Be sure to avoid storing your
Cardboard boxes are combustible, and having multiple cardboard boxes stored in a room requires the room to be maintained as a hazardous area. According to section 19.3. 2.1 of the 2012 Life Safety Code, the room would have to be 1-hour fire-rated or be sprinklered.
Anything that is highly flammable
The attic is usually a completely open space which means the fire has the ability to quickly spread up into the rafters, roofing materials, and down the exterior walls, causing rapid fire damage.
Photos, Documents, Reading Materials, and Artwork. Old photos, documents, books, newspapers, magazines, artwork, and paintings are all off-limits for the attic, garage, or basement. These items are negatively affected by heat, humidity, bugs, and even light.
According to research by the Smithsonian Institution, cardboard can ignite at temperatures between 425-475°F if exposed to heat. Most 24 inch electric wall ovens easily reach over 500°F when set to standard baking temperatures. This intense heat can cause cardboard to rapidly ignite inside the confined oven space.
Fire hazard: Stacking empty cartons in a pile in the warehouse poses several different fire hazards. Corrugated cardboard is highly flammable, which can make it easier for a potential fire to take hold and spread.
Cardboard burns at approximately 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the general consensus for reheating pizza in the oven is to keep the temperature set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit it should be safe to leave your pizza in the box, however, you must be extremely vigilant while it is baking.
To prevent insect infestations, make sure that your boxes are completely clean and free of food remnants or crumbs that could attract all sorts of bugs. Be sure to avoid storing your corrugated boxes in a location that may have a higher risk for fire, such as an attic.
The attic storage space is ideal for keeping seldom-used items such as holiday decorations and supplies. Christmas tree boxes, Halloween décor, and Thanksgiving supplies are just some of the things that can be placed in the attic without too much worry.
Cardboard is a paper product that will deteriorate and fall apart over time. Insects and other pests like rodents can easily crawl inside and make themselves at home. Moisture can damage the contents, especially when boxes are stored in a humid or flood-prone basement.
Electrical malfunction is the leading cause of residential building attic fires (43 percent), followed by natural fires (16 percent). A third of all residential building attic fires spread to involve the entire building. Only 2 percent extend beyond the building to adjacent properties.
Before using your attic for storage, consider what items you plan to store. Anything temperature-sensitive, like electronics or items that can warp, melt, or freeze, should be kept out of the attic. Additionally, dampness can be an issue in an attic, so avoid storing items that could be damaged by high humidity levels.
Boxes stacked to the ceiling packed full of stuff not only adds to a feeling of claustrophobia, but it adds fuel to any fire. Clutter may impede your escape and it creates hazardous conditions for firefighters who are trying to get into the home and fight the fire at its source.
In addition, cardboard is highly flammable and often causes an unpredictable surge in your fire, creating an unpredictable and dangerous flame – especially if you have lots of people around the fire. Stick on the safe side and recycle your cardboard, don't burn it!
Typical cardboard boxes have low thermal conductivity, meaning they can keep things cool when hot outside and vice versa. The properties of cardboard prevent heat from transferring from one object to another.
We refer to fires involving solid materials as 'Class A' fires. This range of solid materials is wide; in the office, it could refer to stacks of copier paper and cardboard storage boxes.
Install proper flooring: Add flooring, such as plywood or attic decking, to provide a stable surface for storing items and walking safely in the attic. Improve insulation: Install insulation to regulate temperature and prevent moisture buildup, which can damage stored items.
These essential systems can occasionally overheat and catch fire. The danger is more severe in the summer when your attic is already really hot. Dust and other debris build up in the ducts of these systems, adding to the likelihood and speed of a fire spreading.
Between extreme temperature fluctuations, the potential for moths, and precarious piles of boxes, the attic can be a tricky storage spot. Many delicate materials won't fare well in a location that's freezing cold in the winter and sweltering hot in the summer. And yet you want to maximize your attic storage.
Termites are attracted to paper and cardboard because of their high cellulose content. Unused boxes, stacks of paper, or even wallpaper can draw termites. It's best to store paper and cardboard items in sealed plastic containers and minimize clutter to avoid attracting these pests.
After we've installed your loft insulation, you should not store items directly on top of it. If items are placed on the insulation, it will compress the material down and reduce your insulation's performance by more than 50%, leading to greater energy and heat loss through your roof.
Fire hazards
Cardboard dust is highly flammable, and even a small spark can ignite a catastrophic fire. The risk of explosions and extensive damage from cardboard dust hazards is ever-present, making dust control a critical safety measure.
Cardboard doesn't catch fire until temperatures reach over 400 degrees. But to be safe, we recommend you keep your heat at the suggested setting of 170. If you want to crank it up a bit more, that's fine. Just keep it under 300.
To help maintain their integrity, store boxes at: 40% to 70% relative humidity. 40°F to 100°F temperatures.