4-2. Fire Service Act Regulations for Logistics Facilities
The Fire Service Act in logistics facilities is an important law to prevent the outbreak and spread of fires, and to ensure the evacuation of workers and rapid firefighting activities.
Because they have a larger floor area than general buildings and store massive amounts of combustible materials such as cardboard and plastic packaging, strict equipment standards and maintenance management are mandatory.
1. Use Classification under the Fire Service Act (Item 14)
Logistics warehouses are classified as "Item 14 (Warehouse)" in the use classification of the Order for Enforcement of the Fire Service Act. In conjunction with land use zones and building regulations, the types of fire extinguishing, alarm, and evacuation equipment that must be installed become progressively stricter depending on the floor area and number of stories.
2. Major Fire Protection Equipment Mandated for Logistics Facilities
Depending on the scale and structure of the warehouse, the installation of the following equipment is legally mandated.
① Automatic Fire Extinguishing Equipment (Sprinklers, etc.)
-
Sprinkler System:
- In principle, the installation obligation arises when the floor area is 500㎡ or more for rack-type warehouses, or 1,500㎡ to 3,000㎡ or more for general warehouses.
- ESFR (Early Suppression Fast Response Sprinkler): Mainstream in advanced high-ceiling warehouses. It boasts high water pressure and discharge volume, offering the advantage of omitting piping inside pallet racks.
- Pre-action Type: For frozen and refrigerated warehouses. To prevent accidents where cargo gets wet due to water discharge from false alarms, this system flows water through double detection from fire sensors and sprinkler heads.
- Outdoor / Indoor Fire Hydrant Systems: Placed around the perimeter of the building and on each floor to support initial fire extinguishing and the firefighting activities of the fire brigade.
② Alarm and Notification Equipment
- Automatic Fire Alarm System: Smoke detectors and heat detectors are placed throughout the warehouse. In high-ceiling areas (10m or more), photoelectric beam-type detectors or aspirating ultra-high sensitivity smoke detection systems are adopted.
- Emergency Broadcasting System / Integrated Control Panel: A system that instantly identifies the ignition area and broadcasts evacuation announcements throughout the building in multiple languages such as Japanese and English.
③ Evacuation and Guidance Equipment
- Guide Lights / Luminous Evacuation Guide Signs: High-brightness LED guide lights are placed on main traffic lines so that the location of emergency exits can be instantly identified even within a vast warehouse.
- Smoke Exhaust Equipment: To prevent the accumulation of smoke and secure evacuation routes, natural smoke exhaust vents or mechanical smoke exhaust fans are installed near the ceiling.
3. Strict Special Regulations for "Hazardous Materials Warehouses"
Based on Article 10 of the Fire Service Act, when storing designated quantities or more of hazardous materials (alcohols, paints, oils, lithium-ion batteries, etc.), it is necessary to construct and notify it not as a general warehouse but as a "Hazardous Materials Warehouse (Outdoor/Indoor Storage Facility for Hazardous Materials)."
4. Legal Obligations for Operation and Management (Fire Prevention Plan and Hazardous Materials Handlers)
The Fire Service Act mandates not only the installation of buildings and hardware but also the maintenance and management of the software aspect.
-
Appointment of a Fire Prevention Manager / Disaster Prevention Manager and Submission of a "Fire Prevention Plan":
- In facilities where a certain number of people or more work, it is necessary to appoint a fire prevention manager, organize regular evacuation drills and a self-defense fire brigade, and create and notify a fire prevention plan.
-
Periodic Inspection and Reporting of Fire Protection Equipment, etc.:
- There is a legal obligation to conduct equipment inspections (once every 6 months) and comprehensive inspections (once a year) and report them to the local fire department.