🔥Fire Safety Tips for Storing Empty Pallets🔥
OSHA and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) both state that when stacking empty pallets (or any material, for that matter), you must leave at least 18" of clearance from any sprinkler head(s). However, did you know there are also specific standards related to stacking empty wood and plastic pallets (a potentially large fire load)? The information below should be communicated to all forklift operators, warehouse employees, and anyone else involved in placement and storage of pallets.
NFPA 1 (2021 edition) states that if you are stacking empty wood pallets outdoors, stacks shall not exceed 15 feet in height nor shall cover an area of greater than 400 sq. ft. In addition, a distance of not less than 8 ft. shall separate stacks, and piles shall be no closer than 8 ft. to any property line.
If empty wood and/or plastic pallets are placed in storage racks (such as in warehouses), they must be protected by a sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13, Ch. 20.17.3 (2022 edition).
Comments (14)
Well shut my mouth! I love this forum, I always learn stuff! Back in my Corporate days we had a Corp Policy on pallets. It went something like this: #1 Reduce the number of pallets needed and used, Use recyclable and re-useable dunnage whenever possible. #2 Reduce pallets in Manufacturing Areas and in 5 years (from 2013) ZERO would be allowed period. (This one actually reduced out Trip and Fall injuries by a sizeable %. When I retired we were very close to Zero in Manufacturing). #3 Indoors we could not stack more than 6 high and only one stack in a department. #4 When transporting indoors if there were 6 or more pallets on a stack, they had to be banded together or stretch wrapped. #5 Pallets were to be stored outside (but I do not remember any specifics on how) #6 Was my pet peeve, NO stacking pallets on their ends or edges!
Just to add to this (because there's always more, especially with NFPA), if you're in a space without sprinkler coverage, NFPA 1 requires storage to be 24" from the ceiling. You don't get out of the 18" rule by not having sprinklers!
Further, this would likely be considered a hazardous area under NFPA 101 due to a high combustible load and would have additional requirements depending on your occupancy.