EN 12845 - The European Standard for Sprinkler Systems

It defines how fire protection systems must be engineered to control fire development based on building use, storage configuration and fire load.

If you use wooden pallets and plastic pallets today, there are stricter requirements for sprinkler systems, which you avoid with our metalsheet pallet. Read more

Understanding EN 12845

European Sprinkler Standards for Warehouses

EN 12845 is the European standard that defines the design, installation, and maintenance of automatic sprinkler systems in commercial and industrial buildings. It provides detailed guidance for fire protection engineers, insurers, and facility managers, specifying how sprinkler systems should respond to different fire hazards, building layouts, and storage configurations.

For warehouses, EN 12845 places particular emphasis on combustible storage materials, such as wooden pallets and plastic pallets, which significantly increase the fire load. The standard classifies storage hazards based on material type, storage height, density, and arrangement, and requires sprinkler systems to be designed accordingly to contain and control fire development effectively.

Key implications for warehouses storing combustible pallets include:

• Increased sprinkler density and water discharge requirements

• Necessity for in-rack sprinkler systems in high-bay storage

• Limitations on maximum storage height

• Higher Probable Maximum Loss (PML) estimates

• Increased complexity and cost of fire protection systems

Failure to comply with EN 12845 can not only lead to regulatory issues but also dramatically increase the financial exposure for warehouse owners and their insurers. Wooden and plastic pallets, being highly combustible, can trigger stricter fire protection requirements and escalate insurance risk ratings.

From an insurance perspective, EN 12845 provides a framework for assessing warehouse fire risk. Facilities with high combustible loads often require enhanced sprinkler systems, higher water capacity, and more intensive fire protection strategies, all of which can result in higher premiums and more stringent underwriting criteria.

Effectively managing fire load in compliance with EN 12845 is therefore crucial for mitigating risk. By reducing combustible storage, warehouse operators can achieve a safer, more manageable fire risk profile, potentially lower insurance premiums, and improved compliance with European fire protection standards.