Pallet Rack Spacing Products

What are Rack Flue Spaces?

What are pallet rack flue spaces?

Just like a fireplace flue, a pallet rack flue spacer is a vertical space for which fire, heat, and smoke to rise through a pallet rack. Flue spaces are openings within the pallet rack structure that allow vertical lines of sight stemming from the floor up to the ceiling. An open flue space provides for heat and smoke to rise in the event of a fire triggering fire suppression sprinklers. This type of warehouse rack spacing also allows for the water to penetrate the multiple levels of stored product to extinguish the fire at its source. A blocked flue space directs the fire horizontally allowing it to increase in size and intensity, increasing damage and loss that would be easily preventable by using pallet rack spacing products. By keeping flue spaces cleared of blockage caused by pallets of inventory within the rack structure, the clearing allows for better efficiency in fire detection, quicker fire suppression, and reduction of horizontally spreading fire.

pallet rack flue space diagram

What types of flue spaces are in pallet rack spacing products?

Longitudinal Flue space is the clearing or spacing between back-to-back rows of pallet rack. In other words, the longitudinal flue space is the space or distance between two back-to-back rows of pallet rack. Typically, pallets are loaded too far back on the rack in both back-to-back rows or product becomes dislodged which blocks the flue. With proper warehouse rack spacing and flue protection this can be avoided.

Transverse Flue spaces are known as the space or gaps between the pallet load and the upright frame of the rack. Typically, if pallets or boxes are stacked less than 6″ from other pallets they are blocking the transverse flue space. This pallet rack flue spacer’s upright frame is not considered as open or part of the flue, and therefore requires 3” of open space on both sides of the frame.

What testing and research has been done on flue spaces in pallet rack systems?

Within the past decade, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA13) as well as FM Global started conducting “live fire tests” to determine the safest design for warehouse rack spacing for storage systems in the event of a warehouse fire.  Many benefits were found when flue spaces were maintained between the pallets stored on the racks.  Racking systems with 6” flue spaces between pallets, both in the longitudinal and transverse direction had the following benefits:

  • Property loss reduction through quick activation Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) sprinklers
  • Improved penetration of sprinkler water to all levels of inventory
  • Faster activation of smoke and heat vent systems
  • Improved safety of employees, fire fighters and warehouse

The NFPA13 Code was updated to include sections that required that flues be “maintained” in all warehouse racking systems.  The International Building Code (IBC2012) was also changed to reflect the new findings.  The code requires that the 6” flue spaces be maintained for all warehouse racking spacing. It authorizes the Fire Marshalls at the local level the choice to mandate a “mechanical means of separation” such as pallet stops, if they so choose.

Many Fire Marshalls around the country are now changing their High Pile Guidelines to mandate pallet stops on all new racking projects. In those cases, pallet stops must be installed in order to meet the local requirements for permits.  In some cases, existing warehouses that have violated the code are also being ordered to retrofit their pallet racks with pallet stops to meet warehouse rack spacing requirements.

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Flue Guard™

Flue Guard™

The most cost effective and easiest to install pallet stopper flue protector on the market

Flue Keeper™

Flue Keeper™

Maintains required flue spaces on the sides of pallets to improve fire protection in racks

Flue Guard™ -vs- Competition

Flue Guard™ -vs- Competition

How does the Flue Guard™ compare
with beam-style pallet flue stops?