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September 1992Revised September 2000Page 1 of 15 IDLE PALLET STORAGE Table of Contents Page1.0 SCOPE ................................................................................................................................................... 31.1 Changes .......................................................................................................................................... 3 2.0 LOSS PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................... 32.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 32.2 Location and Construction ............................................................................................................... 32.2.1 Location of Storage ............................................................................................................... 32.2.1.1 Pallets in Manufacturing Areas .................................................................................. 52.2.2 Construction .......................................................................................................................... 62.2.2.1 Cut-off Room ............................................................................................................. 62.2.2.2 Steel Protection ......................................................................................................... 62.2.2.3 Building Columns ....................................................................................................... 62.2.2.4 Overhead Steel .......................................................................................................... 62.2.3 Automatic Heat and Smoke Venting ..................................................................................... 72.3 Protection ......................................................................................................................................... 72.3.1 On-Floor Arrangement ........................................................................................................... 72.3.1.1 Suppression Mode Automatic Sprinkler Protection ................................................... 72.3.1.2 Large-drop Sprinkler Protection ................................................................................ 82.3.1.3 Dry Pipe Systems ...................................................................................................... 92.3.2 Rack Storage Arrangement ................................................................................................... 92.3.2.1 Approved Plastic Pallets ............................................................................................ 92.3.2.2 Group I and Group II Pallets ..................................................................................... 92.3.2.3 Rack Protection Requirements ................................................................................ 102.3.2.4 In-Rack Sprinkler Design ......................................................................................... 102.3.2.5 Ceiling Sprinkler Design .......................................................................................... 11 3.0 SUPPORT FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................. 123.1 General .......................................................................................................................................... 123.1.1 Classification of Pallets ....................................................................................................... 13 4.0 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 134.1 FM Global ...................................................................................................................................... 13 APPENDIX A GLOSSARY OF TERMS ..................................................................................................... 15 APPENDIX B DOCUMENT REVISION HISTORY ..................................................................................... 15 List of Figures Fig. 1. Recommended locations for idle pallet storage................................................................................. 4Fig. 2. Typical horizontal barrier................................................................................................................... 11Fig. 3. In-rack sprinkler arrangement. Single row rack................................................................................ 12Fig. 4. In-rack sprinkler arrangement. Double-row rack.............................................................................. 13Fig. 5. In-rack sprinkler arrangement. Multiple-row rack............................................................................. 14 List of Tables Table 1. Guide for Possible Indoor Storage Locations for Idle Pallets as a Function of StorageArrangement and Type of Automatic Sprinkler Protection Available.............................................. 4Table 2. Safe Separation Distances for Outdoor Storage of Idle Pallets..................................................... 5Table 3. Summary of Steel Protection Criteria for On-floor Storage of Group I and Group IIIdle Pallets Protected by Standard Sprinklers................................................................................ 6 FM GlobalProperty Loss Prevention Data Sheets 8-24 ©2002 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of Factory Mutual Insurance Company. Table 4. Pressure and Number of Design Sprinklers Required for Large-Drop and SuppressionMode Sprinkler Protection of Pallets................................................................................................ 8Table 5. Total Water Demand For Protection of On-Floor Idle Pallet Storage Using StandardSprinklers........................................................................................................................................ 8Table 6. Ceiling Sprinkler Design Criteria for Rack Storage of Pallets Using Standard orLarge-Drop Sprinklers................................................................................................................... 11 8-24 Idle Pallet Storage Page 2 FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets ©2002 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved. 1.0 SCOPE This data sheet covers indoor and outdoor storage of Groups I and II idle pallets, and of FM Approved (seeAppendix A for definition) plastic pallets.Protection guidelines for palletized storage using plastic pallets are covered by Data Sheet 8-9, Storage of Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and Plastic Commodities . 1.1 Changes September 2000. This revision of the document has been reorganized to provide a consistent format. 2.0 LOSS PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS2.1 Introduction Managing the fire hazard of idle pallet storage is important to safeguard the building structure and to reduceexposures the pallets may present to other high-value storage in a warehouse. For indoor storage, losscontrol approaches using conventional sprinkler protection may restrict flexibility of storage arrangements,create large ceiling water demands and require extensive in-rack sprinkler protection for rack storage; theproblem is aggravated when Group II pallets are used.To provide for more flexible management of the fire hazard of idle pallets, loss control approaches usingApproved plastic pallets, suppression mode or large drop sprinkler protection, or a combination of these losscontrol methods should be pursued. 2.2 Location and Construction 2.2.1 Location of Storage Recommended locations for idle pallet storage are shown in Figure 1 and described below. The six storagelocations are shown in order of preference. The preferred storage location is outdoors (location 1), followedby storage in a low-cost detached building (location 2). When indoor storage in needed, it is preferable tohave it in readily accessible cut-off rooms (locations 3 and 4); however, depending on the type of pallet, thestorage arrangement and the protection available (Table 1), storage in locations 5 and 6 also may beacceptable.On-floor and rack storage of Group I pallets is acceptable in locations 3 through 6. On-floor storage of GroupII pallets is acceptable only outdoors or in readily accessible cut-off rooms (locations 3 or 4) unless protectedby large-drop or suppression mode sprinklers, when locations 5 and 6, respectively, also may be used. Rackstorage of Group II pallets adequately protected in accordance with this data sheet is acceptable in loca-tions 5 and 6.For outdoor storage (location 1), pay special attention to safe separation distances from the pallet storagearea to exposed buildings. Safe separation distances are given in Table 2; these distances are a function ofthe type and number of pallets in storage.Approved plastic pallets can be stored in the same locations as Group I pallets. Idle Pallet Storage 8-24 FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets Page 3 ©2002 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved. Table 1. Guide for Possible Indoor Storage Locations for Idle Pallets as a Function of Storage Arrangement and Type of Automatic Sprinkler Protection Available Type of Pallet Storage Arrangement Automatic Sprinkler Protection Standard 1 Suppression Mode Large-Drop 1 Group I On-floor Locations3 through 6Locations3 through 6Locations3 through 6Rack Locations3 through 6Locations3 through 6Locations3 through 6Group II On-floor Locations3 and 4Locations3 through 6Locations3, 4, and 5Rack Locations3 through 6Locations3 through 6Locations3 through 6Approved On-floor Locations3 through 6Locations3 through 6Locations3 through 6Rack Locations3 through 6Locations3 through 6Locations3 through 6 1 For rack storage of Group I and Group II pallets protected by standard and large-drop ceiling sprinklers, in-rack sprinklers are required.Requirements for in-rack sprinkler protection for Approved pallets should follow the listing of the pallet in the Approval Guide . Fig. 1. Recommended locations for idle pallet storage. 8-24 Idle Pallet Storage Page 4 FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets ©2002 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.
