Lumber stacks must not exceed 20 feet, manual lumber must not exceed 16 feet, and brick stacks must not exceed 7 feet.
Key takeaways for how to stack lumber and bricks safely in a construction stockroom
- Lumber stacks must not exceed 20 feet in height, provided that lumber to be handled manually must not be stacked more than 16 feet high, according to Washington State Legislature.
- Brick stacks must not be more than 7 feet in height, according to Washington State Legislature.
- When a loose brick stack reaches a height of 4 feet, it must be tapered back two inches in every foot of height above the 4-foot level, according to Washington State Legislature.
- When masonry blocks are stacked higher than 6 feet, the stack shall be tapered back one-half block for each tier above the 6-foot level, according to Legal Information Institute.
- You must not place material stored inside buildings under construction within 6 feet of any hoistway or inside floor openings, nor within 10 feet of an exterior wall which does not extend above the top of the material stored, according to Washington State Legislature.
General storage rules on a construction site
These specific rules apply to construction sites under the general storage requirements.
The Legal Information Institute defines the general requirements for storage in 29 CFR § 1926.250. This regulation sets the baseline for how materials must be arranged on a construction site. Supervisors must ensure that every stack adheres to these specific structural guidelines. The rules cover lumber, bricks, and masonry blocks individually. Ignoring these limits risks collapse and injury to workers ( shop injury log timing). The regulation does not apply to all industrial warehouses. It is specific to construction sites. You must measure your current stacks against these federal standards. Mark the limits on your storage walls for daily reference. This ensures compliance with the cited general requirements.
A filled reference table of stack limits by material type and source
The following table lists the nine specific storage limits and rules required for safe material handling. Each row identifies the publisher that states the rule and the exact limit or requirement. Use this table to verify that your current stockroom setup matches the cited standards before beginning work.
| Item | Publisher | Limit or Rule | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumber height limit | Washington State Legislature | Lumber stacks must not exceed 20 feet in height; lumber to be handled manually must not be stacked more than 16 feet high. | Washington State Legislature |
| Brick height limit | Washington State Legislature | Brick stacks must not be more than 7 feet in height. | Washington State Legislature |
| Brick taper rule | Washington State Legislature | When a loose brick stack reaches 4 feet, it must be tapered back two inches in every foot of height above the 4-foot level. | Washington State Legislature |
| Masonry taper rule | Legal Information Institute | When masonry blocks are stacked higher than 6 feet, the stack shall be tapered back one-half block for each tier above the 6-foot level. | Legal Information Institute |
| Hoistway clearance | Washington State Legislature | Material stored inside buildings under construction must not be placed within 6 feet of any hoistway or inside floor openings. | Washington State Legislature |
| Floor load limit | GovRegs | The weight of stored materials on floors within buildings and structures shall not exceed maximum safe load limits. | GovRegs |
| Bagged material step | Washington State Legislature | Bagged materials must be stacked by stepping back the layers and cross-keying the bags at least every 10 bags high. | Washington State Legislature |
| Cylindrical blocking | Legal Information Institute | Structural steel, poles, pipe, bar stock, and other cylindrical materials, unless racked, shall be stacked and blocked so as to prevent spreading or tilting. | Legal Information Institute |
| Scaffold storage limit | Legal Information Institute | Materials shall not be stored on scaffolds or runways in excess of supplies needed for immediate operations. | Legal Information Institute |
Understanding the specific height caps for lumber and bricks
Lumber storage follows a two-tier height system based on how the material is accessed. According to the Washington State Legislature, lumber stacks must not exceed 20 feet in height, provided that lumber to be handled manually must not be stacked more than 16 feet high Washington State Legislature. GovRegs states the same requirement, noting that lumber piles shall not exceed 20 feet in height, provided that lumber to be handled manually shall not be stacked more than 16 feet high GovRegs. Lumber to be handled manually must not be stacked more than 16 feet high, so the 16-foot cap is the height of that stack. If your site stores lumber in a high-bay area accessed by forklifts ( forklift checks), the 20-foot limit governs the total pile height.
Brick storage has a single, strict height limit that does not vary by handling method. According to the Washington State Legislature, brick stacks must not be more than 7 feet in height Washington State Legislature. This rule applies to all brick piles regardless of whether they are accessed by machinery or hand. GovRegs confirms this limit, stating that brick stacks shall not be more than 7 feet in height GovRegs. Unlike lumber, there is no separate "manual handling" exception for bricks in these cited provisions. The 7-foot ceiling is absolute for the stack itself.
Applying the tapering rules for loose brick and masonry stacks
Loose brick stacks require specific geometric adjustments once they reach a certain vertical threshold. According to Washington State Legislature, when a loose brick stack reaches a height of 4 feet, it must be tapered back two inches in every foot of height above the 4-foot level. This specific measurement dictates how the upper layers of the stack must recede from the base. The rule applies strictly to the portion of the stack extending above the initial four-foot mark.
A similar requirement exists in federal regulations for general storage. According to GovRegs, when a loose brick stack reaches a height of 4 feet, it shall be tapered back 2 inches in every foot of height above the 4-foot level. This citation confirms the same two-inch reduction for each foot of additional height for loose bricks. The language "shall be tapered" indicates a mandatory action for compliance.
Masonry blocks follow a different tapering standard based on their unit size. According to Legal Information Institute, when masonry blocks are stacked higher than 6 feet, the stack shall be tapered back one-half block for each tier above the 6-foot level. This rule uses the physical dimension of the block itself rather than a fixed linear measurement. Each tier above the six-foot height must be set back by one-half block.
To apply these rules on site, measure the stack height from the floor. If the material is loose brick, check the height at the 4-foot mark. If the stack exceeds 4 feet, calculate the setback for each subsequent foot.
Illustrative example of a loose brick taper
For example, if the stack is 5 feet high, the top foot must be set back 2 inches from the foot below it. If the stack is 6 feet high, the fifth foot is set back 2 inches, and the sixth foot is set back 2 inches from the fifth. Those two setbacks put the top 4 inches back from the 4-foot face. Masonry at 8 feet, 2 feet above 6 feet, steps back one-half block on each of 2 tiers.
Managing clearance around hoistways and floor openings
Clearance rules prevent stored materials from interfering with vertical transport and structural integrity. Washington State Legislature states that you must not place material stored inside buildings under construction within 6 feet of any hoistway or inside floor openings, nor within 10 feet of an exterior wall which does not extend above the top of the material stored Washington State Legislature. GovRegs specifies that material stored inside buildings under construction shall not be placed within 6 feet of any hoistway or inside floor openings, nor within 10 feet of an exterior wall which does not extend above the top of the material stored GovRegs. These distances define the minimum safe buffer zones for your stockroom layout.
Floor load capacity is a separate constraint. GovRegs notes that the weight of stored materials on floors within buildings and structures shall not exceed maximum safe load limits GovRegs. You must verify the specific load rating for your floor before stacking heavy materials like bricks or masonry blocks. If the floor is near a hoistway, the 6-foot clearance rule applies regardless of the load weight.
Securing bagged materials and cylindrical stock
Bagged materials require specific stacking techniques to maintain stability. WAC 296-155-325: mandates that you must stack bagged materials by stepping back the layers and cross-keying the bags at least every 10 bags high, according to Washington State Legislature. This step-back method applies to the general handling of bagged stock in the storage area.
For cement and lime specifically, the same regulation sets a strict height cap. You must not pile cement and lime bags more than 10 bags high except when stored in bins or enclosures built for the purpose of storage, according to Washington State Legislature. If you use bins or enclosures designed for storage, the 10-bag height limit does not apply in the same way, but you must still verify that the enclosure is built for the purpose of storage.
Cylindrical materials present a different risk profile because they can roll or tilt. Structural steel, poles, pipe, bar stock, and other cylindrical materials, unless racked, shall be stacked and blocked so as to prevent spreading or tilting, according to Legal Information Institute. This rule covers a wide range of long, round materials commonly found on construction sites.
To apply these rules, check your current storage methods. If you have loose cylindrical stock, ensure it is either racked or properly blocked. If you are storing cement or lime bags, count the layers to ensure they do not exceed 10 bags unless they are in a dedicated bin. For cement and lime bags, mark the 10-bag limit on the wall or floor.
Do this on site today
Measure your stacks from the floor today and mark the 20-foot, 16-foot, 7-foot, 4-foot, and 6-foot lines from the table. Read universal waste storage rules if waste is stored in the same building.
FAQ: how to stack lumber and bricks safely in a construction stockroom
What is the maximum height for a lumber stack?
According to Washington State Legislature, lumber stacks must not exceed 20 feet in height. However, if the lumber is to be handled manually, it must not be stacked more than 16 feet high.
What is the maximum height for a brick stack?
According to Washington State Legislature, brick stacks must not be more than 7 feet in height.
Where must material be kept in relation to hoistways?
According to Washington State Legislature, you must not place material stored inside buildings under construction within 6 feet of any hoistway or inside floor openings.