Detector locations for high rack storage area must be located where?

• A. On the floor
• B. At intermediate levels in the racks and on the ceiling above each aisle
• C. On the walls
• D. Near doors

Answer: (B)

In high-pile storage, fire detection must be placed where smoke and heat will actually be detected early. The dense stacks can shield smoldering flames from ceiling detectors, and heat tends to rise and spread along the aisles. Placing detectors at intermediate levels inside the racks catches fires inside the stacks, while detectors on the ceiling above each aisle monitor the air that moves up and along the aisles. This combination provides faster warning and more reliable detection than relying on floor, wall, or door-adjacent locations alone. Floor-level detectors can be blocked by pallets, walls may not intercept smoke penetrating the racks, and detectors only near doors miss interior detection.