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PalletCentral • March-April 2021 21 "A fire can ruin our business overnight. Even though you have insurance, you may or may not still have those customers and suppliers when you get back up and running again," Taylor says. In August 2019, a fire destroyed over 100,000 pallets, as well as several trucks and heavy equipment at Oregon Pallet. Authorities have determined the fire was intentionally set and the loss was well over $1 million. "is four alarm fire could have destroyed our business," Taylor says. "We have put razor wire fences up, changed our location of flammable items, and have security in our yard several times a night." Education Is Key To head off the inherent fire risk facing companies across the pallet industry, there are some key safety practices that need to be established. Bill Koffel, president and founder of Koffel Associates, Inc., is recognized as an expert in fire protection engineering and life safety aspects of fire codes and standards. According to Koffel, one of the key areas that pallet industry professionals need to focus on is the new requirements found in the 2018 and 2021 editions of the International Fire Code and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). "Even if the jurisdiction is using an older edition PREVENTION of a fire code, they can request that the fire official recognize the newer edition as an alternative compliance approach or equivalence," Koffel says. NWPCA's Fire Code Compliance Manual has been developed as a resource on the new fire codes. e manual highlights the importance of having a proactive relationship with your fire official and local authorities. "e help of local fire officials also is always a positive tool to have," Spahr says. "Try to have quarterly and yearly walk-throughs with your local officials. is will help because they are an extra set of eyes that see things differently than you do – since you see it all every day. Even having them do surprise visits would help keep everyone honest in the safety of your workplace." "We work constantly with our local fire department to keep ourselves and our neighbors safe by keeping in tune with the latest codes and suggestions offered," Taylor says. "During peak levels of inventory they are regularly in our yard making sure we are as low risk as possible for highly flammable products." "Something as simple as a new layout of product storage or machinery changes your normal day-to-day steps, especially for employees who have been there for years." Tom Spahr, general manager, J.F. Rohrbaugh & Co., Inc.

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