Permitting your warehouse.
Canadian municipal permit offices are active and necessary participants in the initial set-up and ongoing maintenance of your warehouse. For most new occupancy permits you are likely to require one or more permits related to the layout and integrity of your racking system. Permits may require review of several aspects of your facility including engineering specifications of your racking components, concrete slab and substrata specifications, fire sprinkler design, fire and WHMIS commodity classification, emergency egress layout, signage and electrical. Permits should be viewed as positive step towards protecting your workers and your facility from harm. The "pay-me-now or pay-me-later" slogan is a very accurate way of looking at the permit process. Get started early to avoid potentially costly delays in getting your shop approved for occupancy.
Visit your municipal permitting office and be prepared to present a layout (even in sketch form). This meeting will help determine the permits needed, expected timelines and associated costs.
Briefly:
Structural: Expect to be asked for a drawing of your rack layout stamped by a professional engineer. This engineering review will confirm that your racks are sufficient to store the inventory you are proposing. The engineer may also require that the floor slab be examined for thickness and substructure support.
Fire Protection: A fire department review may also be necessary based on the layout (with elevations),size of your facility and the characterization of your inventory. A review of the sprinkler system, aisle widths and proper flue spaces may also be initiated.
Emergency Signage, Egress and Lighting: This will take into account aisle locations and widths, emergency exit doorways. Interestingly this aspect of the review can also shed light on potential bottle-necks in your warehouse workflow!
Racking layout with elevations: Even a preliminary sketch will be enought to start conversations with your permitting office, the prefessional engineer, and the fire marshal. However, you can expect that the final permit be based on a drafted document will approval stamps by the various professions.
CMI's racking team can be a valuable resource either to lead the process or in an advisory role.
In summary, keep in mind the following:
Obtain CAD drawing of building (or at least PDF)
Produce a racking layout sketch or drawing.
Obtain existing fire protection information.
Visit or call the municipal planning office.
Document the characteristics of your inventory.
Engage a contractor to obtain a floor slab core sample if required.
Engage a fire system engineer to review the sprinkler system layout and capacity as required.
Review the rack layout in light of local emergency egress protocols.
Finalize racking permits with or without final inspection visit(s).
Keep in mind that many local permitting by-laws have evolved in response to workplace injury and mortality prevention concerns and are based on a combination of regional and national building codes. If you view this as an investment in your employees health and safety the process can be undertaken with a positive frame of mind.
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