Common reasons fires start in warehouses include electrical/lighting problems (such as frayed or exposed wires), combustible liquids not handled properly and accumulated garbage being too close to heating sources.
If you manage a warehouse or work in one, you should be familiar with some fire safety tips.
Keep Your Warehouse Safe From Fires
For starters, your warehouse should have a working fire suppression system in place. It should be well-maintained and ready to work at any given moment. Whether it’s deluge fire sprinklers or the use of in-rack fire suppression systems, your building needs to be equipped with ways to combat fires should they occur.
Speaking of sprinklers, you should make sure they’re not blocked. They need at least a foot and a half of space below them– so don’t stack boxes all the way up to the ceiling and block them.
In most warehouses, items are stored on pallets. If possible, leave some space between pallets to help stop fires from spreading if they occur. Ideally, there should be 3 to 6 inches of transverse/flue space on the sides of your pallets.
Warehouses should have decent aisle space. If you’ve got solid piled floor storage, for instance, make sure it’s within 50 feet of an aisle. Keep your aisles unobstructed– it’s a good idea to make sure the width of your aisles is at least 2 feet wide.
Should smoking be allowed in the warehouse? No. And if liquid propane fuel cylinders are stored in a warehouse, make sure they’re at least 20 feet away from fire exits and limited to 300 pounds per storage facility. Take precautions when handling things like aerosols or hazardous materials.
Everyone working in a warehouse should know what the evacuation plan is in case there’s a fire. It’s a good idea to hold fire drills every couple months. Make sure exits aren’t blocked. It’s also a good idea to train employees how to use fire extinguishers.
Keep a warehouse clean to avoid fire issues. A warehouse that’s trashy is more prone to fires. After all, garbage and clutter can catch on fire.
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