Storage Protection in the Presence of Horizontal Barriers or Solid Shelving – Literature Review

Fire Protection Research Foundation report: “Storage Protection in the Presence of Horizontal Barriers or Solid Shelving – Literature Review"
Authors: Garner Palenske, P.E., and Garth Ornelas, M.S.
Date of issue: October 2017

Report

Storage Protection in the Presence of Horizontal Barriers or Solid Shelving – Literature Review

The Research Foundation initiated a project to holistically review the requirements in NFPA 13 relating to horizontal barriers and shelves and the basis behind them as well as existing test data, with the goal to identify gaps and remaining research needs on this topic in order to develop guidance on the types and configurations of horizontal barriers that stop vertical fire spread and allow for independent flow calculation between the ceiling and the barrier level. With the increasing height of warehouses, there is a benefit to considering protection schemes that use horizontal barriers to stop vertical spread.

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There is limited guidance related to storage protection and horizontal barriers in NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. In addition, the terms horizontal barrier and shelves are both used in NFPA 13 with differing protection strategies. For example, one form of alternate protection in NFPA 13 is to provide a solid horizontal barrier and provide sprinklers around the perimeter of the barrier, including face sprinklers. On the other hand, the shelf requirements do not require face sprinklers. Another potential issue is that shelves larger than 64 square feet require sprinklers under each shelf, but there is no limit to tiers of storage under each shelf.