Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
(OP)
The brief scneario: Large (5x7x7ft) wood crates (called vaults in the moving industry) in an ESFR building, peak 40 ft. to be stored solid piled on the floor. The crates will have household furniture inside them, so i can consider the stuff inside, Group A, unexpanded. However, these are heavy wooden crates, and with a properly designed ESFR system, the fire involvement will be the crate exterior only, and it will not involve the interior household goods. I am having trouble calling this Class III (ESFR is ok for plastic, but i would like Class III for other reasons) per NFPA 13, A5633, because its these crates are not specifically listed there.
However, I found the following in a SFPE article:
Storage in Crates: If the same furniture is placed in substantial wood crates, as may be the case in a moving and storage company facility, with crates stacked two-to three-high, sprinkler protection indicated in NFPA 13 for solid piled/palletized storage would be appropriate. For palletized storage, Note A in Table 12.2.3.1.1 indicates that when a Group A plastic ( expanded or unexpanded) is contained in cartons consisting of multiple layers of corrugation or equivalent outer material that would significantly delay fire involvement of the Group A plastic, it may be treated as a Class IV commodity. It seems clear that crated upholstered furniture may be treated as a Class IV commodity rather than a plastic commodity. Assuming that the wood crates are of substantial construction and that no furniture is located in the facility that is not crated, the fire development will primarily involve the outside of the wood crates where sprinkler water can reach the majority of surfaces. A case could be made that the fire development and heat release rates will be more like a Class III commodity.
I would like to reference the above SFPE article, but AHJ's normally wont take this type of info unless its in NFPA 13.
So my question; has anyone run in to this? What commodity did you call it?
Thanks in advance.
However, I found the following in a SFPE article:
Storage in Crates: If the same furniture is placed in substantial wood crates, as may be the case in a moving and storage company facility, with crates stacked two-to three-high, sprinkler protection indicated in NFPA 13 for solid piled/palletized storage would be appropriate. For palletized storage, Note A in Table 12.2.3.1.1 indicates that when a Group A plastic ( expanded or unexpanded) is contained in cartons consisting of multiple layers of corrugation or equivalent outer material that would significantly delay fire involvement of the Group A plastic, it may be treated as a Class IV commodity. It seems clear that crated upholstered furniture may be treated as a Class IV commodity rather than a plastic commodity. Assuming that the wood crates are of substantial construction and that no furniture is located in the facility that is not crated, the fire development will primarily involve the outside of the wood crates where sprinkler water can reach the majority of surfaces. A case could be made that the fire development and heat release rates will be more like a Class III commodity.
I would like to reference the above SFPE article, but AHJ's normally wont take this type of info unless its in NFPA 13.
So my question; has anyone run in to this? What commodity did you call it?
Thanks in advance.





RE: Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
Table A.5.6 Examples of Commodities Not Addressed by
Classifications in Section 5.6
Boat Storage
- Stored on racks
Boxes, Crates
- Empty, wood slatted*
Lighters (butane)
- Loose in large containers (Level 3 aerosol)
Storage Container
- Large container storage of household goods
*Should be treated as idle pallets.
****************************************
Fire Sprinklers Save Firefighters’ Lives Too!
Interested in “Hands On” Fire Protection Seminars with live fires visit www.chubb.com/lcu for information.
RE: Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
****************************************
Fire Sprinklers Save Firefighters’ Lives Too!
Interested in “Hands On” Fire Protection Seminars with live fires visit www.chubb.com/lcu for information.
RE: Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
RE: Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
RE: Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
RE: Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
Best to you,
Goober Dave
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RE: Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
Is someone telling a fish story????
High piled stock???
RE: Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
So why won't a code official accept a reference from a SFPE Journal? Do they not understand that the code gives the design professional the option of presenting a technical report which cites acceptable data as a basis for approving a design? Or is it the it's not in my book so I don't care mentality?
RE: Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside
RE: Commodity Class Large Wood Crates with Furniture Inside