equipment&applications
An arcane technical bulletin on sprinkler
systems ignited a firestorm among pallet
users before being withdrawn this spring.
But the controversy continues to smolder.
lots of
smoke,
not much fire
IT’S NOT EVERY DAY THAT AN ARCANE TECHNICAL
bulletin sets off a storm of controversy, rumors, and finger
pointing. But when the National Association of State Fire
Marshals (NASFM) issued a draft code application bulletin
(CAB) in September 2008, it caused just such a flare-up in the
pallet community.
The source of the controversy was the humble wood composite pallet—or to be precise, the question of whether it
could legitimately be classified as a wood—as opposed to
plastic—pallet for purposes of fire code enforcement. That
may sound like a semantic distinction, but it has big implications for DCs that use these pallets. A change in classification to plastic (wood composite units contain a plastic
resin) would raise the units’ fire rating, meaning they’d
require higher-capacity (read: costlier) sprinkler systems to protect them.
Fears that they might be forced to retrofit their facilities with expensive new sprinklers sparked an outcry
from several large shippers and groups like the National
Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA).
At a meeting in May, the NASFM attempted to quell
those fears, offering public assurances that it had no
intention of pushing for new rules or enforcement
practices. Although the hubbub eventually died down,
the incident pointed up how much confusion remains
when it comes to pallets and fire safety.
