Selective Rack + Fire Safety for Document Storage
Solution at a Glance:
- Services Provided: Design, Installation, Permitting Support, Project Management
- Products Provided: Selective Rack, Flue Keepers, Carton Stop
- Location: Augusta, GA
Scope: Storage System Needed for Safe Storage of Boxes of Paper
A company that stores boxes of documents needed to expand their storage capacity. The company’s stored paper products are considered a Class III commodity as dictated by the National Fire Code Association (NFPA). In addition, the company had to comply with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) fire code specifications. Together, these regulations dictate multiple fire code compliance features that must be present in the storage system design.
Thus, the company had to ensure that their design included all necessary specifications to adhere to fire codes and ensure a safe environment for employees and their customers’ stored materials. They needed a professional material handling system designer that is knowledgeable about fire code requirements and how to integrate them while still maintaining efficient operations in a cost-effective manner.
Solution: Unique Design to Adhere to Fire Codes and Cut Costs
The company hired their longtime storage system provider, REB Storage Systems, to project manage their new storage system, including the design. REB designers assessed the space, product volume, picking practices, and applicable codes.
The final design allowed for all 147,816 boxes of documents to be stored. REB designers concluded that the warehouse’s existing early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers were code compliant, and designed the layout to ensure they could be used. This provided cost savings for the customer.
The design included a flue space per beam level in every row. Furthermore, REB installed a mid-span carton stop every 5 feet, which creates additional flue spaces. Flue spaces are defined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as clear vertical lines of sight from the floor to the ceiling within rack storage systems. They are important fire safety measures because they decrease both the time it takes for the sprinkler system to detect a fire and the time it takes for the water from the sprinkler system to reach the fire in lower areas of the system.
Outcome: Significant Cost Savings for Fire Code Compliant Storage System
REB’s unique combination of design elements allowed the system to incorporate solid decking as opposed to the typical, more costly, 50% open decking. It also eliminated the need for in-rack sprinklers. This provided the company cost savings of more than $300k without comprising adherence to NFPA fire codes.
Ensure Your Storage System is Code Compliant
If you’re in need a of new material handling system, consider hiring the experts at REB Storage Systems. Our team will ensure that your system meets all safety codes necessary for your location and commodity classification while also optimizing the space you have for efficient operations.
We’d appreciate the opportunity to help you further, whether that be more information or a quote. Fill out the contact form on this page or call us at (800) 252-5955 to get in touch with a REB representative.
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Since 1962
REB has completed more than 100,000 projects in 15 countries (including all 50 states) for more than 20,000 customers across 50 industries, with 70% of customers as repeat buyers.
This is made possible by our team that has more than 300 years of industry experience designing and project managing material handling systems.
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