A warehouse fire spreads fast. Large open spaces, high racking and tonnes of packaging give it everything it needs. A fire risk assessment for a warehouse or industrial unit focuses on stopping a fire from starting, limiting how far it can spread and making sure everyone can get out of a big building quickly.
Your duties
If you control the premises, section 18(2) of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 requires you to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire and to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of people on the premises. As an employer you must also identify hazards and hold a written risk assessment under section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
Where warehouse fires start
- Forklift and battery charging: charging areas need ventilation and should be kept clear of stored goods.
- Electrical faults: conveyors, shrink-wrap machines, lighting and temporary wiring.
- Hot works: welding, cutting and grinding by contractors, without a permit or a fire watch.
- Smoking: in unofficial spots near pallets or waste.
- Arson: pallets, skips and waste stacked against the outside wall.
What makes them spread
- Packaging: cardboard, plastic wrap and pallets burn readily.
- Storage height: goods stacked close to the roof, lights or sprinkler heads.
- Flammable liquids and aerosols: stored among general stock instead of in a suitable store.
- Large undivided spaces: nothing to hold a fire back.
- Mezzanines: added later, often without changes to detection or escape routes.
Getting people out
In a big building the distance to an exit matters. The assessor checks that aisles and exit routes are clear of stock, that final exits open easily, that the alarm can be heard over machinery, and that there is a way to account for staff, drivers and contractors at the assembly point.
What the assessor reviews
- How goods are stored and whether stock has crept into escape routes.
- Charging areas, plant rooms and electrical installations.
- Fire detection, alarm and any sprinkler or suppression systems.
- Contractor control and hot work procedures.
- External storage and site security.
- Extinguishers, training, drills and the fire safety register.
When to review
Warehouses change often. A new racking layout, a new product line, a mezzanine or a change of tenant in a shared unit are all reasons to review the assessment.
Based in Co. Tipperary, Safer Solutions carries out fire risk assessments for warehouses and industrial units across Limerick city and county. Call 086 275 9728, email info@safersolutions.ie or request a quote.