In warehousing, logistics, or manufacturing, protecting your goods on pallets is standard practice. But when it comes to how you protect them, your choice could have serious consequences, especially in the event of a fire.
Standard pallet wraps (like shrink film or plastic tarps) are widely used, but are they doing enough to protect your people, stock, and premises?
In this blog, we compare fireproof pallet covers with traditional plastic wraps to help you decide what’s best for your business, both from a risk management and compliance perspective.
Why Pallet Protection Matters
Whether you’re storing food, electronics, chemicals, or retail stock, pallet wraps play a vital role in keeping goods clean and dry and preventing product shift or tampering. They also shield against dust, dirt, or light impact, and help to simplify stock movement and transport
But in some environments, especially those involving combustibles, lithium-ion batteries, or flammable liquids, pallet wraps aren’t just for protection. They’re a critical fire safety consideration.
The Hidden Risk of Standard Pallet Wraps
Most standard pallet wraps are made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or similar plastics. These materials are easily flammable and quick to melt, drip, and spread flames. When they're ignited, they also produce toxic smoke, and they're often used in high-density stacks, worsening the fire spread in a fire situation.
When a fire starts in or near palletised goods wrapped in plastic, the wrap can accelerate the situation, fuelling flames and obscuring detection systems.
This makes standard pallet wraps a known fire risk in many insurance and regulatory frameworks.
Fireproof Pallet Covers
Fireproof pallet covers are specially treated to resist ignition and slow the spread of flames, giving you critical extra time to suppress a fire or evacuate safely.
They're ideal for businesses storing or handling:
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Waste materials
- Flammable liquids or aerosols
- Electronics or e-mobility products
- High-value or sensitive goods
Let’s break down the differences.
Fireproof Covers vs Standard Wraps: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Standard Plastic Wrap | Fireproof Pallet Cover |
| Material | LDPE or similar | Treated fire-retardant fabrics |
| Fire resistance | Flammable | Slows ignition and spread |
| Reusability | Usually single-use | Reusable or multi-use options available |
| Durability | Prone to tearing | Stronger and more protective |
| Compliance | May raise risk flags | Often preferred in risk assessments |
| Cost | Low unit cost | Higher upfront cost, lower long-term risk costs |
| Best for | Low-risk, short-term storage | High-risk, long-term or compliance-led operations |
When Should You Upgrade to Fireproof Covers?
Here are a few scenarios where standard wraps are unlikely to be enough:
You store lithium-ion battery products
Standard wraps can ignite instantly when exposed to the high temperatures of thermal runaway, risking total loss of stock and premises.
Your pallets are in unsprinklered areas
Without automatic suppression, a fireproof barrier helps buy time and limit flame spread.
You hold high-value or flammable goods
The cost of stock loss in a fire may vastly outweigh the price of safer pallet protection.
You're undergoing a fire risk assessment
Many insurers or fire risk assessors will identify stacked, plastic-wrapped pallets as a fire loading concern.
But What About Cost?
It’s true that fire-retardant covers have a higher unit cost than standard plastic wrap. However, the long-term benefits far outweigh the price difference. A lower fire risk leads to fewer insurance complications and fewer stock losses in a fire. That in turn leads to a reduced chance of business disruption, and also supports health & safety or sustainability goals (especially if you choose reusable covers)
Think of it as a fire protection investment, not just a packaging decision.
Choosing the Right Cover for Your Operation
When deciding what pallet cover to use, ask yourself:
- Are we storing anything combustible or high-risk?
- Are pallets stored for long periods, or near ignition sources?
- Have we had a recent fire safety audit or assessment?
- Would a fire in our storage area threaten critical stock or operations?
If the answer to any of these is yes, fire-retardant pallet covers are likely the right call.
In addition to our Pallet Covers, the Firechief® range of fire safety products also includes extinguisher stands, suppression systems, signage and fire safety products for all types of fires. For information, call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.
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Disclaimer
The information contained within this blog is provided solely for general informational and educational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions based upon this information, we advise the reader to consult all relevant statutory or regulatory guidance and, where necessary, to consult a qualified fire or industry regulation professional. The use or reliance on any information contained herein is solely at the reader's risk.