Everything You Need To Know About Mezzanine Floors

There comes a time at almost every production or storage facility when the lack of available space becomes apparent. At this time, businesses begin to look at innovative storage solutions to create additional space in their facilities. One of the more popular solutions that solve these issues is a mezzanine floor. So I thought I'd put together some answers to some of the more frequent questions our customers ask.

Do Mezzanine Floors Require Planning Permission?

Well, that depends on your circumstances. If your proposed floor area is over 200m², then definitely. Furthermore, if it is an attachment to the main building, it also needs planning permission. Otherwise, it probably doesn't. It's also worth mentioning that landlord permission is a must if you rent or lease your facility.

What about Building Regulations Approval?

Any substantial alteration to your production facility will entail getting consent from the local building authority team, including installing a mezzanine. When seeking permission, the local authority will ask you to present Details of proposed internal alterations, including:

• Technical specifications of the proposed flooring
• Facility plans which highlight external fire exits
•  Logistical information, the whats, the wheres and the whens

This handy link will help you find your Local Authority Building Control Team. 

Do Mezzanine Floors Have a Weight Limit?

They certainly do. But, because mezzanine floor installations are bespoke to business needs, the purpose of the floor will dictate the weight limit and loading capacity required. For example, a structure accommodating the storage of products on racks and shelving would need to hold more weight and a heavier load than office space. The most common load for a mezzanine floor in the UK is 4.8kN/m2. This figure translates to 100lbs. The guide below gives a clearer picture of flooring usages and their maximum loading capacity.

Floor Usage Maximimum Load Capacity

Office Space 3.5kN/m2

Light Industrial 4.8kN/m2

Medium Industrial 7.2kN/m2

Heavy Industrial 9.6kN/m2

Is There a Height Limit?

Ideally, there should be a minimum space of 5m to the underside (eaves) of a facilities roof to install a single-tiered mezzanine floor. The below table gives a more unambiguous indication of the required space for additional tiers.

Tiers Required Eaves Height

1 5.0m

2 7.7m

3 10.4

4 13.1

Can I have Windows?

Of course. I'd recommend the installation of windows in the vicinity of a newly installed mezzanine floor. The Workplace Regulations Act 1992 affirms that employers must guarantee that places of work have appropriate and sufficient lighting. Moreover, this should be natural lighting where sensibly practical. Another consideration is soundproofing. Acoustic grade glass will help avoid any noise pollution. 

Are Fire Ratings Important?

In a word, extremely. Building regulations state that the underside of installed floors requires a fire-resistance rating. This rating is the period a fire protection system will endure a fire resistance test. Should your mezzanine floor meet any of the following points, you'll undoubtedly need a fire-resistance rating.

• Three or more people will be on the installed floor at a single time
• The intended purpose is anything other than maintenance or storage
• The size of the floor exceeds 400m2
• The mezzanine surpasses 50% of the environment it is to be installed in

Hopefully, this answers any questions. However, suppose you have any other queries, or you think your business is in a position to enhance its available space with a mezzanine flooring installation. In that case, contact us today, and our expert team are on hand to advise.