Metal or Steel Pallets Affect Sprinkler Design?

1/25/2022

Do metal or steel pallets have any adverse effects on a storage system's (either racked or high-piled) sprinkler demand or density?

I know plastic pallets can increase the commodity classification of class I-class IV commodities, but I don't think metal does. I have a storage facility that can't use wood pallets but also can't protect the level of plastic commodities required without a costly fire pump.

Thanks in advance.

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12 Comments

Anthony

1/25/2022 08:07:40 am

No adverse effect on the system. Non combustible is non combustible.

Jesse

1/25/2022 08:08:41 am

Nope. Non-combustible is non-combustible and won't contribute to the fuel load.

Glenn Berger

1/25/2022 08:11:41 am

One issue that I have come across -- Metal pallets can be viewed as causing solid shelving configuration. But as far as adverse effects going from plastic to metal pallets - none.

Franck

1/25/2022 08:35:24 am

This is true, but only with oversized pallets.
With normal pallet load sizes, the footprint is the same as wooden/plastic pallets and you keep the required longitudinal and transversal flue spaces in the racks.

Ed K

1/25/2022 09:41:20 am

I was curious about this and searched NFPA 13 (2019) for "slave". For the particular conditions listed, section 21.4.1.4.2 says to increase ceiling density 20% when using a solid, flat-bottom, combustible pallet in lieu of conventional pallets. The OP is considering non-combustible pallets, but I take from this that under the right (wrong?) conditions, a slave-type pallet can increase the hazard vs a conventional pallet. I'm not making sense of that - can anyone enlighten me?

Franck

1/25/2022 11:22:37 am

You're right, it is quite strange as if you are looking to the definition of open vs solid shelves, having a solid shelf less than 20 sq ft is considered as open rack (as you would still have the longitudinal and transverse flue space).
This would mean that the solid flat-bottom slave pallets are more than 20 sq ft, or they block somehow the longitundinal flue space... which is rarely the case.

The only additional issue I see, is that when you have no load on the slave pallet, you still have the footprint of the slave pallet in the rack that would prevent water from the ceiling reaching loads underneath (the slave pallet remains in the racks, as would solid shelving). And this footprint is combustible as would be a solid plank of wood, thus a potential for fire spread underneath it.
But this is only a guess.

This won't apply with metal pallets as they will remain with the load stored on it, not as a slave solid flat bottom metal pallet.

Franck

1/25/2022 08:32:25 am

It should even require a lower density (but NFPA has not gone that far…).
Take a class I commodity where the fire load is only related to the pallets. With metal pallets, there is no more potential for fire spread.
So no adverse effect. And no beneficial effect as a conservative approach

They are used in some nuclear power plants for radiological effect : wood is immediately considered as a radioactive waste, while plastic and metal pallets can be surface cleaned. And metal has the advantage to plastic regarding the combustible load.

Anthony c Brown

1/25/2022 08:37:24 am

Just finished an analysis for a pharmaceutical warehouse rack system and in doing so took a hard look at various pallets. The quotes on the steel pallets came in around $230-285 depending on size. The fire retardant pallets meeting client requirements were coming in at $140. Just wondering if you have done a complete life-cycle analysis of the pallets v. the Fire Pump.

Alex

1/25/2022 09:33:33 am

I agree with Anthony's thought here, but make sure you think of reoccurring costs down the road as well. Along with possible replacement parts/maintenance.

Greg

1/25/2022 08:42:57 am

In the question I see that a key issue is the cost of a fire pump. Are you absolutely certain that your current system can not provide ample water ? Remember k factor changes, increased main piping size, gridd-ing the system might be enough to get a sufficient density for your commodity, configuration and height. Have any improvements been made to the building's water supply...can any improvements be made (example; a commitment by the city to increase pressure or improve line sizing, etc.). Is the underground lead -in or backflow preventer stealing too much pressure? You might need every last psi to make something work, short of a fire pump. And....can the plant manager give any concessions on storage height, arrangement, etc. that will get you to the correct density.

Also, does NFPA 13, Chapter 24.1 help you. Use NFPA "Free Access" if you do not have a subscription.
24.1 * General.
24.1.1
Sprinklers intended to protect storage fire risks shall be permitted to be installed using water supply design criteria that are different from the design criteria specified for the sprinklers described in Chapters 20 through 23 and 25 when specifically listed for such use within the limitations described in this chapter.

Lastly, as for the metal pallets...unless they are being stacked on top of the commodity, it would seem to be a non-issue.

Hope this can help you.

Franck

1/25/2022 08:59:57 am

I can see anyway a great advantage of using metal pallets versus plastic pallets, even though the water supply and sprinkler system can cope with the plastic pallets: you eliminate the hazard related to the plastic pallets, which is present in the storage configuration (obvious aggravating factor for your commodity), but would also be present with pile storage of idle pallets somewhere in the same warehouse. Plastic idle pallets storage is a real nightmare!

Alex

1/25/2022 09:35:34 am

Echoing others, no effect. Noncombustible!

I agree with Frank though, the benefit to the metal pallets is the fact that you are not adding to the fire load. Sadly, there is no reduction in density at the moment for that.

Alex

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Metal or Steel Pallets Affect Sprinkler Design?

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