Pallet racking in Magnolia, TX.

It depends first on whether the building is inside Magnolia city limits. Inside the city, development permits run through the City of Magnolia under its development code, and fire code review is performed by the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office under an interlocal agreement with the city. Outside the city, in unincorporated Montgomery County, the county issues the development permit and the same Fire Marshal’s Office handles fire code review, which it requires for structures over 500 square feet, interior build-outs and changes of use. The county adopted the 2024 International Fire Code in 2025. We check the parcel and prepare the rack drawings and storage details the reviewer will ask for.

Usually a mix rather than one system. A few runs of selective pallet racking along the long walls, a short run of cantilever if you handle pipe or long material, and shelving or a small pick area near the office for parts. The goal in a suite of a few thousand square feet is to keep one clear working aisle to the door, so the rack layout starts from the door and the equipment you use, whether that is a forklift, a pallet jack or nothing more than a hand truck.

Yes. Under the International Fire Code, storage becomes high-piled combustible storage above 12 feet, or above 6 feet for high-hazard commodities, and high-piled storage brings extra requirements for sprinklers, aisles and fire department access. Many plastics and plastic-packaged goods count as high-hazard, so a contractor storing plastic pipe or boxed plastic parts can reach the lower trigger quickly. Telling us what you store, not just how much, lets us keep a layout below the trigger where that makes sense or design for it properly where it does not.