A little further look into your situation almost seems to be outside of NFPA #13. They generally stack 400% more tires in an area, at an elevation of 15-25 ft., (right in the sweet spot for fire development in storage), and appear to be on tread. 13 requires that tires on shelf be treated as solid shelf rack storage. Since they rotate, it looks like in-racks are out, and you need ceiling only. (CMSA or ESFR). That is going to limit you to what is listed for that application. This information can best be provided from the Manufacturers. Not sure what is out there, but you may be looking at foam included, if even that can be used.....
I think you are on a slippery slope. Carousel racks, especially enclosed units, are difficult enough to protect with ordinary combustibles. And you are talking about putting tires (oil in solid form) inside these? Good luck.
Thinking outside the box, I suppose you could install "inrack" sprinklers on the circumference of the carousel in such a way that an aperture would be left uncovered so that tires can be stacked or removed.
To elaborate more on my idea, the "inrack" sprinklers would be stationary as the carousel rotates. The sprinklers heads would be of the wall mounted type, either suspended or supported by their branch lines with a tight clearance to the rotating carousel in order for the heat from flames to melt the fusible links. I would look at having the carousel enclosed by a stationary wall that would contain the heat to trigger the fusible links.
chic, I have never seen tires in carousel racks and believe this is a significant hazard that cannot be protected. Can I ask what standard or guideline you are referencing for in-racks? Do you have some fire test data on this particular topic we are not aware of?
CDA, please don't start throwing random code excerpts at the wall hoping they will stick. Unless you have a relevant point, I am fairly sure my assertions are correct.
There are none to my knowledge, however, It does not mean that in the future the NFPA will not develop a section in their code dealing with carousel storage of tires. Sure actual fire tests will need to be conducted and some consensus will be required. May be a fire protection engineer who is thinking about a thesis for his or her PHD may decide to work on such an idea. Progress in fire science should never stop.
