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Tire Storage
Fire Safety Guidelines for Dealerships
Over the years, it has become quite common for dealerships to offer tire storage to their customers. This is a value-added service that provides peace-of-mind and convenience to customers while encouraging them to receive future service from their dealership for years to come. However, it should be noted that the storage of rubber tires presents a unique fire hazard and as such should be planned for appropriately.
Although tires do not easily ignite, they do release high heat and large quantities of dense smoke once they do start burning. Fires can typically spread easily from one tire to another and can be difficult to extinguish, especially if they are stored without regard to proper risk management practices. The inherent design of tires also prevents water from penetrating to the seat of the fire. As such, the manner in which tires are stored plays a critical role in the success of firefighting and a large concentration of tires in any one area is considered a safety hazard.
Storage Configurations
When storing tires either in racking or in a solid pile, there are three ways to stack them; horizontally, vertically, or laced. Each type of stacking presents different types of fire hazards.
Horizontal Storage
- How: Tires are on their treads, side-by-side.
- Where: This type of stacking is often used with racks, when there is limited storage directly on the floor, or when tires are stored in the lot.
- Issues: If there is a fire, horizontal stacking may restrict water from getting to the fire, as the water hits the tread and goes around the tire.
Vertical Storage
- How: Tires are on their sides and stacked vertically.
- Where: Vertical stacking is usually used in solid piling or in sea cans.
- Issues: If a fire was to break out, vertical stacking acts like a chimney. This means that water can flow down to the base of the fire, but it can be a challenge to get the water over the right spot. When paired with the extreme heat, this could cause the fire to grow very quickly.
Laced Storage
- How: Tires are woven together so they take up less space. This method is also sometimes used in open portable racking. More tires can be stored in a single open portable rack by lacing the tires.
- Where: This method is often used for the transportation of tires, for storing waste or scrap tires/recycled tires, and in new tire storage warehouses.
- Issues: It is not easy to access a single tire and if there’s a fire, laced tires are so tightly packed together that it can be difficult to get water to the source of the fire.
Indoor Tire Storage Guidelines
- Tire storage should be incidental to the primary use of the building. In general, this would include miscellaneous tire storage areas.
- Storage in non-sprinkler protected buildings should be limited to no more than 250 individual tires inside the building.
- Tire storage areas should not exceed 2,000 square feet.
- Horizontal (on-tread) storage piles, regardless of storage method should not exceed 25 feet in the direction of the wheel holes.
- Indoor storage requires tires to be stacked in stable configurations to prevent collapse.
- Maintain at least 8 feet (2.5 metres) wide aisles, free of obstruction between racks, floor piles, or any other combustible storage.
- The clearance from the top of storage to sprinkler deflectors must not be less than 36 inches (900 millimetres).
- Ensure portable fire extinguishers are wall mounted and serviced annually.
- Control hot work operations via the RSA hot work permit.
- Smoking prohibited.
Source: RSA
Tire storage beyond what is defined as miscellaneous (i.e. 250 individual tires) would need to be evaluated on an individual basis; sprinkler requirements are substantial and very specific to the storage configuration.
Refer to “NFPA #13 Automatic Sprinkler Systems” and “FM Data Sheet 8-3 Rubber Tire Storage” for storage configurations that exceed the miscellaneous storage arrangements discussed in this document.
Best Practices for Outdoor Tire Storage
The most common and cost-effective way to accommodate the growing demand for tire storage is to use metal shipping containers located outdoors, away from the building.
To prevent and deter unauthorized access, safeguards regarding all tire storage containers should include:
- A centrally monitored intrusion alarm on all shipping containers.
- Monitored video surveillance cameras.
- The location in a well-lit area of the dealership lot.
- High security, pick-resistant padlocks with a hardened steel body and a shackle-less design in use at all four locking positions.
- A hasp or enclosure is in place for existing padlocks that is constructed of heavy gauge steel and is welded to the actual structure.
- Protection for all points of entry into each shipping container with blocker vehicles (during all closed periods).
Conclusion
Early detection and effective action by personnel, during the early stages of a rubber tire fire, can greatly help reduce ensuing damage. Controlling possible ignition sources, maintaining proper aisle spaces, and practicing good housekeeping are other recommended safe practices.
For more information on loss control, please contact your Marsh Advisory representative:
Sathyan (Sath) Laloo
416 200 0943 | Fax: 416 349 4564
sathyan.laloo@marsh.com
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