Flue Guard™
A patented longitudinal flue space divider, built to hold the flue open under load.
Our patented solution maintains consistent flue spacing, prevents pallet push-through, and keeps flue spaces open so sprinklers activate faster.
- 3 stock sizes, custom available
- Tek screws included
- New or retrofitted rack
Flue Guard™ in under two minutes
How the double stop sits on the back-to-back beams, holds the longitudinal flue open, and stops a pallet being pushed through into the row behind.
Why the flue space has to stay open
Sprinklers can only stop a rack fire if water reaches it. NFPA 13 calls for nominal 6-inch transverse flue spaces, the gaps between loads and at the uprights. The longitudinal flue space Flue Guard holds open, the gap between back-to-back rows, is a separate question that depends on your setup: generally not required in open double-row racks up to 25 ft or where ESFR sprinklers are used, and called for in taller double-row storage.
Either way, blocked flues are one of the most commonly cited fire-code issues in rack storage, and it does not take much: a pallet pushed a few inches past the beam closes the gap, and nobody notices until an inspection or a fire. Flue Guard fixes the geometry instead of relying on the operator, holding the spacing and stopping push-through at the same time.
- Pallets pushed through into the opposite bay
- Flue spaces closing up under normal put-away
- Loads sitting off-center on the beams
- Product falling into the space between rows
Which stop for which load?
The usual alternative is a backstop beam: a full-length beam, or a wire mesh panel on a mount, run along the back of the bay to stop pallets going in too deep. It does stop push-through, but it does it by putting more steel in the flue space you are trying to keep open.
- What it is
- Flue Guard™: A compact divider that spans the back-to-back beams and screws in place
- Backstop beam: A full-length beam or wire mesh panel, on mounts at the back of the bay
- Flue space
- Flue Guard™: Holds a consistent flue at the width it is sized for
- Backstop beam: Blocks 2–3″ of the flue it is meant to protect
- Row spacing
- Flue Guard™: No extra row space needed
- Backstop beam: Can mean widening the row spacer to win the flue back
- Fit
- Flue Guard™: Fits any beam length or depth, on any brand of rack, roll-formed or structural
- Backstop beam: Has to be ordered to the length of each bay
- Installation
- Flue Guard™: One person, with the tek screws included
- Backstop beam: A two-person job, and a slower one
- Freight
- Flue Guard™: Compact and light, so it ships for less
- Backstop beam: Heavier and bulkier, so freight costs more
- Price
- Flue Guard™: Priced below other flue space protectors
- Backstop beam: Higher cost per unit
- At the beam
- Flue Guard™
- Backstop beam
- Looking down the flue
- Flue Guard™
- Backstop beam
- From above
- Flue Guard™
- Backstop beam
From above, the difference is plain. Flue Guard holds the flue at exactly the width it is sized for: a consistent 6″ on a 12″ row spacer. A backstop beam runs the length of the row and sits partly inside the flue it is supposed to protect, blocking 2–3″ of it at the same 12″ spacing. Some local fire officials have stopped accepting backstop beams for exactly that reason, and where they have, the city may require you to widen the row spacer by those 2–3″, turning a 12″ spacer into a 15″ one.
When a beam stop is the right call. Very heavy pallets, tile or stone for example, can bend any formed stop, and there a true beam stop fitted to your rack maker's beam is the stronger choice. We sell those too, and the heavy-duty and structural Flue Guard™ stops cover the ground in between. Tell us the rack brand and the pallet weight and we'll say which one. See the beam pallet stop →
Why specifiers pick it
Improved Fire Protection
Flue space dividers let heat escape to sprinklers for quicker activation and let water reach lower inventory levels. Fire spreads vertically through the flue space instead of horizontally to other racks and product.
Optimal Pallet Placement
Maintains even offsets and centers loads on beams. Prevents pallet push-through and reduces the risk of injury or death from falling objects.
Minimizes Product Damage
Flue Guard only has contact with the pallet, not the stored products, significantly minimizing damage.
Easy Installation & Compatibility
Installs on new or retrofitted pallet rack systems, attaching with included high-strength tek screws for a quick, seamless install. Compatible with wire decking up to 2-gauge wire diameter.
Patented, Strong & Cost-Effective
A patented design built to hold the longitudinal flue space open under load, an essential addition to any warehouse rack system.
Set the flue width, beam type and finish, and watch the part update in 3D.
Open the configurator →Specifications
| Available Sizes | 12″, 18″, 24″ |
|---|---|
| Flue Space | 6″, 12″, 18″ respectively |
| Wire Decking Compatibility | Up to 2-gauge wire diameter |
| Installation | High-strength tek screws (included) |
| Application | New or retrofitted pallet rack |
| Product Contact | Pallet only, minimizes damage to stored goods |
- Flue Guard™ divider
- High-strength tek screws (for install)
Build your exact configuration in 3D.
Single or double stop, any flue width, three beam profiles and a custom powder coat. The model updates as you set it, and the finished spec goes straight to engineering for a quote on your exact part.
Pair it with
The original transverse flue space keeper, designed to keep boxes from encroaching into the transverse flue space so sprinkler water can penetrate the pallet rack. The brackets also act as pallet safety stops at various elevations and install quickly on all major rack brands (US Patent #7,857,152).
- Standard size: 42″ × 3″
- Flue space: 3″ on each side of the post (6″ total)
- Members: Heavy-duty tube for frames up to 48″ (custom available)
- Function: Pallet safety stop at pallet or product levels
A steel stop that slides onto the rear beam and physically limits how far a pallet can be pushed into the bay. It stops the two failures that follow over-travel: product pushed off the back of the rack, and pallets driven into the flue space where they block sprinkler penetration. Flush, 3″ and 6″ overhang versions suit different load depths, and it also holds waterfall wire deck in place on a 1-3/4″ × 1-3/4″ mesh grid.
- Fits beam: 2-3/4″ deep × 4-3/4″ or 6-1/2″ face
- Versions: Flush · 3″ overhang · 6″ overhang
- Install: Slides over the rear beam; bolt-through or Tek screw
- Also: Secures waterfall wire deck on 1-3/4″ × 1-3/4″ mesh spacing
Waterfall wire mesh decking with a step channel sized to fit a 1-5/8″ step beam (other step heights available). No-hardware install, open mesh for light and sprinkler flow, and the strength and fire-code benefits of steel over wood.
- Mesh pattern: 2-1/2″ × 4″ × 6 ga.
- Mesh options: 1″ × 4″ and 2″ × 4″ also available
- Support channel: 14 or 16 ga.
- Fits step beam: 1-5/8″ (others avail.)
Waterfall wire mesh decking with a flared channel, the flared end is welded to the wire for a clean, snag-free fit. Drops onto rack beams with no hardware, lets light and sprinkler water through, and far outperforms wood for strength and fire-code compliance.
- Mesh pattern: 2-1/2″ × 4″ × 6 ga.
- Mesh options: 1″ × 4″ and 2″ × 4″ also available
- Support channel: 14 or 16 ga.
- Fits: Most pallet rack beams
Let our engineers spec it.
Send a rack drawing or a photo. We'll return a per-bay layout with quantities, install notes, and a detailed quote.