Fire under control: enhancing warehouse safety through strategic fire prevention and risk management

Abstract

Warehouse fires represent a global challenge, inflicting economic losses, damaging reputational integrity, disrupting business operations, leading to job losses, and negatively impacting the environment. Despite strict fire regulations and codes of practice aimed at safeguarding warehouse facilities, the prevalence of catastrophic fires persists globally, including notable incidents in Sri Lanka. This persistence prompts an inquiry into the adequacy and appropriateness of current protective measures. This research addresses the urgent need to discern the root causes of warehouse fires and the consequent damages to devise effective preventative strategies. Through a combination of literature review and semi-structured interviews with ten experts, this study employs manual content analysis to explore underlying factors. Key findings indicate that failures often stem from the absence, inadequacy, or improper maintenance of fire detection and protection systems, the specific nature of storage configurations, the size of the facilities, and the combustible characteristics and volume of stored goods. The study proposes adhering to the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) fire regulations, which mandate the provision and maintenance of active and passive fire protection measures. It further recommends the regular execution of fire risk assessments, the enforcement of stringent housekeeping protocols, the strategic separation of commodities based on their class and compatibility, and the isolation of battery re-charging operations from storage areas as critical steps to mitigate fire risks in warehouses. These insights guide warehouse owners, tenants, fire risk assessors, and other professionals who enhance fire safety in warehouse settings.