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9/23/14

NFPA 13, 2013 Ed.:

Storage
Occupancies
Presented by Bob Caputo and Matt Klaus
To receive credit for this seminar, you must:
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2) Attend seminar in its entirety, and
3) Submit a completed evaluation form.

Paper-Lite
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The handout file for this seminar can be
downloaded at:

www.firesprinkler.org/convention

DISCLAIMER
This seminar and its content is not a formal interpretation
issued pursuant to NFPA regulations. Any opinion expressed is
the personal opinion of the author and presenter and does
not necessarily present the official position of the NFPA and
its Technical Committees.

9/23/14

Instructors
Bob Caputo, CFPS
bcaputo@telgian.com
Matt Klaus, PE
mklaus@nfpa.org

NFPA 13 Structure
Scope, Application, and General (Ch 1,2,4)
Definitions (Ch 3)
Hazard and Commodity Classification (Ch 5)
Installation Rules (Ch 6, 7, and 8)
Seismic (Ch 9)
Underground (Ch 10)
Storage (Ch 12-21)
Special Occupancies (Ch 22)
Plans and Calculations (Ch 23)

1946 Edition Section IV


Item 4

(4) Automatic Sprinklers. Automatic


sprinklers with adequate water
supplies are recommended for the
protection of buildings of
combustible construction or housing
combustible contents. Automatic
Sprinkler systems shall be provided
with appropriate waterflow devices
as specified in the NFPA standards
for the installation of sprinkler
equipment to provide notification in
case of flow of water from any
cause, unless specifically waived by
the authority having jurisdiction.

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Evolution of Requirements
Storage height and dollar driven

Now . . .

Impact of Racking on
Standards

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Gratuitous Video of Fire

Commodity and
Packaging
Classification

Overview
Occupancy vs.
commodity classification
Definitions
Commodity classification
analysis
Impact of packaging
Pallets
Activities
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Chapter 5 Occupancy vs.


Storage

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VS.

Miscellaneous Storage in an
Occupancy

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3.9.1.6 Commodity

COMMODITY

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Commodity Classification
Overview

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5.6.3.1 Class I
5.6.3.2 Class II
5.6.3.3 Class III
5.6.3.4 Class IV
5.6.4.1 Group A
5.6.4.2 Group B
5.6.4.2 Group C

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Commodity Classification
Overview
5.6.3.1 Class I
5.6.3.2 Class II
5.6.3.3 Class III
5.6.3.4 Class IV
5.6.4.1 Group A
5.6.4.2 Group B
5.6.4.2 Group C

Danger in Incorrect
Classification

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Class I Commodity
Noncombustible
Stored on wood
pallets

In corrugated
containers with or
without singlethickness
cardboard dividers

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Class II Commodity
Slightly increased
amounts of
combustible
packaging, or
Trim

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Class III Commodity


Ordinary
combustibles in
cardboard cartons
On wood pallets
Limited amount of
plastic allowed

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Class IV Commodity

Class I, II, or III products with


appreciable amounts of
Group A plastics in
corrugated cartons
Class I, II, and III products in
ordinary corrugated cartons
with expanded Group A
plastic packaging
With or without wood pallets

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Group A Plastics
Cartoned, Unexpanded

Cartoned, Expanded

Exposed, Expanded

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Annex Tables
Table A.5.6.3
Alphabetized Listing of Commodity
Classes
Pgs. 268-271
NFPA 13, 2013 Ed.

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Pallets

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Varying materials
and compositions
Not required but
common
NFPA 13 assumes
wood pallets
ARS system pallets

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Pallet Modifiers
One class upgrade for un-reinforced
plastic pallets
Class II -> Class III
Class IV -> Group A Plastics

Two class upgrade for reinforced plastic


pallets
Class II -> Class IV
Class III -> Group A Plastics

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What if I have both?

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WARNING!!
Critical step in the design process
Annex is for guidance
Responsibility of design professional
Check local requirements
Discuss with insurance representative
Discuss with building owner representative

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Management of Change
Change in storage facility
operation
Ownership
Stored commodity
Packaging
Storage schemes

What is Commodity
Classification Testing?

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A standardized test
method
Assessment of the
ability of a stored
commodity to be
protected by water
This methodology
assesses the relative
fire risk of the stored
commodity

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Storage Fundamentals

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Overview
Required information
Critical dimensions
Miscellaneous storage
Other considerations

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General Storage Type
Bin Box, Shelf, and Back-to-Back
Rack vs. Piled (Palletized,
Shelf Storage)

OR

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Required Information Before Proceeding


to the Applicable Chapters for Class I, II,
III, IV and Plastic Commodities

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Palletized, Solid Piled, Bin Box, Shelf, and


Back-to-Back Shelf Storage
Determine commodity class Section 5.6.3
Determine ceiling height Section 12.1.3.1
Storage height:
From floor Section 12.1.3.3
Clearance to sprinkler minimum
Section 8.5.6
Clearance to ceiling Section 12.1.3.4
Storage arrangement Section 3.9.2
Miscellaneous storage Section 3.9.1.18
(Go to Chapter 13)
General storage Chapter 14 and 15

Palletized and Piled Storage


Step 1
Identify Commodity

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Chapter 5
Annex material
What is the product?
How is it packaged?
Encapsulated/banded?

Will the packaging change?


Variations on the product?

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Encapsulated vs. Banded

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Palletized and Piled Storage


Step 2 Identify building height

Palletized and Piled Storage


Step 3
Establishing
storage height

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Palletized and Piled Storage


Step 4
Clearance to
sprinkler minimum

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Palletized and Piled Storage


Step 4
8.5.6 Clearance from
Deflector to Storage
General rule is 18 in.
Special sprinklers
require 36 in.
clearance
Rubber tire storage
requires 36 in.
clearance
Reduced with large
scale testing
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Palletized and Piled Storage


Step 5 Clearance to Ceiling
12.1.3.4 Clearance to Ceiling.
12.1.3.4.1* The clearance to ceiling
shall be measured in accordance
with 12.1.3.4.1.1 and 12.1.3.4.1.2.

Wheres the Ceiling?


Corrugated Metal
For corrugated metal deck roofs up to 3 in. (76 mm) in
depth, the clearance to ceiling shall be measured
from the top of storage to the bottom of the deck. For
deeper decks, the clearance to ceiling shall be
measured to the highest point on the deck.

3 in. or less
deep, use
BOTTOM of
deck

More than
3 in. deep,
use TOP of
deck
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Wheres the Ceiling? Insulation (A)


12.1.3.4.1.3(A) For insulation that is attached directly to
the ceiling or roof structure and is installed flat and
parallel to the ceiling or roof structure, the clearance to
ceiling shall be measured from the top of storage to
the underside of the insulation.

Wheres the Ceiling? Insulation (B1)


(B) For insulation that deflect or sag down , the
clearance to ceiling shall be measured from the top
of storage to a point half of the distance of the
deflection from the insulation high point to the
insulation low point.

Sags 6
in. or
less

Half of this
sag
distance

Wheres the Ceiling? Insulation (B2)


(B) If the deflection or sag in the insulation exceeds 6
in. (152 mm), the clearance to ceiling shall be
measured from the top of storage to the high point of
the insulation.

Sag
Distance

Sags
more
than
6in.

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Palletized and Piled Storage


Step 6
Define storage arrangement
Array
Container type
Shelf type
Stability

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Pile Stability
3.9.2.4 Stable Piles. Those arrays where
collapse, spillage
of content, or leaning
.
of stacks across flue spaces is not likely to
occur soon after initial fire development.
3.9.2.5 Unstable Piles. Those arrays where
collapse, spillage of contents, or leaning
of stacks across flue spaces occurs soon
after initial fire development

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Stability Video

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Palletized and Piled Storage


Step 7
Do I have
miscellaneous
storage?

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Chapter 13 Miscellaneous
Storage

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All of the following


conditions must be
met:
Max 12 ft
Incidental to
occupancy
Max 10% or 4000 ft2 of
sprinklered area
Max 1000 ft2 pile
25 ft separation

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Miscellaneous Storage

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Palletized and Piled Storage


Step 8
Determine design criteria and
sprinkler technology
Additional considerations
Chapter 14 or 15

Required Information Before


Proceeding to the Applicable
Chapters for Class I, II, III, IV and
Plastic Commodities
Rack Storage

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Determine Commodity Class Section


5.6.3
Determine Ceiling Height Section
12.1.3.1
Storage Height on Racks
From Floor Section 12.1.3.3
Clearance to Sprinkler Minimum
Section 8.5.6
Clearance to Ceiling Section 12.1.3.4
Rack Type Section 3.9.9
Shelf Type Section 3.9.3
Miscellaneous Storage Section 3.9.1.18
(Go to Chapter 13)
Rack Storage Chapters 16, 17, 20 and 22

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Rack Storage Steps 1-5


Step 1: Identify commodity
Step 2: Identify building height
Step 3: Identify rack height with stored goods
Step 4: Confirm clearance to sprinklers
Step 5: Identify clearance to ceiling

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Rack Storage Step 6 Identify


Rack Type

Rack Storage Single Row


Rack

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No longitudinal flue
space
Width up to 6 ft
Aisles 3.5 ft from
other storage

Rack Storage Double Row


Rack

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Two single rows


back-to-back
Combined width to
12 ft
Aisles 3.5 ft on each
side

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Rack Storage Multiple


Row Rack

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Wide or single
row
Aisles less than
3.5ft
Overall width
greater than 12
ft

3.9.3 Rack Storage


Definitions

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59314054

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3.9.3.5 Horizontal Barrier

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Vertical Barrier

3.9.3.6* Longitudinal Flue


Space

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3.9.3.7.2 Movable Racks


Figure A.3.9.3.7(k)
Movable Rack
Pg. 263
NFPA 13, 2013 Ed.

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3.9.3.7.3 Multiple-Row Racks


Figure A.3.9.3.7(f)
Multiple-Row Rack Served by
Reach Truck
Pg. 262
NFPA 13, 2013 Ed.

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Flow-Through Racks
Figure A.3.9.3.7(g)

Figure A.3.9.3.7(i)

Flow-Through
Pallet Rack

Flow-Through
Racks (Top)

Pg. 262

Pg. 263

NFPA 13, 2013 Ed.

NFPA 13, 2013 Ed.

3.9.3.7.7 Open Rack

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3.9.3.7.8 Slatted Shelf Rack


Figure A.3.9.3.7(d)
Double-Row Racks with Slatted
Shelves
Pg. 261
NFPA 13, 2013 Ed.

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3.9.3.8 Solid Shelving


Figure A.3.9.3.7(c)
Double-Row Racks with Solid
Shelves
Pg. 261
NFPA 13, 2013 Ed.

3.9.3.9 Transverse Flue


Space

69

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Rack Storage Step 8

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Do I have
miscellaneous
storage?

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Rack Storage Step 9


Determine design
criteria and sprinkler
technology
Additional
considerations
Chapter 16, 17 or 20

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Additional Considerations
Smoke venting and draft curtains
Excessive clearances
Roof slope
Building height
HVLS fans

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Roof Venting

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Draft Curtains

Excessive Clearances

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Ceiling Slope

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HVLS Fans

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Rack Specific Additional


Considerations
Open top containers
Aisle widths (including narrow aisles)
Movable racks

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Narrow Aisles
Single- and doublerow racks with aisle
widths less than 3 ft
6 in. must be
considered
multiple-row racks

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Movable Racks
Design as
multiple-row
racks

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Review
Required information
Critical dimensions
Miscellaneous storage

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82

CONCLUSION
Questions & Answers
Handout: www.firesprinkler.org/convention
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