Mezzanine flooring presents a more cost-effective alternative to a complete warehouse relocation or reconstruction. For that reason, it’s one of the most popular methods businesses use to expand their space. However, the design and installation of a mezzanine is still a significant investment in both time and money, so it’s important to get it right. UK-based mezzanine experts, Doity Engineering, have put together a handy guide that outlines what businesses should consider before bringing in the experts, and a detailed list of factors that they consider during the design process to help you fully understand your mezzanine project.
What is the purpose of your mezzanine?
The first place to start when considering a mezzanine is by asking yourself the question – What problems do I want my mezzanine to solve? The most common answer and number one reason our customers turn to Doity is to increase the floor space in their warehouse, shop floor or other business unit. The good news is a mezzanine is the perfect way to do this. However, more often than not, a mezzanine can help solve more problems than space alone.
A mezzanine can also fix workflow inefficiencies such as bottlenecks in manufacturing. It can improve working environments by adding offices, break rooms or utilities. It can also improve the aesthetics and branding of a customer-facing environment and lots more. At Doity, we encourage our customers to think about everything they’d like their mezzanine to achieve for their business, which helps the professionals you choose to work with create a bespoke design and layout that works for you.
Budget and timelines
Once you have an idea of what you’d like to achieve, you can then start to think about how much it’s going to cost. The best way to do this is to speak to highly rated, professional mezzanine installers like Doity. We conduct a free, no-obligation site survey which enables us to fully understand the project and provide an accurate quote.
An indirect cost of installing a mezzanine is the disruption it causes to your business during installation. When you’re at the quote stage, be sure to enquire about lead times and installation times to understand the timeline of your project. Thankfully mezzanine installation is usually a quick process, especially when using Doity’s unique Revlok design which removes the need for nuts and bolts and speeds up installation by up to 50%.
What Doity thinks about when designing a mezzanine
Once your chosen mezzanine installer has a full understanding of your requirements, your useable space and your budget they will set to work creating a truly functional and bespoke mezzanine design. There are many factors that are considered during the design process, some of which you may want to have input on. Here are some of the main ones:
- Size: The size of the mezzanine directly impacts its functionality, safety, cost, and overall effectiveness in achieving your goals and is determined by the space you have, your requirements and your budget.
- Height and clearance: Ensuring that the clearance beneath the mezzanine is sufficient for your needs so no space is rendered unusable, taking into account equipment and machinery if applicable. It’s also important to consider headroom requirements between the mezzanine and ceiling.
- Access: Deciding on the number and location of access points to the mezzanine. Strategically placing staircases, ramps, elevators etc. for efficient movement of people and goods.
- Aisle widths: Considering factors such as traffic volume and allowing enough room for machinery such as pallet trucks to be used without hindrance.
- Structural Integrity and Load Capacity: Assessing the structural capacity of your existing building to support the additional load of the mezzanine, ensuring that the building’s foundation and structure can handle the increased weight.
- HVAC and utilities: Considering how the installation of a mezzanine might impact the distribution of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and other utilities throughout the warehouse.
- Health and safety: Implement appropriate safety features, such as guardrails, handrails, gates, and non-slip surfaces as well as installing things like smoke alarms and fire extinguishers to prevent accidents and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
- Aesthetics and branding: Considering the aesthetic aspects of the mezzanine, especially if it’s visible to clients, partners, or customers. This is where you have an opportunity to incorporate branding elements for maximum visual effect.
Designing the right mezzanine for you
Now you have an understanding of the process, we hope you are able to make an informed decision on your mezzanine installation. The final step is to get in touch with an expert to discuss your project. If you are a UK-based business looking for a professionally made mezzanine, contact us at Doity Engineering today. We are a five-star-rated manufacturer, designer and installer of the revolutionary Revlok Mezzanine and have decades of experience in transforming business spaces using mezzanines. Visit our website for more information on our free site survey and to get in touch today.