Warehouse automation without costly sprinkler systems

10/27/2025 News

Anyone looking to automate a warehouse will quickly encounter a key issue: fire protection. The higher the warehouse, the more complex and costly the requirements become. Project managers repeatedly report that meeting fire safety regulations is a real pain point. Implementing fire protection in automated warehouse can be time-consuming, expensive and often involves numerous rounds of coordination with authorities and insurers.

Our double-mast stacker crane maximizes storage below fire safety thresholds. The compact warehouse storage system already meets important fire safety requirements thanks to its design and avoids sprinkler costs due to efficient and uncomplicated implementation.

Why fire protection is a cost driver in warehouse automation

From a storage height of 7.5 m, the "Muster-Industriebau-Richtlinie" (MIndBauRL), the German Model Building Code for Industrial Buildings, applies and requires the installation of an automatic fire extinguishing system. From 9 m storage height, even stricter requirements apply in accordance with VDI 3564-1, which specifies advanced fire protection measures for high-bay warehouses.

This creates a real dilemma for building owners and project managers: on the one hand, efficient storage technology is essential, but on the other, the strict fire protection requirements quickly drive up costs. Investments in modern fire protection systems are often accompanied by operational restrictions during the conversion phase.

To make matters worse, the requirements vary from state to state and coordination with authorities or insurers often takes a lot of time. If details are overlooked in the approval process or requirements change at short notice, expensive retrofits are not uncommon.

The result: a lack of predictability and a considerable burden on the budget and project schedule.

Automated storage systems: fire protection requirements and guidelines

Fire safety requirements for automated warehouses, such as automated small-parts warehouses or high bay warehouses, depend crucially on the maximum storage height and the type of goods stored.

From a storage height of 7.5 m
The MIndBauRL stipulates the mandatory installation of automatic fire extinguishing systems, in particular sprinklers, from an upper edge of the stored goods of 7.5 m. Below this height, the requirements are significantly lower, meaning that warehouses can generally be operated without supplementary fire extinguishing systems as long as required clearance distances and passive fire protection requirements are met.

From a storage height of 9 m
For high-bay racking systems over 9 m, the level of fire protection increases considerably again: further requirements apply to smoke and heat extraction, fire compartments, building construction and extinguishing concepts, as defined in VDI 3564-1, for example, on minimum distances, non-combustible materials and extended extinguishing systems.

Special challenges for automatic warehouses

Chimney effect

In high, densely stocked shelving aisles, a fire can spread rapidly due to the chimney effect, as the air circulation greatly accelerates the spread of flames and smoke.

Accessibility and rescue

Automated warehouses reduce the number of people on site, but require special measures for the fire department and fire protection planning in the event of a fire.

Technical protective measures

In addition to sprinklers, gas extinguishing systems, oxygen reduction systems and water mist are increasingly being used.

Double-mast stacker crane from SMB

Automation solution for warehouses under 7.5 m without expensive extinguishing systems

The double-mast stacker crane from SMB provide companies with a compact and efficient solution for automating existing and block storage systems economically – without costly sprinkler systems. As long as the height of the stored goods remains below 7.5 m, no supplementary fire extinguishing systems are required in accordance with german Model Industrial Building Regulation (MIndBauRL), provided there is required clearance.

SMB combines state-of-the-art technology with early fire protection planning and a wealth of experience from numerous automation projects. As a result, customers benefit from reliable approvability, a clear strategy and tangible efficiency gains, without coming under the cost pressure of expensive sprinkler or extinguishing systems.

Thanks to our comprehensive expertise gained from numerous automation projects, ranging from compact systems to large silo constructions, we incorporate fire protection into the planning process at an early stage.

B.Eng-Ing. Boris Motsch, Sales Director Intralogistics SMB International

New key component for compact automatic warehouses

In combination with the CAPtriever shuttle, the double-mast stacker crane offers the optimum solution for smaller automated warehouses with a lower capacity, with only the most necessary conveyors and safety technology.

With storage heights of up to 7.5 m, a complex automatic fire extinguishing system is not required in many cases, as long as sufficient free space is maintained. This makes this system ideal for small to medium-sized warehouses where simple warehouse designs, low operating costs and high availability are paramount.

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Would you like to find out more?

SMB International always plans, develops and produces customized system technology. We can reliably implement your requirements in individual system solutions. Our technical sales team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your intralogistics tasks.

Feel free to contact us about your specific requirements.

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