There is provided a method, a system and a machine readable medium to optimize storage allocation in a database management system. The method comprises receiving a processing step at a step processing module of an access module processor from a dispatcher module. The method further comprises determining whether a fast access storage flag is set in the processing step, the fast access storage flag indicating use of an intermediate file in fast access storage to store one or more redistributed data rows of a table of a database that is distributed across one or more storage devices of the database management system; Yet further the method comprises selectively allocating a free fast access storage data block to the intermediate file from a fast access storage pool based on the determination that the fast access storage flag is set. Lastly, the method comprises writing a redistributed data row from the one or more redistributed data rows to the allocated fast access storage data block.