[Sprinklerforum] Re: Idle Plastic Pallet Storage

[Bob Caputo]

James,



Your AHJ is technically correct, assuming the plastic pallets are not
chemically treated or listed. (Chapter 20)



The rules for Miscellaneous storage or Low piled storage (2019 edition
Chapter 4) do not apply because they’re defined specifically and Idle
Pallet Storage is section (20.14). Since the receiver doesn’t control what
pallet types they receive from the shipper, your client is likely to have
multiple types of pallets.



>From a practical perspective, the idle pallet storage rules are based on a
lot more than a dozen pallets, but the standard doesn’t offer an
alternative for a limited number of pallets.



IF your AHJ would consider the pallets to be Miscellaneous Storage of a
Group A plastic, Table 4.3.1.7.1 would allow up to 5 ft high storage with a
design criteria based on OH2.



It is within the AHJ’s purview to allow an alternative if you could
convince him/her to accept it as an equivalency under section 1.5 but idle
pallets can be (likely to be) a much faster and hotter fire than just
plastics – again, a lot depends on the pallet construction and chemical
makeup.











*Important Notice:** Any opinion expressed in this correspondence is the
personal opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the
official position of the NFPA or its Technical Committees. The American
Fire Sprinkler Association does not offer consultation services.  This
correspondence is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to
provide professional consultation or services.*



*Bob Caputo, CFPS*

*President*

*American Fire Sprinkler Association*

c: 760-908-7753

p:

214-349-5965 ext124

w:

firesprinkler.org




   



*Enter your apprentices to win a trip to Las Vegas! *

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Competition is April 29, 2022. Don't miss this opportunity to be recognized
for your training efforts! *It’s free to enter online at
**https://www.firesprinkler.org/competition
*



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Program prepares your trainees with a long term career path and the proper
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team is properly trained! *



*From:* James Crawford 
*Sent:* Tuesday, April 5, 2022 7:08 PM
*To:* sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org
*Subject:* [Sprinklerforum] Idle Plastic Pallet Storage



We have a client that we are trying to help out and are getting push back
from the AHJ



System is designed to Ordinary Hazard Group 2.



Some of the product they get in comes on unreinforced plastic pallet and
the need to store them until they get enough to have picked up, normally
about 12 pallets. If they store them in one pile due to limited space this
works out to about 5’-0” high. They would only have one pile or about 16 ft²,
and the AHJ has said they need to upgrade the roof system or reduce the
storage height as code only allows 4’-0” high storage.



The way we were looking at it is that the total amount of plastics is much
less then what would be allowed by an Ordinary Hazard system.



Any comments.



Thank You



James Crawford

Phaser Fire Protection Ltd.

Phone 604-888-0318

Cel: 604-790-0938

Email jcrawf...@phaserfire.ca

Web: www.phaserfire.ca

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[Sprinklerforum] Re: Idle Plastic Pallet Storage

[Bob Caputo]

James,



With an apology, I should have looked at the latest edition of NFPA 13….
The 2022 edition provides some guidance that addresses your situation:



*20.17.2.2.4.3 *

Plastic pallets shall have no impact on the required sprinkler protection
when stored as follows:

   - (1) Storage shall be piled no higher than 4 ft (1.2 m).
   - (2) Sprinkler protection shall employ high temperature–rated
   sprinklers.
   - (3) Each pallet pile of no more than two stacks shall be separated
   from other pallet piles by at least 8 ft (2.4 m) of clear space or 25 ft
   (7.6 m) of stored commodity.
   - (4) Minimum ceiling design of OH2 shall be used.



Your AHJ should be able to accept this under section 1.5 of whatever
edition you’re using









*Bob Caputo, CFPS*

*President*

*American Fire Sprinkler Association*

c: 760-908-7753

p:

214-349-5965 ext124

w:

firesprinkler.org




   



*Enter your apprentices to win a trip to Las Vegas! *

The deadline to enter to compete in the 29th Annual National Apprentice
Competition is April 29, 2022. Don't miss this opportunity to be recognized
for your training efforts! *It’s free to enter online at
**https://www.firesprinkler.org/competition
*



*More than a check-box! Enrollment in AFSA’s Apprenticeship Training
Program prepares your trainees with a long term career path and the proper
eduction to limit your company’s liability, by ensuring your installation
team is properly trained! *



*From:* Bob Caputo 
*Sent:* Wednesday, April 6, 2022 7:01 AM
*To:* 'James Crawford' ; '
sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org' <
sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org>
*Subject:* RE: [Sprinklerforum] Idle Plastic Pallet Storage



James,



Your AHJ is technically correct, assuming the plastic pallets are not
chemically treated or listed. (Chapter 20)



The rules for Miscellaneous storage or Low piled storage (2019 edition
Chapter 4) do not apply because they’re defined specifically and Idle
Pallet Storage is section (20.14). Since the receiver doesn’t control what
pallet types they receive from the shipper, your client is likely to have
multiple types of pallets.



>From a practical perspective, the idle pallet storage rules are based on a
lot more than a dozen pallets, but the standard doesn’t offer an
alternative for a limited number of pallets.



IF your AHJ would consider the pallets to be Miscellaneous Storage of a
Group A plastic, Table 4.3.1.7.1 would allow up to 5 ft high storage with a
design criteria based on OH2.



It is within the AHJ’s purview to allow an alternative if you could
convince him/her to accept it as an equivalency under section 1.5 but idle
pallets can be (likely to be) a much faster and hotter fire than just
plastics – again, a lot depends on the pallet construction and chemical
makeup.











*Important Notice:** Any opinion expressed in this correspondence is the
personal opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the
official position of the NFPA or its Technical Committees. The American
Fire Sprinkler Association does not offer consultation services.  This
correspondence is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to
provide professional consultation or services.*



*Bob Caputo, CFPS*

*President*

*American Fire Sprinkler Association*

c: 760-908-7753

p:

214-349-5965 ext124

w:

firesprinkler.org




   



*Enter your apprentices to win a trip to Las Vegas! *

The deadline to enter to compete in the 29th Annual National Apprentice
Competition is April 29, 2022. Don't miss this opportunity to be recognized
for your training efforts! *It’s free to enter online at
**https://www.firesprinkler.org/competition
*



*More than a check-box! Enrollment in AFSA’s Apprenticeship Training
Program prepares your trainees with a long term career path and the proper
eduction to limit your company’s liability, by ensuring your installation
team is properly trained! *



*From:* James Crawford 
*Sent:* Tuesday, April 5, 2022 7:08 PM
*To:* sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org
*Subject:* [Sprinklerforum] Idle Plastic Pallet Storage



We have a client that we are trying to help out and are getting push back
from the AHJ



System is designed to Ordinary Hazard Group 2.



Some of the product they get in comes on unreinforced plastic pallet and
the need to store them until they get enough to have picked up, normally
about 12 pallets. If they store them in one pile due to limited space this
works out to abo

[Sprinklerforum] Re: Idle Plastic Pallet Storage

[James Crawford]

Bob

I understand the section of the code as this is what the AHJ is saying, but I 
guess my question is, is one stack of plastic pallets 5 to 6’ high more of a 
concern then 2 stacks of plastic pallets 4’-0” high in an Ordinary Hazard 
system?

Thank You

James Crawford
Phaser Fire Protection Ltd.
Phone 604-888-0318
Cel: 604-790-0938
Email jcrawf...@phaserfire.ca
Web: www.phaserfire.ca

From: Bob Caputo 
Sent: Wednesday, April 6, 2022 5:59 AM
To: James Crawford ; 
sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org
Subject: RE: [Sprinklerforum] Idle Plastic Pallet Storage

James,

With an apology, I should have looked at the latest edition of NFPA 13….  The 
2022 edition provides some guidance that addresses your situation:

20.17.2.2.4.3
Plastic pallets shall have no impact on the required sprinkler protection when 
stored as follows:

  *   (1) Storage shall be piled no higher than 4 ft (1.2 m).
  *   (2) Sprinkler protection shall employ high temperature–rated sprinklers.
  *   (3) Each pallet pile of no more than two stacks shall be separated from 
other pallet piles by at least 8 ft (2.4 m) of clear space or 25 ft (7.6 m) of 
stored commodity.
  *   (4) Minimum ceiling design of OH2 shall be used.

Your AHJ should be able to accept this under section 1.5 of whatever edition 
you’re using




[Image removed by sender.]
Bob Caputo, CFPS
President
American Fire Sprinkler Association
c: 760-908-7753
p:
214-349-5965 ext124
w:
firesprinkler.org
[Image removed by sender.]  [Image 
removed by sender.]    
[Image removed by sender.] 
   
[Image removed by sender.] 

Enter your apprentices to win a trip to Las Vegas!
The deadline to enter to compete in the 29th Annual National Apprentice 
Competition is April 29, 2022. Don't miss this opportunity to be recognized for 
your training efforts! It’s free to enter online at 
https://www.firesprinkler.org/competition

More than a check-box! Enrollment in AFSA’s Apprenticeship Training Program 
prepares your trainees with a long term career path and the proper eduction to 
limit your company’s liability, by ensuring your installation team is properly 
trained!

From: Bob Caputo mailto:bcap...@firesprinkler.org>>
Sent: Wednesday, April 6, 2022 7:01 AM
To: 'James Crawford' mailto:jcrawf...@phaserfire.ca>>; 
'sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org'
 
mailto:sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org>>
Subject: RE: [Sprinklerforum] Idle Plastic Pallet Storage

James,

Your AHJ is technically correct, assuming the plastic pallets are not 
chemically treated or listed. (Chapter 20)

The rules for Miscellaneous storage or Low piled storage (2019 edition Chapter 
4) do not apply because they’re defined specifically and Idle Pallet Storage is 
section (20.14). Since the receiver doesn’t control what pallet types they 
receive from the shipper, your client is likely to have multiple types of 
pallets.

From a practical perspective, the idle pallet storage rules are based on a lot 
more than a dozen pallets, but the standard doesn’t offer an alternative for a 
limited number of pallets.

IF your AHJ would consider the pallets to be Miscellaneous Storage of a Group A 
plastic, Table 4.3.1.7.1 would allow up to 5 ft high storage with a design 
criteria based on OH2.

It is within the AHJ’s purview to allow an alternative if you could convince 
him/her to accept it as an equivalency under section 1.5 but idle pallets can 
be (likely to be) a much faster and hotter fire than just plastics – again, a 
lot depends on the pallet construction and chemical makeup.





Important Notice: Any opinion expressed in this correspondence is the personal 
opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the official position 
of the NFPA or its Technical Committees. The American Fire Sprinkler 
Association does not offer consultation services.  This correspondence is 
neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to provide professional 
consultation or services.

[Image removed by sender.]
Bob Caputo, CFPS
President
American Fire Sprinkler Association
c: 760-908-7753
p:
214-349-5965 ext124
w:
firesprinkler.org
[Image removed by sender.]  [Image 
removed by sender.]    
[Image removed by sender.] 
   
[Image removed by sender.] 

Enter your apprentices to win a trip to Las Vegas!
The deadline to enter to compete in the 29th Annual National Apprentice 
Competition is April 29, 2022. Don't miss this opportun