Designer Tips

More and more businesses are looking for ways of maximising the amount of space available to them rather than moving to larger premises. In many instances this means utilising available headroom with the installation of a mezzanine floor. However, it is important to use a reputable supplier as poorly designed solutions can prove costly and may not provide the benefits expected.

At around £75/m2, mezzanine floors are an inexpensive way of providing additional storage space on one or more levels, extra floor space on or below the mezzanine level and multi-tier display areas. Mezzanines can also be used to add additional manufacturing areas, and can be used for order picking from shelving and racking at more than one level. They can also help to improve distribution and throughput in a warehousing environment. Easily and quickly constructed, mezzanines can be installed at the rate of 50m2 per day including ancillaries, handrail, staircases and loading gates. The mezzanine floor should be free standing and not connected to the walls of the building to avoid an increase in rateable value.

If shelving or racking is being used above and below the floor, then it may be best to install a two-tier (raised aisle) shelving system, as this could prove more cost effective. However, if the installation requires shelving below and bulk storage above, then consideration should be given to a ‘floor over’ shelving system where the shelving provides the support for the floor. This is a far more economical solution than a mezzanine floor.

Access and Means of Escape
This is practically the ‘be all and end all’ of mezzanine design. Whether it is a structure to enable additional levels for manufacturing or storage or for office accommodation, a principal tenet of the design is to ensure that people on the structure have a safe and readily available means of getting off the floor, to a safe location. Regulations state that 1 staircase must be used for a 25-metre installation and 2 staircases for 45 metres. If the mezzanine is larger than 10mx10m then 2 staircases will probably be required. If the floor is more than 10m in either direction smoke detection will be required and if more than 20m in either direction sprinklers or fire protection will be needed for the underside of the floor.

Building Regulations
Mezzanines have to be designed and constructed in accordance to BRE Digest 437 (the Guidance on Industrial Platform Floors) and BS5950, which ensure the first resistance of steel and steel/concrete composite structures. In addition, the design of handrail balustrades and staircases must generally be in accordance with approved document Part K of the Building Regulations (Protection from falling, collision and impact) and the approved document Part M in accordance with the DDA

Total Building System Integration
Spaceway Group can provide a totally integrated solution. Once the mezzanine is erected additional installations can be carried out on or below the mezzanine. Partitions for offices, reception suits, conference rooms, storage and warehousing can all be part of the total package.

The use of the latest AutoCAD, Xsteel and Multi-Suite software ensures state-of-the-art structure design, which not only complies with current British Standards for Design of Structural Steelwork but also provides the best option in space utilisation, minimising ground floor obstruction whilst maximising the economies of structural steelwork.

Top Tips For The Ultimate Design

• Columns should be spaced at around 3 metres for the most economic solution. However if greater open space is needed under the floor, the columns can be erected further apart for an additional cost.
• A mezzanine floor should be erected at an optimum height of between 2.7m and 3m – measured to the top of the floor, thereby negating the need of an expensive mid-staircase landing.
• A storage platform normal load bearing is 4.8N/m2 (480Kg per m2). These figures are based on evenly distributed loads and do not take into account the point loads that would be incurred with shelving or pallet trucks. Normally, this does not cause a problem. However, it is important to note that a heavy point load could cause a hole to be punched through chipboard decking.
• If an open storage platform is planned, then a pallet gate needs to be included close to the top of the stairs.
• Locating the mezzanine floor in the corner of a building can save on handrails thereby reducing costs.

To find out more, view Customer briefing no 3 in virtual library and FLOORITALL(™) Mezzanine Floors flyer.

For further information go to suppliers links page or view case studies in the Virtual Library.

Marathon
“Following the installation of our mezzanine floor I would like to thank you for all the hard work during and leading up to the work being carried out. Every member of staff was polite and made every effort to make the transformation run as smoothly as possible. I would be more than happy to recommend your services to any prospective clients.”
Ian Hearn – Marathon, the archiving specialists