In-rack sprinklers: the end is nigh

March 19th, 2008

Advances in materials handling technologies allow conventional operations (i.e., reach truck & pallet jack operations) to work with clear heights approaching 40’.  With this increase in storage height, sprinkler systems have had to play catch up.  Traditionally, warehouses with these clear heights have relied on in-rack sprinklers to provide adequate fire suppression.  However, we all know the headaches that come with in-rack sprinklers:

·         The risk of damaging a sprinkler head or line and releasing water inadvertently. 
(I witnessed such an occasion at a facility in Texas that was struggling with order throughput at the time.  Not only did the burst damage product and create a hell of a mess, it stopped operations just long enough to make that day’s shipping fall well short of the mark with pickers standing around waiting to get access to these critical aisles.)

·         The inflexibility it introduces in rack profiling since openings are set to protect the sprinkler lines.  Either an operation lives with the profiles as they are – despite unavoidable changes in their operations – or sprinkler lines are moved at great expense.

In ambient environments, like dry grocery warehouses, ESFR (early suppression fast response) systems provide the necessary fire protection from the ceiling leaving the racking free of obstructions and operators with the maximum flexibility. 

However, until very recently, frozen environments have not had similar solutions available.  Tyco has developed its Quell sprinkler system that allows freezer operations to provide adequate fire suppression from a ceiling mounted network that eliminates the need for in-rack sprinklers.  You can read more about the system here.

Entry Filed under: Design & Layout