Making the Most of your Seasonal Tire Storage Program
Updated: Feb 12, 2021
A seasonal tire storage program can be immensely profitable for a dealership. It is the only way to bring customers back to a dealership, twice a year. However, there is one thing that every program needs: space. This can take the form of the upper floor of a dealership, a storage container, or even a third-party warehouse. Regardless of where your customer’s tires are stored, the space location must be set up properly, and have the necessary permits.
Consider this scenario, your dealership has a seasonal tire storage program. The tires are stored in the upper floor, which is the only place you have space. When your dealership has a safety inspection, it is determined by a fire marshal that your program is a fire hazard. Now, you will either need to cancel the program and give customers their tires back or move them all to a new location. Either way, it is an unnecessary disruption to your operations. The reason this it is so important to be aware of this, is because used tires represent a fire hazard. Used tire fires burn very hot and can be difficult to put out once they have grown to a certain size.
At InvenTire, we pride ourselves on being able to walk our customers through every step of the seasonal tire storage process. We firmly believe that the best seasonal tire storage programs are also the safest. Below are some FAQs that we have received from dealerships.
How do I protect myself from liability in the event of a tire fire?
The first and most important step before beginning to operate your facility is determining where it should be placed. Depending on the size of your site, the distance necessary between combustible objects can vary. Therefore, it is important to plan how large you want your site to be before you get started. Simply put, planning is crucial to protect against liability. Finally, it is crucial to have the right documentation. A program without the right permit is dangerous.
What are some preemptive steps that must be taken to ensure the safety of my employees and the greater community at large?
In the event of a fire, it is crucial to have as many fire prevention mechanisms as possible. Having ample fire extinguishers available to have immediate intervention is key. Also, preventing the use of combustible vehicles within the complex is another useful strategy. However, this is often required in many states. Lastly, having a plan of action for your staff in the event of a tire fire is an excellent way to protect your employees. Having designated posts to retreat to, as well as a plan of action to secure other equipment that could catch fire is very important to reducing spread.
How expensive are the permits and how often do I need to apply for them?
Permit expenses vary based on the size of the facility that must be inspected. As one would expect, as the area gets larger so does the fee. Typically, the permits need to be renewed annually, as state and local governments will often determine that additional safety measures must be met for the following year of applications.
Where do I go to properly file for the right permits?
The organizations responsible for permit distribution vary based on city and state location. Your best bet is to contact your local fire department officials and request information regarding the location of such an application. They are likely the personnel who will be conducting the property check in order to approve the permit. As for dealerships located in the Denver area, the link is provided below.
*One of the key services that InvenTire offers is our modified shipping containers. These containers are designed to ease the burden of storage and have been properly painted and altered to store your customer’s tires. Please contact us for more information.
** Please note: While InvenTire has striven to make the information on this post as accurate as possible, we makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this post, and expressly disclaim liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this post.
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