Mezzanine floors are a great way of creating additional floor space on a budget. However these costs can needlessly spiral out of control if careful consideration is not given to the design. Check out our top 6 tips to obtaining a cost effective mezzanine floor.
1. Carefully consider the planned use to Optimise the Loading Requirements
One of the most common elements of over specification which results in additional costs is when calculating the loading requirements of the mezzanine floor.
By taking the time to consider the planned use estimate the exact loading requirement of the floor you can optimise the structural steel content of the floor. The minimum loading specified by building regulations is 3.5 kN/m2 uniformly distributed load which allows for office space and personnel.
If you intend to carry out material handling or use the mezzanine floor for storage purposes then you need to raise the specification to a loading of 4.8kN/m2. Heavy or rolling materials may require a higher specification.
2. Optimise the Column Grid
By using the most economical mezzanine column grid, which is normally a 3m x 3m column, you can save on structural steelwork. We will discuss the options with you, balancing the carrying capacity required, with the most unobtrusive column layout. however this must be balance with the loading requirements.
3. Avoid or design round heavy point loads wherever possible on the mezzanine floor.
The calculations for loading requirements are generally based on a uniform distribution however this does not however mean you have to apply the heaviest load right across the floor! If heavy loads have to go on the floor it is possible to uprate sections in specific areas to control costs.
4. Avoid Going Too High
It may seem obvious that the higher you go the more it will cost but there is a cut off point that you must consider. By ensuring the height of finished mezzanine flooring is no higher than 2.7 metres (Scottish Installations) or 3.0 metres (England and Wales) you may avoid having to include a mid-staircase landing.
5. Carefully Consider the Access Requirements
Assess your operational requirements and only use the minimum access requirements and the minimum specification to conform to local regulatory requirement. It is vital that you take into consideration the DDA regulations to ensure the Mezzanine Floor obtains a building warrant in Scotland or Building Regulations Approval for England and Wales. However by carefully designing your mezzanine with a thorough understanding of what is and what is not required under DDA regulations you can avoid costly over specification
6. Remember - Offices on Mezzanines Cost more
As a general rule, all offices on mezzanines need to be fire-protected to comply with Building Regulations. This will generally comprise a suspended ceiling below the mezzanine a fascia to all exposed edges and protection to the columns
Offices must provide at least a half-hour fire protection between the offices/warehouse which may require extending the perimeter partitions to the roof. In addition the escape routes and staircases may require fire protection too.