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PalletCentral • May-June 2022 35 The Fire Code Compliance Manual for the Outdoor Storage of Wooden Pallets T he NWPCA compliance manual provides the necessary infor- mation facilities need to achieve compliance with the revised requirements from the 2018 code revision cycle. The docu- ment also includes templates and checklists that facilities can use to facilitate drafting the required plans and maintaining the needed documentation. While these revised requirements may not yet be in effect in your jurisdiction, the document will help you prepare for the pending changes. Download in English and Spanish: PalletCentral.com/ compliancemanual NWPCA Código de Incendio Manual de Cumplimiento E l manual de cumplimiento de NWPCA proporciona la infor- mación necesaria que las instalaciones necesitan para lograr el cumplimiento de los requisitos revisados del ciclo de revisión del código de 2018. El documento también incluye plantillas y listas de verificación que las instalaciones pueden usar para facilitar la redacción de los planes requeridos y el mantenimiento de la docu- mentación necesaria. Si bien estos requisitos revisados pueden no estar vigentes en su jurisdicción, el documento lo/la ayudará a prepararse para los cambios pendientes. Además, los procedimientos operativos sólidos beneficiarán a cualquier instalación al ayudarlos a gestionar su riesgo de incendio. Descargar en ingles y español: PalletCentral.com/compliancemanual-Spanish • Keep work areas, restrooms, lunch facilities, and locker rooms free of dust, lint, sawdust, scraps, paper, or similar material. • Do not use extension cords as permanent wiring. • Do not overload circuits. • Use spark-resistant tools. • Smoke only in designated smoking areas and extinguish all smoking material in fire-safe receptacles. • Regularly inspect work areas and promptly remove and properly dispose of accumulations of combustible materials. • Employees ensure that the aisles and workspaces remain clear and free of flammable or combustible trash. • Suitable clearances are maintained below sprinkler heads for storage (where applicable). • Access to electrical switches and controls remain clear. • ere is no excessive accumulation of paper, rags, sweepings, or debris. • Exits, fire door closures, and electrical panels remain unobstructed and in good working order. • Practicing these "good" housekeeping techniques every day. e NWPCA Fire Code Compliance Manual (over 80 pages) is filled with guidelines and downloadable templates to help your facility comply with the fire codes and support your educational outreach. ere are two groups that administer building code regulations for the external storage of wood pallets: the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Code Council (ICC). e jurisdiction of each Code depends on the state and locality of your facility (or facilities). You will need to consult with your local fire official to determine code enforcement in your area. e NFPA and ICC are more performance- based codes with specific conditions for wood pallet manufacturers and recyclers. Among these conditions are: • Each facility maintains a current site plan. • Each facility maintains a current fire prevention plan. • Each facility maintains a current security management plan. • Pallet storage is limited to stacks of 20 ft. high and has a perimeter spacing from essential buildings and property lines of 0.75 times the stack height.* Every three years, a new set of code changes for each document is processed. Any changes are generally based on historical fire experience. erefore, it's in the industry's best interest to adopt good housekeeping and other practices to reduce the frequency and size of any fires, should they occur. Practice "spring cleaning" every day and schedule time with your local fire authorities to visit and share ideas. Good stewardship of fire safety helps the entire industry. *For NFPA jurisdictions, pallet stack piles sizes are limited in one direction to either 60 ft. or 100 ft., depending on the provided spacing. Nothing is more important than the safety of your employees and those who live and work in the neighboring community, many of whom are involved in firefighting and other public safety efforts.

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