for both growers and contractors. The most time-consuming task is in tarping the shed, however, once the system is set up, this can be completed in about 30 minutes (the more times you do it, the quicker it becomes!). This does depend on the size of the shed and the number of personnel though.

Action, also known as Action Steel or Action – The Big Shed People, is a third-generation company that designs, manufactures and installs heavy-duty, hot-dip galvanized farm sheds across VIC, SA, NSW, QLD and TAS.

Fun fact – Action have been manufacturing farm sheds in Australia for 25 years!

You can learn more about Action at www.actionsteel.com.au 

Yes, FumoFlow grain sheds are a patent-pending product, developed, manufactured and installed by Action.

FumoFlow is designed for growers looking to expand their on-farm grain storage, effectively treat grain in less time and with less hassle while remaining compliant, and considering new market opportunities.

The FumoFlow system is designed for growers that treat grain with phosphine tablets or blankets, and for growers that engage fumigation contractors to use cylinderised gas.

Some of the fumigation challenges a FumoFlow grain shed helps to solve include:

  • Reaching required concentration levels faster and reducing dead zones, in turn reducing the risk of phosphine resistance.
  • Making it safer and easier to tarp and effectively treat grain in a shed, with a purpose-built set up.
  • Helping growers comply with the phosphine usage regulation changes such as reaching the lower exposure limits faster post-fumigation, to avoid rejection at receival sites.

As well as providing solutions, FumoFlow grain sheds can also provide opportunites such as opening up new markets. Win-win!

FumoFlow grain sheds don’t just benefit the grower, fumigation contractors also benefit from a faster, easier, safer and more effective fumigation process – particularly as regulations around exposure limits become stricter, and the risk of phosphine resistance increases. Plus, time is money.

FumoFlow grain sheds are a patent-pending product by Action (also known as Action Steel and Action – The Big Shed People). Action consulted with growers and worked closely with industry leaders in fumigation and tarping, including Grain Protect, to design and develop FumoFlow.

Yes, a FumoFlow grain shed is a purpose built shed – designed, manufactured and installed by Action, rather than a retrofitted system. 

There are several key differences between a FumoFlow grain shed and a sealed grain shed.

Firstly, a FumoFlow grain shed has concrete panel walls which keep the shed and grain cooler and at a consistent temperature.

Secondly, while sealed grain sheds often have a height restriction of around six metres, this is not the case for FumoFlow grain sheds.

This means trucks can tip inside a FumoFlow grain shed for efficient unloading – and makes it much more useful for machinery storage in the off season.

Finally, what makes the patent-pending FumoFlow grain shed unique is that it uses a recirculation and ventilation system to treat grain – an industry-first for grain sheds.

A FumoFlow grain shed can store the same grain and commodities as a standard Action grain shed, including cereals, pulses and oilseeds.

The difference is that it also gives you the option to store higher value commodities where a non-contact fumigation method may be preferred or required to help protect grain quality and meet market requirements.

That means the shed can be used for everyday bulk grain storage, while also giving you more flexibility for commodities that need a higher standard of storage and fumigation capability.

As with any grain storage system, good hygiene, correct grain moisture and best-practice storage management are essential.

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