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type and storage configuration. When properly designed and equivalent packaging
installed for the hazard, sprinklers provide effective protection for Class III: wood, paper, natural-fiber
even the most difficult storage arrangements. cloth or Group C plastics and a
limited amount of Group A or B
A sprinkler system is designed to control or suppress a fire in its earliest stages plastics (5 percent or less by
with a limited number of sprinklers operating. This limited number of sprinklers is weight or volume)
referred to as the sprinkler system design area. A serious exposure is created when
Class IV: Class I, II or III products
the sprinkler system is inadequately designed for the hazard or when the hazard
containing a significant amount of
increases due to a change in occupancy. It is critical that the sprinkler systems
Group A plastics (5 to 15 percent
are properly designed and installed for the occupancy they protect and that the
by weight or 5 to 25 percent by
adequacy of the sprinkler system is reevaluated prior to any change in building use
volume) in ordinary corrugated
or occupancy.
cartons; Class I, II and III products
Your sprinkler system design should consider these three variables: in corrugated cartons with Group A
plastic packing, with or without
1. Commodity Classification — classification based on the type of product pallets
stored, including container and packaging materials
Plastics: subcategorized into three
2. Storage Height — maximum height of storage in relation to the height of main groups:
your building
Group A — the fastest burning and
3. Storage Arrangement — whether the product is stored in racks or piles or on the most common; includes many
pallets, the type of shelving, clearance to the roof, aisle width, etc. of the plastics commonly used in
toys and household products
Group B — burns moderately and is
COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION less common; includes nylon and
There are five basic commodity classes. These classes range from metals to natural rubber
plastics, with plastics being the most difficult to protect. Group C — the slowest burning;
products such as CPVC and
The basic commodity classes are:
melamine
Class I: noncombustible products in single-layer corrugated cartons such as Plastics are now incorporated into
noncombustible liquids in glass containers, canned food, ice cream and items that were once considered of low
metal parts combustibility. An item’s commodity
classification increases as plastic is
There are additional materials and products that do not fall into the above
commodity classifications that also pose severe fire hazards. These materials
require specialized designs that often involve a combination of fire protection
and segregation from general storage. Examples include idle pallets, rubber
tires, aerosol products, flammable and combustible liquids and combustible
metals. When there is a variety of commodities in a storage area, the highest
commodity classification is used to determine the sprinkler system design.
STORAGE HEIGHT
As storage height increases, a stronger sprinkler system design is generally
required. Because fire spreads faster vertically than horizontally, a greater force
of water from the sprinklers is necessary to reach the base of the fire. If the
storage height exceeds the system's design criteria, in-rack sprinklers may be
necessary to control the fire. Certain ceiling sprinkler systems, such as ESFR or
large-drop systems, will typically allow an increase in storage height for some
but not all commodities, without requiring in-rack sprinklers.
STORAGE ARRANGEMENT
Product can be stored in piles or bins or on moveable or fixed racks. Each
arrangement has specific protection requirements that are affected by aisle
and flue space and the location of shelving and obstructions to water
penetration. Full-scale fire tests have shown that aisles at least 3.5 feet wide
make it more difficult for fire to spread between racks. Furthermore, sprinkler
system designs assume clear aisles. Storage in the aisles could allow a fire to
spread across an aisle to adjacent racks. Therefore, aisles must be kept free of
storage to maintain the integrity of the sprinkler system design.
G
There are seven common storage
arrangements:
F
Solid pile — consists of stacked commodity
I
stored directly on the floor
Multiple row racks — are greater than 12 feet deep or are single and double
row racks with aisle spaces less than 3.5 feet wide
Shelf storage — have structures up to 2.5 feet deep with shelves usually 2 feet
apart vertically; separated by approximately 2.5-foot-wide aisles
Bin box — have five-sided wood, metal, cardboard or plastic boxes with the
open face on the aisle
CONTACT US
For more information on our
Risk Management Guides, contact us at:
20 Riverside Road
Weston, MA 02493
While following the procedures and information outlined in this guide may aid in avoiding storage hazards, they
TEL: 781-891-0230
do not contemplate every potential for loss or damage. Therefore, every situation should be reviewed by
EMAIL: propertyengineering@libertymutual.com
the appropriate safety manager in an effort to take all appropriate steps and precautions to minimize storage
hazards. No duty or undertaking is intended or assumed by Liberty Mutual by this publication, as it is www.libertymutualproperty.com
informational in purpose.