A self-supporting mezzanine can be very useful in a commercial warehouse to expand the surface area and thereby increase storage capacity. It’s the best way to optimize the space and make use of substantial ceiling height. However, before attempting to install it, you should pay attention to several decisive factors.

Distribution warehouses and factories

In the case of a distribution warehouse or a factory, storage mezzanines are structures that can considerably improve both the services that the company provides to its customers and the well-being of the workers. In effect, in these industries, a storage mezzanine can be used as a support for the conveyor belts for goods or for the storage spaces for materials, especially heavy loads. However, it can also act as a separation that can then be used to create a privileged area for the offices or a break room for the employees. No matter what function you choose for it, the storage mezzanine helps increase visibility, functionality, and safety for your equipment and your staff.

Unfortunately, it’s not enough simply to install the mezzanine in the place you want; indeed, you’ll have to consider planning a place for each element. Whether it’s air vents, a storage area, a drop zone, access ramps, safety barriers, or doors, nothing should be left to chance so that everything works well on the day of installation. We therefore recommend creating a space organization plan to determine whether your expectations will be met without taking the risk of not having enough capacity. You should then design storage spaces suited to your needs that will let you manage your inventory properly and reduce handling time. In particular, the self-supporting mezzanine can include different shelving for horizontal storage, in units, in boxes, on pallets, or in archiving. In any case, the organization depends on the nature of the items stored as well as their turnover rate.

The self-supporting mezzanine must be installed based on design standards and calculations, load distribution, and – above all – the activities that will go on below. It must in all cases comply with valid legislation concerning operator safety. Its installation must take passage into account, especially since the pillars that hold the structure up can block or slow down the work of the employees. It may also be necessary to leave a free passageway below the mezzanine of at least 2.2 metres to avoid feeling boxed in, especially if workers have to perform a lot of little tasks below. It’s also necessary that the stairs or access ramps that lead to the mezzanine are surrounded by a space large enough that passage isn’t impeded. The guardrails or barriers on this floor must also prevent any falls and protect against the dangers of objects that could fall to the ground floor.

For the installation of a self-supporting mezzanine personalized according to your needs and desires, rely on a company that specializes in the layout of storage and work spaces. Our technicians will help you design your project from beginning to end, for an effect that’s perfectly suited to your line of business.