FPASA BULLETIN GF 04
PREVENTING WAREHOUSE FIRES
A few examples of major warehouse fires together with supposed causes are listed:
1.
A fire in a jute warehouse in Durban caused damage in excess of R2m.
Contributory factory to the extent of the damage were excessively high stacking,
bitumen coating on the underside of the roof and low mains pressure supplying the
9th edition sprinkler system.
2.
Severe damage was caused to a Benoni Warehouse containing carbon black when
sparks from, a near-by grass fire entered the building.
3.
Arson was the supposed cause of a serious fire in a brewery warehouse at Isando.
4.
Sparks from welding operations in a polystyrene insulated citrus cold storage depot
in Olifantsfontein started a fire causing extensive damage.
5.
The cause of a major fire in stocks of paper at a Springs warehouse was believed
to be faulty electrical wiring.
6.
A fire in a Johannesburg jute bag warehouse was believed to have been caused by
friction heat when a belt drive of a machine broke and jammed against a pulley.
7.
A furniture removal company’s warehouse at Epping Industria was destroyed when
sparks from a grass fire entered the premises.
In view of the large quantities of combustible materials present in most warehouses, fires
which are not detected and dealt with within the first few minutes soon reach major
proportions and there is little that even trained fire-fighters can do to contain them.
Subsequent fire-fighting activities are generally confined to attempting to stop spread to
adjoining or adjacent premises. Properly installed and maintained sprinkler systems are
thus the obvious choice for large capacity warehouses.
Prevention however, is still the most important consideration and the following list of
causes together with preventive action will serve as a useful guide to management.
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Cause
Preventive Action
Efficient security arrangements.
Regular patrols.
Restrict number of people permitted in storage areas.
Avoid use of warehouse as general thoroughfare.
Windows, doors and other means of access should be kept in
good repair.
Provide outside security lighting
Electrical
Maintain wiring and lighting in good condition.
Place lights over aisles.
Avoid temporary wiring if possible/
Switch off and pull out plugs of portable appliances after use.
Avoid battery charging in warehouses other than in fire resisting
compartments.
Open flames & other Avoid using portable open flame or incandescent type heaters.
heat
producing Heat producing activities such as shrink-wrapping using open
operations
flames, cutting, welding, etc. should not be permitted in storage
areas.
Smoking
Do not permit smoking in warehouses. Check for cigarette
ends and spent matches in secluded corners to ensure that
instructions are being carried out.
If smoking is permitted, this should be in demarcated safe
smoking areas.
Exposure Hazards
Keep grass, rubbish and other combustible materials well clear
of warehouses.
Do not permit burning of refuse in proximity to buildings.
Forklift & other power Check that exhaust systems of forklift and other vehicles which
driven appliances
are used in warehouses are protected in such a manner that
they will not come in contact with readily combustible materials.
Arson
Fire-fighting Equipment
Hose-reels and multipurpose dry powder extinguishers are the most satisfactory firefighting appliances for general warehousing risks.
Mark the location of the equipment using SABS Symbolic signs. Place fire equipment near
exits and escape passages. Train staff in the correct use of the equipment. Ensure
regular maintenance by competent SABS 1475 listed companies.
Sprinklers
Where sprinklers are provided, stack heights should be limited as indicated by the
installers. This will depend on the nature of the goods stored and type of sprinkler
installation ie: ordinary hazard or extra high hazard.
Notices indicating the maximum stack height must be prominently displayed at the stack
height level.
Further information regarding sprinkler installations may be obtained from the Automatic
Sprinkler Inspection Bureau.
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Stacking
Goods should be stacked so as to allow ample access for fire-fighting and minimise the
possibility of rapid spread. Aisles should correspond with windows, doors and other entry
points. Where readily combustible goods are stacked together with those less susceptible
to ignition, it may be possible to create fire breaks consisting of rows of the latter goods
interspersed amongst the more combustible material.
Goods susceptible to water damage should be placed on pallets or dunnage.
Means of escape
Adequate means of escape should be provided and exits and passageways should be kept
clear of obstruction at all times.
It is often found that sections of warehouses are
partitioned off by means of wire mesh for various reasons. Such arrangements should not
interfere with the means of escape nor hinder access to fire equipment.
Wooden pallets
Factory Mutual (USA) tests have shown that a fire in a 2,5 m high stack of wooden pallets
is of the same severity as a fire in a 5 m² pan of kerosene.
Pallets are often stored to excessive heights in warehouses and, because of the manner in
which they are constructed, may represent a greater hazard, from the aspect of fire
loading, than the goods stored.
It should be remembered that, in sprinklered premises, the maximum permitted stack
height for pallets could be less than that for the goods stored, depending on the nature of
the goods and the class of installation.
The safety solution in storing idle pallets, according to Factory Mutual, is to locate them out
of doors at a distance from buildings where they will not present a dangerous exposure.
Published by
Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa
(Incorporated Association not for Gain)
(Reg.No. 73/00022/08)
P O Box 15467
Impala Park
1472
4/2000