Mezzanines

Mezzanine-Floor-Install
Group 919

Build up, not out, and take full advantage of your facility’s vertical space with a mezzanine. With sturdy steel construction and a variety of configurations and flooring options to choose from, you can easily develop a custom storage solution to meet all your facility’s needs.

Mezzanine-Floor-Install
Group 919

Vertical Space Efficiency

Space is always at a premium. While facility expansion is always an option, a warehouse mezzanine is the perfect solution to take advantage of vertical industrial storage space at a much more reasonable cost relative to adding onto an existing building. That’s why they’ve become standard additions to warehouses of all kinds.

Large Structural Mezzanine
storage
A mezzanine might seem like a simple structure, but behind this straightforward construction are a variety of practical applications:
  • Extra storage
  • Space for production activities
  • Equipment position and support
  • Offices and other worker areas
  • Walkways/catwalks
  • Order picking modules

Regardless of how you use your mezzanine, you can expect to economically increase your usable floor space while reducing the downtime and other roadblocks associated with new construction. 

What to Know Before You Buy

Before purchasing and installing a mezzanine, there are a few key considerations every business should understand first:

Mezzanine Location

Where in your building will you install the mezzanine?

Mezzanines in corners are fairly common, but sometimes, a free-standing structure in the middle of your warehouse floor is the best location. This will help you understand ceiling height restrictions, power runs (if needed), and other critical facility design considerations.

Facility Factors

What is your slab floor capacity? What about ceiling height?

Understanding these factors will help you determine the design of your mezzanine structure. Working with an experienced team of designers and engineers is key to ensuring you have all the room you need, not only for operation but also safety.

Point Loading

Point loading is the application of a very heavy load or applications of dynamic force on a small area of the structure. This could be areas with stacked storage items or heavy equipment. Understanding point loading is essential for the design process.

Column Load

Column base plates need proper placement and correct sizing for safe use. Interior columns often bear the most weight as they support the most square footage. Larger base plates can help, but they often don’t fully compensate for extremely heavy loads.

There are also federal, state, and local safety regulations and building codes to consider. These will often depend on your location and seismic zone, but not always. All mezzanine construction should meet IBC, AISC, ASTM standards, and, of course, OSHA warehosue requirements for safe operation.

Floor Load Considerations and Uniformed Load

While the benefits of a mezzanine can make this type of structure the perfect addition to your business, making sure your floor can handle the extra weight is critical. Too much weight can cause a concrete floor to crack or worse. 

A typical concrete floor with a 6” slab can handle around 25,000 lbs. safely. But it’s not just about thickness.

Another key factor in determining the load capacity of a concrete floor is soil compression, or how the slab compresses the soil underneath it. In some situations, soil compression can reduce the capacity of the concrete floor significantly — sometimes by 50% or more.

The characteristics of both the concrete floor and the soil underneath play an important role in determining overall capacity and whether your facility can handle the weight of a mezzanine.

If your floor doesn’t seem to support the intended mezzanine construction, you still have options. First, you’ll want to consult with a building architect about footers for each column. Footers will help reinforce portions of the floor. Here is how it works:

  1. First, a contractor will cut a portion of the floor out.
  2. Next, they’ll dig out the soil underneath.
  3. Last, they’ll pour concrete that will be capable of handling the mezzanine load.

Uniformed Load and Columns

Understanding uniformed load will help you better understand column number and placement. Remember, interior columns will often handle more of the load, so keep that in mind. Your uniformed load will designate capacity per square foot. For example, a light-duty mezzanine, according to IBC parameters, can handle 125 lbs. per square foot. 

Taking that number and multiplying it by the projected total square foot will give you column loading. Here is the formula to use: column loading: total (sq. ft) * (uniformed load) (lbs./sq. ft) = lbs. supported by each column.

Note that this is only an estimate. Always consult with professionals for the most accurate design parameters.

Mezzanine floor

Decking and Accessories

Another key consideration when planning out a mezzanine build is the decking choice. There are several decking options available, each with unique characteristics and advantages:

Roof Deck and Resin Board

Often 20-gauge steel roof deck with a resin board, this is one of the most economical systems and is a great choice for a variety of applications.

Bar Grating

Bar grating offers an open design that is perfect for ventilation and fire hazard concerns. Heavier items need to be bolted down at all times, and wheeled equipment can struggle with this decking choice.

Roof Deck and Floor Plate

20-gauge steel roof deck over 12-gauge floor plate is the right choice for heavy and abusive loads. It’s also compatible with wheeled equipment like pallet jacks or carts.

Concrete

Often paired with roof deck, concrete is preferred for fire ratings and chemical applications. Just keep in mind that this decking option is unmountable.

mezzanines

There are also a variety of accessories that you can add to a mezzanine for productivity and safety reasons:

  • Guardrails
  • Safety gates
  • Swing gates
  • Conveyors
  • Vertical lifts

Custom Mezzanine Solutions for Your Business

Need to maximize your facility’s vertical storage space? We can help you find the right mezzanine or your warehouse. Browse our used stock today or contact us for custom solutions.

Mezzanine Types and Support [Module]

From free-standing to catwalk, you’ll find several different types of mezzanines and mezzanine components in our inventory. To help you make the most informed buying decision, let’s take a look at those different types of used mezzanines now.

Free-Standing Mezzanines

Free-standing mezzanines, also known as structural or clear-span mezzanines, are a great, cost-effective solution for adding storage to your warehouse or distribution center. Unlike other mezzanine types like rack-supported mezzanines, they rely on structural columns for support.

Rack-Supported Mezzanines
Rack-supported mezzanines typically utilize pallet racking frames for support instead of traditional mezzanine columns. The exception would be if the mezzanine floor needs to support a higher weight capacity – then it would be reinforced with mezzanine columns.
Shelving-Supported Mezzanines
Shelving-supported mezzanines use boltless shelving components or rack uprights to support the structure while maximizing your storage area. Shelving-supported mezzanines, like rack-supported configurations, are very cost-effective and offer added shelf storage, which can be used in many different ways.
Mezzanine Catwalks
Catwalk mezzanines deliver an efficient solution to help workers move through your facility without interrupting the workflow down on the floor. They are used in many different applications, from directing worker traffic to offering viewing platforms for upper management.

East Coast Storage Equipment: Your Go-To Mezzanine Supplier

At East Coast Storage Equipment, we not only carry a wide selection of used mezzanines of all kinds but can also assist with the design and installation process. Our experts are on standby to help you with every step of the process. We’ll ensure the mezzanine is not only perfect for your facility but that it’s installed correctly according to rigorous industry standards. 

We can also build out custom mezzanines. Our in-house fabrication department has built hundreds of mezzanines and other custom equipment for our clients. No matter what your facility demands, we’ve got the equipment and expertise to make it a reality. Get in touch today to learn more about your options.

 Frequently Asked Questions

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