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Pallet C e nt ral • May -Ju ne 2 0 25 35 the sprinkler design criteria for the storage of idle wood pallets, based upon the discharge criteria of the sprinkler system. As such, there is no single height restriction; but rather allowances to store 6ft, 8ft, 12ft, 20ft, 25ft, and 30ft depending on the sprinkler system. e sprinkler design criteria become demanding when the pallets are stored higher than 8 ft. erefore, while not an absolute restriction, 6-foot or 8-foot storage height restrictions will apply at many facilities. In addition to the height restriction based upon the sprinkler system, it should also be noted that there is a minimum clearance from the sprinkler that must be met. For most sprinklers, the minimum clearance from the sprinkler is established as a horizontal plane at 18-inches beneath the deflector of the sprinkler. In order to prepare for your discussion with the fire official or insurance company you should attempt to determine the design criteria for the sprinkler system protecting your building. In a perfect world you would have the as-built drawings and hydraulic calculations for the sprinkler i If one does not have a copy of NFPA 13, one can read various edi ons of NFPA 13 by going to www.nfpa.org/13 and scroll down to the line that allows you to review the standard and select the applicable edi on to be viewed. located either outside or in a separate, detached building. If the storage is located in a detached building, the storage height will likely be limited to a height that provides at least 24 inches of clearance between the top of the storage and the ceiling of the building. system. Both of those documents are likely to contain a summary sheet that will identify the sprinkler system design criteria in terms of xx gpm/sq. ft over y y square feet. In the absence of either of these documents, there should be a hydraulic information sign located on your sprinkler system riser near the main control valve. e bottom part of the hydraulic information sign below indicates that the sprinkler system was designed to provide 0.20 gpm/ sq ft over 1513 square feet. Referring to Table 20.14.1.2(a) (NFPA 13-2019 Edition), a density of 0.20 gpm/sq ft would allow the storage of wood pallets in this warehouse up to 6 ft. in height but only if the area of operation was 3000 sq ft instead of 1513 sq ft. i In summary, if your building is protected with an automatic sprinkler system, one needs to know the design criteria for the sprinkler system and the applicable edition of NFPA 13 to determine the maximum height of storage. If your building is not protected with an automatic sprinkler system, the applicable fire code may require that the storage of pallets be Access your complimentary copy of the NWPCA Fire Code Compliance Manual for Outdoor Storage of Wooden Pallets. Available In English and Spanish Palletcentral.com/ComplianceManual Hydraulic Informa on Sign William Koffel has been a fire safety/code consultant to NWPCA for approximately 10 years. He is the Sr. Director of Special Projects at Koffel Associates (www.koffel. com) and an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Fire Protec on Engineering at the University of Maryland.

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