Building & Fire Safety Layout Guide

7-3. Warehouse Fire Compartmentation & Fire Shutter Layout Guide

1. 1,500m² Baseline Compartments vs. 3,000m² Sprinkler Exemption Rules

Under Article 112 of the Building Standard Act Enforcement Order, fireproof logistics warehouses must be compartmented every 1,500m² maximum using fire-resistive walls or certified fire doors/shutters[cite: 23].

However, installing automatic fire sprinkler systems facility-wide expands allowable compartment sizes up to 3,000m² max (Double-Size Relaxation Rule)[cite: 23].

2. Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Installation Criteria

Qualifying for 3,000m² compartment exemptions and passing fire code reviews requires selecting fire suppression systems matched to ceiling heights and racking layouts[cite: 23]:

Primary Fire Suppression Systems in Logistics Warehouses

• High-Bay Racking Warehouses:[cite: 23]
  • In-Rack Sprinklers: Positions heads directly inside pallet racking tiers to spray shadowed load areas directly[cite: 23].
  • ESFR Sprinklers (Early Suppression Fast Response): High-volume, high-pressure heads for clear ceiling heights up to ~13.5m[cite: 23]. Eliminates in-rack piping, enabling flexible rack reconfigurations[cite: 23].
• Cold Storage & Freezer Warehouses:[cite: 23]
  • Dry / Pre-Action Sprinklers: Fills piping with compressed air rather than water, charging pipes with water only when detectors trip[cite: 23]. Prevents pipe freezing and bursting in sub-zero rooms[cite: 23].

3. Fire Shutter & Door Layout Engineering Principles

Key operational safeguards when placing fire shutters across busy forklift or AGV travel aisles[cite: 23]:

① Detector Interlocks & "Two-Stage Closure" Controls

• Shutters lower automatically upon receiving signals from smoke or heat detectors[cite: 23].
• To allow worker evacuation time, systems feature "Two-Stage Closure," pausing mid-way at ~1.8m clearance before fully closing after a set delay[cite: 23].

② No-Storage Clearance Zones Under Fire Shutters

• Operational Risk: Staging pallets, goods, or roll-box carts directly beneath fire shutters blocks full closure during a fire, destroying compartmentation seals[cite: 23].
• Mitigation: Floor surfaces feature yellow/black hazard striping paired with safety sensors or bollards to enforce zero-storage clearances[cite: 23].

③ Integrated Egress Doors (Pass Doors)

• Side-mounted fire doors (pass doors) or integrated escape doors built into shutters allow worker evacuation even when shutters close fully[cite: 23].

4. Vertical Shaft Compartmentation (Elevators, VMCs, Ramps)

Vertical floor penetrations generate severe chimney effects during fires, mandating strict vertical shaftway enclosures[cite: 23]:

• Vertical Material Conveyor (VMC) Openings: Automated conveyor penetrations feature interlocked high-speed fire shutters that close immediately upon fire detection[cite: 23].
• Spiral Ramps (Truck Access): Large multi-story ramp voids utilize heavy deluge water curtains or heavy-duty sectional fire shutters at entry points[cite: 23].