Fire Protection Requirements for Idle Wood Pallet Storage

By John Swanson, Codes & Standards Specialist

When it comes to warehouse and industrial fire safety, one of the most commonly overlooked hazards is idle wood pallet storage. Pallets are essential for material handling, but when stacked in bulk, they present a significant fire risk due to their high heat release rate and ease of ignition. The International Fire Code (IFC) and NFPA 13 both establish requirements to manage these risks. In this blog, we’ll discuss considerations for fire protection for wood pallet storage.

Why Are Idle Wood Pallets a Concern in Fire Protection?

Idle pallets act as combustible fuel packages, with ample air circulation between slats that accelerate fire spread. Pallets represent a perfect scenario for a fire to grow larger; combustible materials (wood) – air space – combustible materials – air space. A fire involving even a small stack of pallets can quickly grow to challenge an automatic sprinkler system, endanger building occupants and lead to structural failure of building components. This is why fire codes treat pallet storage as a higher hazard from typical commodity storage.

IFC Requirements for Idle Pallet Storage

The International Fire Code establishes requirements for both indoor and outdoor storage of idle wood pallets. Below is a summary outlining a few of the requirements in the IFC.

Section 315.7: Outdoor storage of wood pallets for all occupancies

Section 2810: Outdoor storage of pallets at pallet manufacturing and recycling facilities

Chapter 32: Indoor storage of idle wood pallets for all occupancies

What NFPA 13 Says About Wood Pallet Storage

While the IFC sets limits and triggers, NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems provides the sprinkler design criteria for protecting pallet storage.

• Storage Classification
  in NFPA 13, idle wood pallets are considered special storage and are not grouped with ordinary commodities. This means sprinkler protection must be evaluated separately.
• Sprinkler Design Criteria
  NFPA 13 includes guidance for sprinkler density and system design based on the type of sprinkler used (CMDA, CMSA or ESFR), K-factor, and storage height.

Review Section 20.17 in the 2025 edition of NFPA 13 for the specific sprinkler protection criteria.

Best Fire Protection Practices for Idle Wood Pallet Storage

To reduce risks and stay code-compliant:

• Limit storage heights to code-allowed thresholds when possible.
• Separate idle pallet piles from other commodities.
• Evaluate sprinkler design with a fire protection engineer when storing large quantities of idle wood pallets indoors.
• Maintain outdoor clearances and avoid placing pallets against buildings and maintain minimum distances from property lines.
• Train staff on pallet storage policies to ensure ongoing compliance.

Have a Question About Fire Protection for Pallet Storage? Contact the National Fire Sprinkler Association Today

Idle wood pallets are deceptively hazardous, and both the IFC and NFPA 13 recognize this by applying strict storage criteria along with ensuring the automatic sprinkler is designed for the hazard. By understanding and following these provisions, facility managers can prevent pallet fires from becoming catastrophic events and ensure compliance with adopted codes and standards.

Have specific code questions? Ask an EOD today or try NFSA’s AI assistant, ChatEOD for an instant answer!