How to Preplan Your Warehouse for Fire Safety

Fire Protection Services in Houston & Galveston, TX

As warehouses continue to increase in height, incorporate more complicated rack storage systems, and include greater numbers of plastic packaging and goods, warehouse fire protection must continue to evolve. Is your warehouse properly designed around fire safety?

Warehouses are one of the most common areas where fire safety can be overlooked and negligence gives way to disastrous consequences. Here’s what you should consider when preplanning your warehouse for fire safety.

Do you have questions about fire prevention or fire protection services in Galveston or Houston, Texas? Contact us or call (713) 893-1090 to learn more about our fire prevention services!

Warehouse Fire Safety Considerations

Keep your employees safe by designing a warehouse storage system that meets the following requirements:

• Aisles that dead end must be no more than 50 feet long. Aisles longer than this must have an exit.
• You must leave an aisle between stacks of boxes and cartons at least every 100 feet. If the storage is up against the wall, leave space for an aisle that is 50 feet from the wall.
• Leave unobstructed aisle space between rolling ladders, stock cards, etc. used for manual restacking. The passable area must total 24 inches wide or half the aisle width, whichever is greater.
• Maintain unobstructed aisles of at least 44 inches wide during mechanical restocking.

Fire Sprinkler Systems

Fire sprinklers are a primary source of fire protection for Houston warehouses. However, the system must be carefully designed to meet the unique needs of your storage facility. For instance, you might store unpacked materials, stacks of boxes, goods on wood pallets, or items stacked on shelves or racks. Your storage methods impact the way a fire might spread and how effectively nozzles can reach the flames.

A fire protection company can help you select the correct type of sprinkler system. Deluge automatic sprinklers are a common choice since they deliver the highest quantity of water at the fastest speed.

Flammable Material Storage

If you store aerosols, ethanol, vegetable oil, and other flammable liquids, you have other requirements to follow when planning your warehouse:

• Prohibit smoking. To make this rule clear, post “No Smoking” signs where they’re easy to see.
• Store liquid propane fuel cylinders for forklifts at least 20 feet away from fire exits. These cylinders are limited to 300 lbs. per storage facility (meaning you can have six 43-lb cylinders or nine 33-lb cylinders on site). If you need more than this, make sure the cylinders are positioned at least 300 feet apart.

Fire Protection Services for Warehouses in Houston, TX

The considerations outlined here are just the initial requirements for preplanning your warehouse for fire safety. To ensure code compliance in every aspect of your warehouse design and storage methods, team up with Kauffman Co. We’ll help minimize your fire risk and ensure a quick response from automated equipment if a blaze breaks out.

To learn more about our comprehensive fire protection services for warehouses in Houston, please contact us online or call (713) 893-1090 today.