If you own a warehouse and you’re looking to make it more efficient, you may consider adding a mezzanine storage to your facility as part of an expansion or renovation project.
But before making any decisions, you need to thoroughly understand the process and get answers to some basic questions. Here are the most important things to consider when planning your mezzanine addition
1) What type of material do I want for my mezzanine?
There are several different types of materials that can be used for your mezzanine, such as aluminum, steel, and wood.
Which material you choose depends on what your ultimate needs are. As with any project, doing your research will help you make an informed decision about what type of material is best for you.
It’s also important to know how much weight your mezzanine will have to support in order to ensure that it can handle any extra storage items you need it to hold.
2) How should I frame my structure?
There are three different types of warehouse mezzanine—structural, steel beam and platform. Choosing between them is dependent on several factors, including your specific use case and budget. Structural mezzanines can be installed in open areas with or without posts.
Steel beam mezzanines require posts or beams for support, while platform mezzanines are constructed by attaching platforms directly onto your ceiling.
3) Do I need any special permits or zoning?
If you’re building within an already existing structure, it may be worth checking with your local planning and zoning departments about any specific requirements for a mezzanine.
If you’re starting from scratch and designing your own structure, make sure you factor in what kind of impact your mezzanine will have on functionality (will it prevent access to parts of your warehouse?).
Will it need special support? How much weight can it support?
4) How much space do I have on the ground floor?
The amount of space you have on your ground floor will inform how much space you’re able to utilize on your mezzanine level.
If there isn’t any space for storage, there probably won’t be room for a mezzanine either. In addition, if you want someone to access and use whatever is in storage then it is important that they are actually able to get up onto it! What types of items do I need to store?:
Depending on what type of items you need to store, you may find that adding a mezzanine isn’t really necessary. For example, if all you need to store are boxes and large containers then having them stacked high may not cause too many issues with regards to safety or usability.
5) Who can help with installation and erection?
To ensure you are getting your mezzanine installed by professionals who know what they’re doing, make sure you’re only working with companies that have their own installation and erecting crews.
Hiring your own crew can sometimes be cheaper, but generally speaking it’s best to go with professionals in order to get a more stable and safe product.
Conclusion
The decision of adding mezzanine storage to your warehouse is one that can bring many benefits. With that said, it is not always an easy decision. You will want to make sure you have all the information about mezzanines before making that choice for your facility.
There are many things to consider when looking at mezzanines and we hope we were able to help you in some way with our list of important things to consider. If there is anything else you would like to know please feel free to contact us and we would be happy to assist.