Mezzanine floor load ratings explained: what does kN/m² mean?

How do kN/m² convert to kilograms?

One kilonewton is the weight of about 102 kg. So 3.5 kN/m² is about 357 kg on every square metre, 5 kN/m² about 510 kg, and 7.5 kN/m² about 765 kg, spread evenly across the floor. That even spread is called a uniformly distributed load (UDL).

What rating do I need?

Hand-loaded shelving with cartons usually suits a light-to-medium storage rating. Dense stock such as tiles, paper or metal parts needs more. Pallets placed by forklift need a heavier deck and edge, and machinery needs a design for its own feet and vibration.

Offices are designed for people, furniture and partitions, and are usually rated around 3.5 kN/m² once a partition allowance is included. Public areas such as retail floors may need more for crowd loading.

What about point loads?

Point loads are concentrated in one spot: a pallet's feet, a racking upright, a machine foot. A floor can be fine for the average load and still fail locally under a point load, so the deck and joists are checked for both. Pallet trucks on the deck are a point-load case in their own right.

Why does the floor slab matter?

Everything on the mezzanine ends up on a few column base plates. Heavier ratings mean bigger column loads, and the existing slab must take them. We check slab thickness and condition and, where needed, arrange cores or plate load tests and design larger base plates or new foundations.

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