Roll paper is a storage hazard that is easily underestimated with the thought "paper is just an ordinary combustible". In large rolls stored on end, however, fire climbs very quickly up the roll faces as the outer layers separate and peel away in the heat, and the narrow gaps between rolls act like chimneys. Firewater is absorbed by the paper, makes the rolls heavier and can cause stacks to collapse. FM Global DS 8-21 Roll Paper Storage sets out sprinkler protection and operating rules for roll paper warehouses with this particular behaviour in mind.
Scope
The data sheet covers roll paper storage at paper mills, printers, packaging manufacturers and logistics warehouses. The assessment rests on four main variables: paper grade (weight), roll orientation, storage array and whether the roll is wrapped and banded. Flat (sheet) paper and paper products are assessed through the general commodity classification (DS 8-1).
Paper Grade: Weight and Structure
How paper burns depends on its basis weight and structure. Light, porous paper ignites and spreads fire faster. The classification used in NFPA 13 is a common reference in the industry:
| Class (NFPA 13) | Basis weight | Typical product | Relative hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight | 98 g/m² (20 lb/1000 ft²) or more | Kraft, linerboard | Lowest |
| Mediumweight | 49–98 g/m² (10–20 lb/1000 ft²) | Newsprint, printing papers | Medium |
| Lightweight | Below 49 g/m² (10 lb/1000 ft²) | Thin printing and wrapping papers | High |
| Tissue | Regardless of weight; soft and absorbent | Parent rolls for toilet tissue, towels, napkins | Highest |
The FM data sheet uses a similar grade split, but its own definitions govern when entering the design tables.
Orientation, Array and Wrapping
- Vertical (on-end) storage: rolls stacked with their axis vertical. The most common arrangement and the most decisive in fire terms.
- Horizontal storage: rolls laid on their side, usually in racks or chocked.
- Array: closed, standard and open arrays are defined by the gaps between roll columns. Larger gaps mean more air supply and a stronger chimney effect.
- Banding: steel or plastic bands can slow fire spread by limiting how far burning outer layers peel away.
- Wrapping: rolls wrapped in heavy kraft are less hazardous than unwrapped rolls, but damaged or torn wrapping removes that benefit.
Key Loss-Prevention Principles
1. Design follows grade and arrangement
Sprinkler design is selected from the data sheet tables by paper grade, storage height, ceiling height, array, banding and wrapping. Tissue and lightweight papers require much more protection. ESFR or large K-factor storage sprinklers can be used for some combinations; take values from the current revision. Where different grades share the warehouse, the design is based on the most hazardous grade.
2. High temperature sprinklers and clearance
For storage hazards that release heat quickly and intensely, high temperature rated sprinklers are generally preferred to avoid opening an excessive number of heads. Keeping the required clearance between the deflector and the top of the roll stacks is critical for water to reach the stack.
3. Water absorption and stack stability
Paper absorbs firewater, grows heavier and swells. Wet bottom rolls can crush and bring the stack down, which is a serious hazard for firefighters and an opportunity for the fire to redevelop. Limiting stack heights, stable stacking and allowing for floor bearing capacity therefore matter.
4. Prolonged post-fire operations
Even after sprinklers control the fire, roll paper can keep smouldering between the layers. Separating and cooling rolls after the fire can take hours. Hose allowance, forklift access and storage area per fire area are planned with that in mind.
5. Ignition sources
Forklifts, roll clamp attachments, charging areas and hot work are the typical ignition sources in roll paper stores. Outer layers damaged by clamps and paper dust and scraps on the floor add to the starting fuel load, so regular housekeeping is itself a fire measure.
How It Differs from NFPA 13 and EN 12845
NFPA 13 includes separate criteria for roll paper storage and uses the weight classification above. In EN 12845 and CEA 4001, roll paper is handled through storage categories and specific provisions; check the limits in the current edition. The FM difference is that it ties the design tightly to the real condition on site — array, banding and wrapping — and details test-based options for the high stacks typical of paper mill warehouses. FM also asks how the roll store relates to the production line from a business interruption point of view.
Field observation: a warehouse designed for "heavyweight kraft, wrapped" gradually taking in tissue parent rolls silently leaves the sprinklers inadequate. Whenever the product mix changes, recheck the protection assumption.
Practical Checklist
- Stored paper grades and weights are inventoried and the most hazardous grade identified.
- Orientation (vertical/horizontal), array, banding and wrapping are defined.
- Sprinkler design comes from an exact combination in the data sheet tables.
- Sprinkler temperature rating and clearance below deflectors are verified.
- Stack heights are limited; stack stability and floor capacity are considered.
- Hose allowance and access for post-fire operations are planned.
- Forklift, charging area and hot work controls are applied.
- Paper dust and damaged layers are cleaned up regularly.
- The design assumption is rechecked whenever the product mix changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is tissue the most hazardous grade?
Its soft, porous and light structure ignites quickly and spreads fire very fast up vertical faces. The most demanding protection criteria therefore apply to this group.
Can protection be reduced if rolls are wrapped?
The data sheet may allow lighter criteria for soundly wrapped rolls in some cases. Damaged or partial wrapping removes that benefit, so the site condition must be verified.
Why is firewater a risk in itself?
Paper absorbs water, grows heavier and swells. Wet bottom rolls can crush and topple the stack, which endangers responders and can let the fire redevelop.
Can ESFR be used in a roll paper warehouse?
Where the data sheet provides for the specific grade, stack height and ceiling height. Outside those combinations ESFR may not be suitable.
How do I choose the sprinkler temperature rating?
Follow the data sheet's recommendation. The sprinkler temperature rating selector helps with a first check, but the final choice follows the design table.
SprinkCalc — Fire Sprinkler Design Across Three Standards
SprinkCalc covers hazard classification, design density and area, K-factor selection, water demand and hydraulic calculations for NFPA 13, FM Global and BS EN 12845 in a single iOS app, and exports a professional PDF report.
Download SprinkCalc on the App StoreFM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 8-21, Roll Paper Storage; FM Global DS 8-1; NFPA 13 (roll paper storage provisions and definitions); EN 12845; CEA 4001. This page is a summary in our own words, not the data sheet text. Download and design to the current revision from fmglobal.com.