June is National Safety Month, and if you’re running a warehouse of any size, shape, or design, safety should always be on the forefront of your mind. There are several different aspects of safety that include policies, procedures, actions, and utilization of products to ensure the well-being of your not only warehouse employees but office workers as well. In this blog post, we’ll be highlighting pallet rack flue space and the products you can use to create the required amount in your pallet rack systems.
What is Flue Space?
According to the National Fire Protection Association, flue space is defined as clear vertical lines of sight from the floor up to the ceiling within rack storage areas. There are two types of flue space, transverse and longitudinal.
So, What is Transverse Flue Space?
Transverse flue space is the space between rows parallel to the direction of loading.
And Longitudinal Flue Space?
Longitudinal flue space is the space between rows of storage perpendicular to the direction of loading with a width not exceeding 24 inches between storage.
Why is This Important Again?
Aside from being required by many fire codes, this allows fires to vent upward instead of across multiple racks and will allow sprinkler systems to extinguish a fire, or contain it until proper authorities arrive.
How Do I Ensure My Flue Spaces Are Compliant?
Regulations and rules vary by state, and requirements may differ based on rack height and depth, but 3 inches of longitudinal flue space and 12 inches of transverse flue space are good rules of thumb to start with.
What Products Can I Use to Create the Required Amount Of Flue Space?
There are several options when it comes to creating required flue space in your pallet rack system. Some options include:
-Pallet Stops
-Row Spacers
-Hanging Divider
-Carton Stops
-Fluekeeper
Below, we will give a brief overview of each, and how they create the required amount of flue space to keep your warehouse code compliant.
Pallet Stops
Pallet stops are designed to prevent pallets from being accidentally pushed off the back of a rack during loading or unloading. These products, much like the offering from Steel King, also help maintain required flue space.
The NFPA13 Code and International Building Code (IBC2012) requires that flues be maintained in all warehouse racking systems, but does not require a specific device to do so.
However, many local Fire Marshalls will mandate a mechanical means of separation. Specifically, new High Pile Guidelines are mandating pallet stops on all new racking projects.
Row Spacers
As mentioned, there are two types of flue space, longitudinal and transverse. Row spacers are used to produce precise longitudinal flue space. Row spacers typically bolt to two frames and keep the space between them uniform. In order for them to be effective, that space must be correctly designed and the pallets restrained so that they do not block the longitudinal flue space. The number or row spacers needed will depend on the height of your racking.
Hanging Dividers
Hanging dividers serve a similar function to clip dividers, helping separate certain items from one another, while simultaneously keeping product organized and creating flue spaces. Instead of clipping onto the wire deck on which the items are sitting, the dividers clip to the deck above, hanging down and creating the separation between the products. This naturally creates more space and helps keep your product organized.
Carton Stops
Carton stops are essentially backstops designed to prevent product from spilling off the back of your racking. They typically install with no hardware and can be adjusted based on space needs. When product hangs or spills over the edges of the racking, it will naturally affect the flue space. As mentioned, carton stops prevent this, creating clear flue lines for your racking system.
FlueKeeper
DACS, Inc. features a product specifically for maintaining transverse flue space. The FlueKeeper and FlueKeeper HD (for deep-rack shelves greater than 72 inches) maintain the 3-inch flue space that is required by many fire codes. The FlueKeeper is a curved tube that connects to the rear and front posts, curving inward to create flue space on each side of the rack post.
Have more questions about pallet rack flue spacers or need a quote for your customer? Give us a call at 888-578-1579 or submit a form, here.
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