RMI member Gary Smith has long served as the group’s representative on a National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 13 committee tasked with creating and revising national standards specific to the safe design of sprinkler systems. Intimately familiar with warehouse fire sprinkler codes, Smith will be sharing some of his insights about rack fire safety during ProMat 2019 in Chicago.
His free, on-floor seminar “Warehouse Fire Sprinkler Codes and Impact on Storage Racks” will be held on Tuesday, April 9. For those unable to attend the 45-minute session—or who wish to review its content—the presentation and its accompanying audio will be recorded and shared shortly after the conclusion of ProMat.
Rack Sprinkler System Topics
The session will include sprinkler system design approaches, system installation, and component options to prevent fire deaths and property loss. Smith will also review some of the latest warehouse fire statistics and estimated insurance losses. Additionally, he will share an overview of pertinent national codes and standards associated with the design of sprinkler protection systems. Permitting processes and key personnel roles will also be covered.
Smith will further share the three areas that need to be considered by a fire protection engineer when determining which rules need to be followed when designing a warehouse’s fire suppression system. These include:
- The type of commodities stored (non-combustibles, plastics, furniture, paper and wood products, and more).
- The type and density of the rack and the pallets used to store the products.
- The heights of both the racks and the building.
For facilities storing products with either unique or environmental constraints, other options will be reviewed.
Fire Prevention Accessories and Devices Discussed
Additionally, the presentation reviews rack fire safety devices and accessories. Adding these components into a rack structure ensures that water flows through designated flue spaces. Smith will include a discussion of the need for overhead clearances to prevent blocked water spray. He will also detail considerations for the location of in-rack sprinkler heads to avoid impacts from forklifts.
Finally, as warehouses grow ever larger, firefighters are developing new techniques in fighting fires within these facilities. These—as well as changes to the current edition of NFPA 13—will be shared. Attendees will leave the presentation armed with a complete checklist of areas that must be considered when designing and operating a warehouse storing flammable products.
Learn More About Rack Fire Safety
Can’t wait until ProMat 2019 for more details about integrating fire suppression systems and storage rack? Additional details can be found in the “Building Departments and Fire Codes” section of RMI’s frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.
