4 Factors You Need to Consider When Purchasing a Mezzanine

When purchasing a mezzanine or structural platform to expand your processing space, there are a number of factors to consider — many of which deal with the structural capacity of your plant.

While purchasing a mezzanine is a cost-effective way to expand your operations and storage space, the extra load on your floor slap and placement of the support columns are crucial factors when purchasing and installing a structural mezzanine.

Account for These Structural Factors

Talk with your mezzanine company to ensure the following factors are accounted for:

Location of the Mezzanine

One of the first things to look at is where the mezzanine will be located in your plant. Does it provide enough ceiling space? Will it be tied into current production lines? Should future expansions be considered into the design? Location is key to determining the following factors.

Determine Your Floor Slab Capacity

It is imperative that you know whether your current floor slab has enough capacity to support your new mezzanine. If you don’t know the capacity, conduct a slab and soil analysis. Your mezzanine may require extra footings to add support.

Determine an Acceptable Support Column Layout

The purpose of a mezzanine is to add more processing space, not eliminate the space. Make sure the column supports are placed appropriately to avoid interruption of your main floor level processes.

Make Sure All Structural Calculations are Prepared by a Profession Engineer

Don’t think your calculations are correct just because a building plan reviewer signs off on it. Only a professional engineer will factor in floor slab capacity and the mezzanine configuration to support your processes.

Play it Smart

Failure to include these factors in your decision, especially during installation of your new structural mezzanine, can spell a costly disaster. If the floor slab in your plant can’t support the extra load of the mezzanine, it won’t be long until serious problems arise — anything from cracks in your flooring to the collapse of your mezzanine.

Work with a professional to determine what your facility can hold before committing to purchasing a mezzanine.