Mezzanine floor questions and answers
The questions we are asked most often on surveys, with short, straight answers.
All questions
How long does it take to install a mezzanine floor?
Design and Building Control usually take one to three weeks and steel fabrication three to six weeks. On site, a 100–300 m² storage mezzanine typically goes up in two to five working days; large or fire-protected floors take longer.
What load rating do I need for warehouse storage?
Hand-loaded shelving and cartons usually suit a light-to-medium storage rating; pallets placed by forklift need a heavier deck and edge. We work out the rating from what you will actually store, then design to it.
Does a mezzanine office need fire protection?
Almost always. Where people work on or under a mezzanine, Building Control normally requires the steel and deck to be fire protected and the escape route to meet travel-distance limits. We design it in from the start.
Does a shop mezzanine need planning permission?
In England, a mezzanine adding more than 200 m² of floor space to a shop selling goods (not hot food) needs planning permission. Smaller ones are normally internal works, but Building Regulations approval is still needed.
Grating or chequer plate for a plant platform?
Open grating is the usual choice: it is light, lets dust and water through and does not get slippery. Chequer plate suits areas where small parts or tools must not drop through.
What is the difference between a mezzanine and a pick module?
A mezzanine has its own steel columns and beams. A rack-supported system uses the racking or shelving frames as the structure, and a pick module is a larger multi-level version with conveyors running through it.
How much weight can a mezzanine floor hold?
As much as it is designed for. Light storage floors are commonly designed around 3.5 kN/m², medium storage around 5 kN/m², and heavy-duty floors 7.5 kN/m² or more. The rating is stated on a load notice.
How many staircases does a mezzanine need?
Small storage mezzanines often need one. Larger floors, offices and public areas may need two or more so that nobody is too far from an escape route; Building Control confirms the number.
Why use an up-and-over pallet gate?
Because a barrier stays closed between the people on the deck and the open edge at all times, even while a forklift is loading. Lift-out bars and swing gates leave the edge open.
Does every mezzanine need fire protection?
No. Small storage mezzanines with short escape distances often do not. Offices, public areas and larger floors usually do. Building Control decides for each design.
Who signs off a mezzanine floor?
Your local authority Building Control or a registered Building Control approver. They review the design and inspect the work, then issue a completion certificate.
Is it worth moving a mezzanine?
Often, yes, for well-kept bolted mezzanines. Reusing the steel can save a large part of the cost of new, but the new building, load and regulations must suit it.
Can you extend a mezzanine another company installed?
Usually, yes. We survey and assess the existing structure, and design the extension to suit, whoever built the original.
How long does it take to remove a mezzanine?
A small storage mezzanine is often removed in one to two days; larger or fire-protected floors take longer.
Do I need lighting under a mezzanine?
Usually, yes. The deck blocks light from the roof, so the area below needs its own lighting, plus emergency lighting on escape routes.
Can people ride in a goods lift?
No. A goods-only lift must not carry passengers. For people, a separate platform lift designed for them is needed.
How often should a mezzanine be inspected?
There is no single fixed interval in law, but an annual inspection plus checks after any impact is sensible practice, and some insurers ask for it.
Do conveyor crossovers need Building Regulations approval?
Not always. It depends on the structure and its use. We confirm on each job.
Is VAT charged on a mezzanine floor?
Yes, at the standard rate for commercial work. Our guide prices exclude VAT.
Can I put up a mezzanine without Building Regulations approval?
You should not. Unapproved work can be enforced against, can cause problems with insurance and when you sell or re-let, and may not be safe.
Is a 60-minute rating always needed?
No. Many mezzanines need 30 minutes; 60 minutes is required for some uses and layouts. The fire strategy sets the period.
Can I increase the load rating of my mezzanine later?
Sometimes, by adding steel or columns, but it needs a structural assessment first. It is cheaper to design for the right load at the start.
How thick should a slab be for a mezzanine?
There is no single answer, because reinforcement and ground conditions matter as much as thickness. Many modern warehouse slabs are 150mm or more, but we check every case.
Can a mezzanine stair be steeper to save space?
Only within the limits in Approved Document K for the type of stair. A dog-leg with a landing usually solves a tight space better than a steeper flight.
Are lift-out bars legal?
They are not banned, but they rely on people putting them back, so they rarely match the protection of an up-and-over gate. Your risk assessment should consider safer options.
Is a second-hand mezzanine always cheaper?
Not always. Once transport, new parts, design checks and approvals are added, the saving can be smaller than expected.
Will the building be disrupted?
Less than with most building work. The steel is bolted together on site, with no wet trades, and we phase the work around your operation.
How much space does a mezzanine add?
As much as the area it covers, less the space taken by stairs and gates. A 300 m² mezzanine adds close to 300 m² of new floor.