Mezzanine Research & Materials

Mezzanine:

Mezzanines are a practical design used purposefully in areas with ceiling heights double of what is standard.

“A mezzanine floor is an intermediate floor between main floors of a building, and therefore typically not counted among the overall floors of a building. Often, a mezzanine is low-ceilinged and projects in the form of a balcony. The term is also used for the lowest balcony in a theatre, or for the first few rows of seats in that balcony. The word mezzanine comes from Italian mezzano “middle”.”

What height do I need in my building?
How many mezzanine levels can I have and can I add additional levels?
Does the mezzanine need to be fire rated? If so what does this involve & mean?
Do I need planning permission?
Do I need to contact Building Control? or will my provider look after this?
What weight can I put on the floor? Will the floor take the load?
What floor finish is suitable?

Materials:

Steel Decking

“One of the most common options for decking a mezzanine floor is to use steel decking. Steel decking is superior to ordinary plywood due to its moisture resistance, enhanced strength, and stiffness. Steel decking provides secure and solid resistance to foot traffic. It is designed in a way to withstand weather conditions better than any other type of decking material. Steel decking is also considered to be the most economic material for mezzanine floors.”

Concrete

“One of the most durable types of mezzanine flooring is concrete. Concrete decking can take heavy loads and it allows minimal transmission of noise through the deck. Thus, concrete is used in high capacity military and industrial applications where the mezzanine is to be permanent.”

Steel Grating

“Steel grating is an option preferred in various mezzanine floor applications due to its insurance benefits. Steel grating or bar grating is a common choice in mining, waste management, and food service industries. Steel grating lets light, air, heat, and other fluids pass through the surface of the deck. This type of decking is durable, strong, and low on maintenance. The different types of steel grating you can use for mezzanine flooring are press-locked grating and welded bar grating.”

Diamond Plate

“Diamond plate is ideal for you, if durability is what you are looking for. Diamond plate is a heavy-duty steel tread plate which is installed over a steel deck for great durability and heavy load capacity. This type of decking is among the most durable decking options available.

Although there is no best choice when it comes to selecting decking materials for mezzanine floors, you can get decking materials that suits your needs the best. Once you determine the purpose and use of the mezzanine, you along with the metal fabrication experts can decide the best decking material for your mezzanine floors.”

Rules and regulations

Where people could fall 1 metre or more from an opening in the external envelope or floor of a building, or from a sudden change of level within or associated with a building, a barrier shall be provided.

“In recent years, intermediate floors (mezzanines) have become a more popular architectural feature which can be found in many types of building, such as warehouses, factories, churches, halls, theatres, shopping malls, offices and others. The construction of intermediate floors can often provide additional space, which may be enclosed to the lower floors, e.g. storage, offices, etc; or cannot be enclosed, e.g. theatres, cinemas, etc. However, intermediate floors are also potentially less safe than a full floor, if a fire occurs on the lower floor.”

“Gallery is defined in the Chapter as “a mezzanine floor from which all occupants have a clear view of the storey or room in which it is located such that the occupants of the mezzanine floor would become aware of any outbreak of fire on the lower level at effectively the same time as would occupants of the lower level”.”