Despite the economic downturn as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the self-storage sector in Australia fared well over the past two years. In fact, 2021 delivered a record growth for the self-storage sector with the states of Queensland and Western Australia standing out. With the storage fee rate per square metre increasing each quarter and the storage occupancy at approximately 88%, self-storage facilities appear to be buildings which yield high ROIs for developers.
Self-storage facilities pose a high fire risk due to the nature and quantities of combustible storage. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) considers such facilities a special fire hazard and has special requirements for fire engineers to consider when designing multi-storey self-storage buildings. At Sotera we have unrivalled experience in providing performance solutions for self-storage facilities supporting sprinklered and non-sprinklered design options addressing BCA non-compliances, some of which include:
- Reduction or deletion of FRLs of structural elements
- Extended travel distances to exits
- Location and protection of external fire hydrants and hydrant booster
- Extended smoke detector spacing
- Permitting combustible signage on external walls
- Protection of openings within proximity of a site boundary
- Special Fire Hazard (addressing brigades’ requirements)
- Variations to fire exits and discharge routes
- Variations to firefighting facilities
- Compartmentation and fire separation
- Perimeter vehicular access