Right now I am leaning towards the FM guidelines they do have some options for 
getting it done without  in-racks.

Matt Grisé PE*, LEED AP 
Sales Engineer 
Alliance Fire Protection 
*Licensed in KS & MO 

913.888.0647 ph 
913.888.0618 f 
913.927.0222 cell 
www. AFPsprink.com 


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] 
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris Cahill
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 1:21 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: commodities in a warehouse rack

While not in code perhaps think about a level of in-rack above the plastics and 
10' class 3 at the ceiling.  Doubt it saves anything $ wise but might achieve 
goal of mixed vertical.  Just thinking out loud.

Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Grise <[email protected]>
Sender: [email protected]
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 13:10:28 
To: '[email protected]'<[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: commodities in a warehouse rack

The idea was to segregate the warehouse with plastics on the bottom and paper 
on the top as a procedural rule in the warehouse. The 10 pallet load issue is 
out of the question since the plastic makes up over 50% of what they store. 
Also, the plastic will not be stored randomly or spaced apart.

The idea was to protect at a lower density since the plastic would be stored 
lower (say max of 10'-0), and the paper (even at a higher stack 15'-0" max) 
would require less water than the plastic. The thought being to choose the 
higher demand of [plastic to 10'-0"] or [paper to 15'-0"].

I agree now; that is not a valid method for determining the protection level. I 
was just hoping that it might have been due to the fact that 15'-0" tall rack 
storage of expanded exposed group a plastics are going to need a lot of water.

Matt Grisé PE*, LEED AP 
Sales Engineer 
Alliance Fire Protection 
*Licensed in KS & MO 

913.888.0647 ph 
913.888.0618 f 
913.927.0222 cell 
www. AFPsprink.com 


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] 
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of 
[email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 12:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: commodities in a warehouse rack

The problem with downgrading the protection scheme based on the lesser 
commodity is that if you read 5.6.1.2 in NFPA 13, 2007, there are very specific 
restrictions which probably will be met for about a day.   Right off the bat, 
you'll be under-designed. If it is a given that there will be plastics, then 
design the area for plastics.  

One problem with 5.6.1.2 is that it does not provide a definitive area.  If I 
have 10 pallet loads of the higher commodity in a 4000 sq. ft area instead of a 
40,000 sq. ft. area it makes a big difference in fuel load.  

So unless they are going to segregate the plastics to a specific rack or area 
only,  you can presume that the plastics will end up wherever there is an empty 
spot on the rack.

Design for the plastics and be done with it.


Craig L. Prahl, CET   
Fire Protection 
CH2MHILL
Lockwood Greene
1500 International Drive
Spartanburg, SC  29304-0491
Direct - 864.599.4102
Fax - 864.599.8439
CH2MHILL Extension  74102
[email protected]



-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] 
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Matt Grise
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 12:32 PM
To: '[email protected]'
Subject: commodities in a warehouse rack

I have a scenario where a customer is looking to store pallet loads of products 
in a rack. They have two typical types of product. One is an expanded, exposed 
group A plastic, the other is a group 3 paper product. Racks are 3 levels high, 
single row.

The idea came up to store the plastics only on the first and second levels with 
only paper on the third level. The thought was that the protection level could 
be selected to protect the plastics to the height of the second tier, but then 
paper to the height of the third tier.

I am concerned that this may not result in a high enough protection level since 
(I imagine) the protection level for storage of plastics to a certain level is 
based on the sprinklers spraying directly onto the commodities and not being 
obstructed by an additional level of product - even if that additional level is 
a lower hazard.

Any thoughts?

Matt Grisé PE*, LEED AP
Sales Engineer
Alliance Fire Protection
*Licensed in KS & MO

913.888.0647 ph
913.888.0618 f
913.927.0222 cell
www. AFPsprink.com

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