Source: Fire Protection Association

FPA Releases Updated TB215 For LPC Sprinkler Rules

The FPA has released a revised Technical Bulletin (TB) as part of its LPC Rules for Automatic Sprinkler Installations 2015, offering updated guidance on the correct storage of idle pallets within industry.

Published by the FPA, the LPC Rules for Automatic Sprinkler Installations 2015 is the UK's most significant sprinkler installation standard that incorporates the full BS EN 12845:2015+A1:2019 standard and related Technical Bulletins. The TB215: Sprinkler Protection of Idle Pallet Storage update for digital and print subscribers of the LPC Sprinkler Rules considers the rising number of timber and plastic pallets found, both internally and externally, in solid pile, racking, and incidental storage.



As the TB outlines, idle pallet storage represents one of the greatest challenges for sprinklers in terms of control or extinguishment of fires, particularly in the case of wooden pallets stacked in piles inside warehouses as they can dry out and ignite easily. With this in mind, TB215: 2024: 1 considers the risks posed by the storage of idle pallets and addresses them by providing an enhanced choice of solutions for contractors and their clients.

In particular, the detailed TB outlines the inherent fire risk posed by idle pallets, considers better pallet material classification, presents detailed guidance on storage arrangements, and offers greater storage options with respect to height and design density. Also included is a cross reference to TB234: Protection to High Hazard Storage (HHS) Configurations and information about sprinkler head requirements, Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) options, and confirmed water supply options.

The TB takes into account recent research that reviewed fire test information and other international standards to provide a more comprehensive and robust sprinkler protection option for idle pallet storage. For digital subscribers, the TB has been automatically updated on both the web and app platforms, and for print subscribers, the update will be posted along with the necessary filing instructions.

This revised TB215: 2024: 1 follows the launch of the FPA’s subscription service for the LPC Sprinkler Rules in January 2024. The subscription model automatically provides subscribers with the latest updates to the document (including new and revised TBs) throughout the year for an annual fee, ensuring they remain at the forefront of changes for life safety and property protection purposes.

More information about the LPC Sprinkler Rules can be found here.