Mezzanine Floors
Independent and Fully Integrated
Mezzanine floors are an ideal solution if you want to increase the capacity of a warehouse or retail unit without the cost and inconvenience of relocation. A mezzanine floor allows you to optimise your existing space, in certain cases it can at least double (or greater) available floor space, without the need to extend your building or relocate your business to a larger facility.
Types of Mezzanine Floor
Steel Build Masters offer both traditional INDEPENDENT mezzanine floors that can be retro fitted into any existing or new building, plus, a FULLY INTEGRATED mezza nine floor design that will utilise the same post and beam set up but will minimise the floor space taken by utilising the main stanchions of the building frame.
Our FULLY INTEGRATED mezzanines are available in both our HOT ROLLED and our own COLD FORMED steel framed buildings, meaning we can offer our customers greater choice and often save money by utilising the building frame and minimising deliveries to site by fabricating the mezzanine at the same time as the frame.
Components of a Mezzanine
Generally, a mezzanine floor structure is constructed of four main components:
- Columns – reaching from the floor to the base of the mezzanine. The number and type of the columns will have been stipulated in the planning and design stages.
- Primary steels or beams – the primary beams are usually made from UB Sections on a standard warehouse floor, though this will depend on the weight bearing requirements of the floor.
- Secondary steels or purlins – purlins are fixed to the primary steels, bearing the weight of the mezzanine flooring. The number and type of purlins will again depend on the decisions made in the planning stage, including the amount of deflection expected for the floor.
- Decking – Decking is placed on top of the purlins. 38mm P6 chipboard is standard flooring, though there are a wide variety of different options including moisture resistant. Other options are available dependent on the loadings and usage.
Mezzanine Floor Access Features
Steel Build Masters work closely with you to understand the range of features required to support the efficient & safe use of your mezzanine floor.
There are numerous ways to offer access to staff and to transport goods to and from a mezzanine floor:
Staircases
However the mezzanine level is used, a staircase is the easiest and simplest form of personnel access. Staircases vary in terms of colour, material and shape and can be designed to add style as well as practicality to your mezzanine floor. This presents an opportunity for those using a mezzanine for retail or office purposes to create an attractive mezzanine staircase feature. Each staircase is designed to meet building regulations for the purpose it is meant for. The staircase can be straight run, a run with mid landing, a 90 degree turn with landing or a U-turn with landing. The exact design will be based on the space available and proximity of fire doors and access doors.
Lifts
There are two types of lifts, a goods lift and a passenger lift. In addition to stairway access, the passenger lift is ideal if disabled access is a priority or if your just looking for extra convenience. The goods lift is purposely designed to take the weight of heavy goods so they can be transported safety to and from the mezzanine levels. The goods are placed in the lift on one level then collected on arrival at the level intended which works even better with an operator at each level working together. Both Goods and Passenger lifts are available in automatic (Electric) or manual (Chain driven) options.
Pallet gates
Positioned at the edge of the mezzanine level a pallet gate is cleverly designed to accept pallets onto the platform having been placed by the fork lift truck from below. The pallet gate opens to allow the pallet access and closes once placed whilst ensuring edge protection throughout the process.
As well as the above there are more specialist options such as gravity chutes and escalators for both goods and personnel.
Thinking of Installing a Mezzanine Floor?
Why pay for extra square footage on additional premises when you can realise the cubic volume in your existing building? Rent, rates and insurance costs can be a large portion of your company overhead. All possible usable space has to be utilised and a Mezzanine floor installation offers an inexpensive way to achieve this. Expand upwards rather than outwards.
Mezzanine structures create space into Commercial & Industrial environments for a variety of uses covering Storage, Light Assembly/production, Office, Retail, Plant & Manufacturing Access Walkways.
Are you making effective use of your business premises?
Is your business running out of space? Have you out grown your existing building but can’t justify a new building? A mezzanine floor could offer your business a viable and less painful alternative to moving premises. Contact Steel Build Masters today and see how we can provide you with a flexible design solution to suit the needs of both you & your business.
Whatever the application for a mezzanine floor, we deliver a most cost effective solution to your floor space problem without the cost or disruption of moving premises. By making the most efficient use of the space you already have, we can help your business operate as efficiently as possible and combat the ever increasing costs of rent, rates, or even relocating.Operating throughout the UK, our mezzanine floors are designed and manufactured to the highest standard to comply with the latest legislation. The infinite flexibility in design of our structures allows for tailor-made solutions to suit individual needs. Our service includes a thorough detailed survey, preparation of CAD drawings, obtaining the necessary Building Regulations approval as well as project management.
Call our expert team on 0800 368 9100 or email support@steelbuildmasters.co.uk to discuss your requirements.