Self storage warehouse facility

[Chris RAN]

Good afternoon,
I am looking to provide design criteria for a +/- 5050 sq. ft. warehouse that will contain self-storage containers.
The building is steel frame construction, 31 ft maximum roof height with a less than 1 on 12 roof slope.
The 5’ by 7’ by 7’ tall containers are primarily made of ¾” pressure treated plywood with a base of a large pallet. There is a solid plastic top and a poly-vinyl wrap / cover for weather protection. The containers are expected to be stacked 3 containers high (21 feet).
A company representative had mentioned to me that the containers may be shrink-wrapped prior to shipping, and there is the potential for future containers to be made of fiberglass. I would like to anticipate the worst-case scenario for the design criteria.

I would appreciate any guidance or experience you may have with a similar situation.

Thank you,
Chris

 

[NOLAscience]

What solution did you find to this problem? How ar the pods lifted in place? Are they stable in the case of a forklift bump?

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

I think you are looking at rack storage of a Class IV commodity at best but I would lean to a rack storage of a Class A commodity.

TABLE 23.4.2 ESFR Protection of Palletized and Solid-Piled Storage of Group A Plastic Commodities

If you can keep the max height to 30'-0" you could use a K25.2 ESFR pendent sprinkler discharging at just 15 psi or 97.6 gpm for a total demand of around 1,450 gpm which includes hose stream.

Those self storage pods are going to have a lot of mattresses and upholstered furniture. I know many designers, myself included, would like to talk it into being a Class III commodity but that isn't reality in todays plastic world.

Stookey pointed out years ago how a Carhart jacket was manufactured of all plastic. Just because it looks like cotton doesn't make it cotton.

 

[stookeyfpe]

Cartoned Unexpanded Group A Plastic. Your design scope should exclude hazardous materials classified as flammable and combustible liquids, flammable gases, oxidizers, organic peroxides, unstable (reactive), water reactive, fireworks and explosives.

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Stookey,

Why wouldn't it be an Expanded Group A plastic?

Table A.20.4(b).

Table 21.3.3(a) for buildings not exceeding 32'.

I would love to know the percentage by volume where storage is mattresses and upholstered furniture.