The manual, available in both English and Spanish, highlights the importance of having a proactive relationship with your fire official and local authorities. As a performance-based standard, it outlines a comprehensive approach to fire safety that includes a defined site plan, a fire prevention plan, a fire safety and evacuation plan, and a security management plan. The document is a great resource and tool as it also includes templates and checklists that facilities can use to facilitate drafting the required plans and maintaining the needed documentation. In addition to reviewing the guidelines, NWPCA recommends that each facility work with their local fire code official to identify any unique circumstances that may require special attention to ensure compliance.
Below is a compilation of common Q&A along with resources and information that industry can use during this fire code development process.
What are the Fire Codes? There are two separate bodies that administer building code regulations for the external storage of wood pallets, The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Code Council (ICC). Codes are published in the NFPA1 document for NFPA and the International Fire Code (IFC) for ICC.
Which Code Body Applies to me?
Jurisdiction of each code depends on the state and potentially the locality of your facility. You will need to consult with your local fire official to determine which code is enforced in your area.
What Changed in 2018? To this point, only NFPA had code language that regulated the general outdoor storage of wood pallets. It was a highly prescriptive code that limited pile size to height to 15 ft. high and area of 400 square ft. There was no code language for the ICC. Now, both the NFPA and ICC are more performance-based codes that have specific conditions for wood pallet manufacturers and recyclers. Among these conditions are:
- Each facility maintains a current site
plan
- Each facility maintains a current fire
prevention plan
- facility maintains a current security
management plan
- Pallet storage is limited to stacks of
20 ft. high and have a perimeter spacing from important buildings and property lines of 0.75 times the stack height*
The “NWPCA Fire Code Compliance Manual for Outdoor Storage of Wood Pallets” is available as a free download, and can be accessed at www.palletcentral.com/compliancemanual. For further information and resources, visit www.palletcentral.com/firecodesafety.
MAY 2021