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Fire Baffles for Pallet Rack
Rack-based fire protection measures help minimize the damage of warehouse fires
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"Local officials and approval boards don't always understand how fire codes apply to pallet rack. If you're storing flammable materials, you need a strong fire protection plan up front, which may include rack-based protection like fire baffles and in-rack sprinklers. This will help you not only manage fire risk, but also get your project off the ground in the first place. Contact us with your questions!"
John, Employee-Owner
Systems Integration Group
How fire codes affect your warehouse
Fire protection is an important consideration for warehouse managers. The National Fire Protection Association estimated that around 10,000 fires occurred at facilities in the industrial, manufacturing and warehousing sectors on average every year between 2015 and 2019. But it's not just the frequency that poses a threat; it's the amount of damage. Fires in the storage category alone caused an average of more than $645 million in damage per year during those years.
Because fires are so damaging, fire codes are stringent, and sometimes they're difficult to navigate. So you'll need professional advice and solid project management during a rack install, especially if you're storing flammable materials.
If you're storing flammable materials like paper, fibers, aerosols or alcohol on pallet rack, a strong fire protection plan—including rack-based protection like fire baffles—is critical.
How fire baffles work
Fire baffles are steel inserts in pallet racks, placed vertically, horizontally or both. They serve two functions: to contain flames around an opening, limiting the spread of a fire, and to conduct the heat from a fire toward detection zones, activating fire suppression systems. (They also help ensure proper flue space, which is another crucial piece of code compliance.)
By containing flames and making sure sprinklers activate quickly, baffles buy critical time, limiting the damage of a fire.
Solid steel baffles vs. wire decking
Wood and plastic pallets, packing materials and other common warehouse materials can all catch fire, so no matter what you're storing, you'll want to consider all of the fire protection methods that apply. But for especially flammable loads and substances, baffles provide special protection. Horizontal baffles are available in load-bearing or non-load-bearing models as a fire-protective substitute for wire decking.
Baffle types
- Vertical: placed along the uprights to keep flames from spreading to adjacent bays or racks
- Horizontal: placed along the beams to keep flames from spreading to higher bays
- Horizontal baffles can also be installed over longitudinal or transverse flue spaces
Available features
- Available with fasteners that attach permanently to pallet rack, or with moveable brackets that allow you to reconfigure as your needs change
- Custom solutions can work with double column uprights and a variety of bracing panels
- Can easily be included in new pallet rack systems, but can also be installed in existing rack
- Available in flat or corrugated designs
If you're considering beefing up your fire protection—or if code or circumstances require you to—we can help you with rack systems that meet all required codes and fit the particulars of your situation. Contact us with your questions.