Revolutionize Your Storage with Perforated Shelves – Water Penetration, Airflow, Adaptability, Safety Combined!

Engineered for superior performance, our perforated shelves provide enhanced airflow, sprinkler flow, and light penetration – perfect for modern shelving storage needs.

The precision-engineered perforations ensure optimal airflow, sprinkler water flow, and light penetration without compromising strength or stability. Upgrade to a smarter, safer, and more efficient storage solution today!

Perfect for multi-level storage systems, high-bay shelving systems, and warehouse environments where compliance and safety can’t be optional.

• Fire Code Compliant
• Compatible with existing Metalware systems
• Heavy-duty, North American made quality

Key Features & Benefits:

• Optimized Airflow & Ventilation: With 35% or 50% perforation options, our shelves maximize airflow, keeping stored items fresh and reducing dust buildup. Ideal for warehouses, retail, and industrial environments.
• Fire Safety Compliance: Designed to allow sprinkler water to flow through effortlessly, ensuring full coverage and compliance with safety regulations. Protect your inventory with confidence.
• Enhanced Light Penetration: The perforated design allows natural and artificial light to pass through, improving visibility and creating a brighter, safer workspace.
• Superior Strength & Durability: Built from high-quality steel, our shelves offer robust design tailored specifically for shelving applications.
• Versatile & Customizable: Available in multiple sizes and perforation patterns (35% or 50% openings), our shelves adapt to your unique storage needs, from heavy-duty industrial to lightweight retail displays.
• Easy to Install & Maintain: Designed for seamless integration with standard shelving systems, our perforated shelves are low-maintenance, corrosion-resistant, and built to last.

NFPA Fire Rating Code

NFPA 13 defines “open rack” storage as racks or shelves where at least 50% of the shelf area is open, allowing sprinkler water to penetrate through the shelves to lower levels. This is critical for ensuring fire suppression in rack storage systems. Specifically:

• Open Rack Definition: According to NFPA 13, racks or shelves are considered “open” if they have at least 50% open area in the shelf surface, which facilitates water flow from sprinklers to reach commodities stored below. A 50% perforated shelf meets this threshold, as it provides exactly 50% open area, assuming the perforations are evenly distributed and allow unobstructed water flow.
  
• Sprinkler Water Flow: NFPA 13 requires that shelving materials not impede sprinkler discharge. For in-rack sprinklers or ceiling sprinklers protecting rack storage, the open area ensures water can reach lower levels of the storage configuration. A 50% perforated shelf aligns with this requirement, as it permits sufficient water passage compared to solid shelving, which may require additional sprinklers or specific design considerations (e.g., in-rack sprinklers for solid shelves per NFPA 13, Section 20.5).
  
• Commodity and Storage Height: Compliance also depends on the type of commodities stored (e.g., Class I-IV, Group A plastics), storage height, and sprinkler system design (e.g., ceiling-only or in-rack sprinklers). A 50% perforated shelf in a rack system typically qualifies as an open rack, which may reduce the need for in-rack sprinklers compared to solid shelving, provided the storage configuration and sprinkler design meet NFPA 13 criteria (e.g., Chapter 20 for general storage or Chapter 21 for high-piled storage).
  
• Obstructions: NFPA 13 specifies that shelving materials must not create obstructions that block sprinkler discharge. The perforations in a 50% open shelf should be designed to minimize obstruction, with holes large enough and spaced appropriately to allow water to pass through effectively.

Analysis:

A 50% perforated shelf generally complies with NFPA 13’s definition of an open rack, as it meets the minimum 50% open area requirement for water penetration. This makes it suitable for storage configurations where open racks are specified, potentially simplifying sprinkler system design compared to solid shelving. However, compliance depends on additional factors:

• Shelf Design: The perforations must be uniformly distributed and large enough to allow water flow without significant obstruction. If the perforations are too small or poorly designed, they could impede water distribution, potentially requiring additional sprinkler protection.
  
• Storage Configuration: The specific storage arrangement (e.g., single-row, double-row, or multiple-row racks), commodity classification, and height (e.g., high-piled storage over 12 ft) will dictate sprinkler requirements. For high-piled combustible storage, NFPA 13 (Chapter 21) may require in-rack sprinklers or specific ceiling sprinkler densities, regardless of shelf openness, depending on the hazard level.
  
• Local Codes and AHJ Approval: The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), such as a local fire marshal, may have additional requirements or interpretations. For example, some jurisdictions may require testing or documentation to verify that the 50% perforation performs equivalently to other open rack designs.

Conclusion:

A 50% perforated shelf will comply with NFPA 13 fire code for open shelving storage, as it meets the minimum 50% open area requirement for sprinkler water penetration, assuming the perforations are appropriately designed to allow unobstructed flow. As with all such matters, full compliance depends on the storage configuration, commodity type, sprinkler system design, and approval by the local AHJ. To ensure compliance, consult with a fire protection engineer or the AHJ, and consider providing documentation or test data demonstrating that the perforated shelf allows adequate sprinkler water distribution.

For more information, contact Matt Slocombe, matt@metalware.ca.