Mezzanine Floor Sample 1

Considerations in Installing Mezzanines

There are a lot of factors to be considered before installing a mezzanine in your building. The main thing to be considered is what application it will be used for.  Identifying the application is essential because your mezzanine structure will depend on whether it will be used as an office, catwalk, storage, or equipment platform. Discussed below is a brief description of what to consider.

Application Intent:

The mezzanine to be installed will be designed based on the load requirements. The load requirements will be determined when the purpose is known. Mezzanines for equipment platforms would require a strong base and rigid flooring surface to support the high load requirements. On the other hand, if a mezzanine is intended for a catwalk, then it is reasonable to choose lightweight materials to design the structure. Knowing the application for the mezzanine to be installed will help design the layout based on the available space you have.

Production/ Operational Goals:

It is also important to strategize on the optimal utilization of the installed mezzanine. This additional part of the building should improve overall production efficiency, not serve as an obstruction. Knowing your goal in installing a mezzanine will help you deliberate on what type of mezzanine you will install. 

Loading Capacity & Requirement:

The load capacity of a mezzanine floor is measured in KiloNewton/square meter. The purpose of the mezzanine will dictate the required load capacity. Office spaces will require lower load requirements and will range within 3.5KN/m2. Light storage will need 4.8KN/m2. Medium storage will need 7.2 KN/m2. Heavy storage (including light equipment) will require 9.6 KN/m2.

Slab capacity:

Typical building slabs supporting 25000lbs are six to eight inches thick. Before determining the type of the mezzanine to be installed, the soil composition wherein the building stands should be examined and analyzed if it is feasible and safe to install in it. The slab capacity will guide the selection of the types of columns, footings, and base necessary to support the mezzanine.

Overhead Clearance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires a seven feet distance from the floor to ceiling to provide adequate clearance for a person. Extra space and necessary clearance is an essential deciding factor in designing a mezzanine.

Stairways and Handrails:

Installing stairs and handrails also vary depending on the purpose of the mezzanine. If the mezzanine is part of the production line, then it is vital to design a handrail that will properly secure the employees’ safety. The types of stairways are required to be designed in accordance with specifications in the International building code. Usually, in the building code, the main requirement for a stairway is that it should be made with anti-skid materials.

Footing Surface:

The most common materials used for mezzanine surfaces are diamond plates, concrete, steel & gratings, and many more. Diamond plates are the most commonly used and the most durable of the flooring surfaces that can carry heavy loads. Concrete is a permanent solution that can take high loads, and it is excellent in reducing noise. Steel and gratings are nice materials that have excellent strength and have moisture-resistant properties. 

Codes:

All mezzanine installations are required to abide by the standards set by the International Building Code, AISC ASTM, OSHA.

Blog > COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Update

A Notice For Victorians

Due to the COVID-19 our Melbourne warehouse is still operating on a delivery only basis, please see our freight calculator online or call our sales team for a freight quote, this is to safeguard our staff and customers and to adhere to government guidelines.

Contactless Transaction

  • Our showroom is currently not opened to the public, until further notice.
  • We have set up a front counter to block the front entry, to make sure there is a distance between our staff and customer.
  • Pick up is still available in Brisbane Office, however, we encourage our customer to order online first to minimise contacts.

Clean & Hygiene

  • We are cleaning and sanitising our offices twice daily.  
  • Eftpos Machine and front counter are cleaned more frequently during the day.
  • If necessary, our staff will wear a mask to protect themselves and our customers.

We are trying our best to serve our communities

  • We want to say a big thank you to everyone who follows our procedures to make sure we all stay safe. 
  • Although we are trying our best to keep up, due to the current circumstances, delivery is expecting delays, especially in Victoria. If you have any issue regarding delivery, please do not hesitate to contact us, we will try our best to sort things out for you.

Blog > AS4084-2012

Australian Standard Information AS4084-2012 – Steel Storage Racking

The following information has been taken from the Standards Australia website, Workcover NSW website and the Australian Standard AS4084-2012 – Steel Storage Racking.

The AS4084-2012 standard sets out the minimum requirements for the design, fabrication and erection tolerances, test methods, operation and maintenance of steel storage racking. Compliance to the standards is normally voluntary unless incorporated into legislation. At this point in time there is currently no legislation in place that incorporates this Standard. That being said the additional cost to have every project designed and certified by a structural engineer would be very costly. It is of course also possible to operate outside of both options, however the legal and financial ramifications could be costly down the line. Therefore it is safer and more cost effective to adhere to the Australian Standards.

The Basic Changes

The new AS4084-2012 standard goes into great deal about the testing methods of the pallet racking systems. We will go over the basic changes that affect our customers when we are putting forward a quotation.

(A). Where required, the end frame on each row should extend past the top load beam by at least 50% of the unit load (pallet) height. (1.3.11)

(B). The load signs have extra requirements now such as to be permanent and corrosion resistant in one or more conspicuous places. They also require the following information; unit load limit, beam load limit, bay load limit, designer’s name, manufacturer’s name, supplier’s name, installation date, maximum distance from ground to first beam level, maximum distance from first to second beam level. (1.6a)

(C). Racking configuration drawings and specifications need to be included with each installation.(1.6b)

(D). Upright Protectors of at least 400mm high must be positioned on the frame at the end of a row of racking at an aisle cross section. (2.4.1a)

(E). Clearance from the top of a pallet to the underside of the load beam above it shall be a minimum of 75mm for beams under 6.0m and 100mm for load beams above 6.0m (1.7.2)

(F). The flue space in between back to back rows must be a minimum of 100mm. This brings the minimum required frame spacer to 430mm (Figure 1.7.2)

(G). 2 floors anchors per base plate must be used when the racking is being serviced by a mechanical device (2.7.5)

(H). The racking supplier shall provide user manuals and appropriate training to the end users for correct usage and maintenance of the racking (8.1.1)

(I). No changes are allowed to the configuration or usage of the racking without the racking suppliers authorisation. (8.1.3)

(J). Inspection must be carried out at least once every 12 months. The Australian Standard has a list of what needs to be inspected. (8.2)

(K). A supply of beam locking devices shall be stocked on site. (8.3.6)

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