Pallet racking is an efficient storage solution for warehouses across the world. They increase safety of employees and inventory, but they can also increase warehouse fire safety. Fires can happen at any moment for any reason, so it’s important to have the proper precautions in place. Make sure to follow these guidelines to keep you and your business safe from fires.
In-Rack Sprinklers
In-rack sprinklers are a great way to ensure warehouse fire safety. It is the quickest way to deliver water to fire sources and helps with water penetration through the pallet racking. Depending on the size of your pallet racking, in-rack sprinklers may be required as part of your system.
Flue Space
Flue space is the horizontal space between items that allows for water to travel downwards. This is imperative for early fire suppression and control. However, water will have a hard time penetrating through solid shelving even with proper flue space. Wire decking is a great option to prevent this from happening, but you can also install in-rack sprinklers at various levels through your pallet racking.
Proper Maintenance
Proper maintenance of your pallet racking is crucial for warehouse fire safety. Making sure there is no debris or misplaces items ensures water penetration, decreases the risk of a fire starting, and makes fires easier to control and suppress. (They also prevent other injuries like falling and forklift accidents!)
Warehouse Fire Safety Requirements
Warehouse fire safety inspections differ greatly between jurisdictions and even inspectors. It’s important to make sure you are following OSHA and NFPA regulations not only to pass inspection, but to ensure the safety of everyone in the warehouse as well as the inventory. Make sure you have in-rack sprinklers if necessary, proper signage, fire safety protocols, and an understanding of the fire code for your warehouse.
NFPA fire codes are a classification based on the materials and products being stored, from non-combustible to highly hazardous. Understanding which fire code applies to your warehouse will determine what is required for proper warehouse fire safety.
Professional Pallet Rack Design
Pallet racking design involves more than just optimizing space as much as possible. It is also important to design systems for safety. Simply Rack offers professional AutoCAD design and pallet racking installation to ensure nothing is overlooked. Contact us today or give us a call at (512) 869-2803 to get started on your project.
