Mezzanine Floor

A mezzanine floor is an intermediate floor or platform installed between the main floors of a building, used to increase usable floor area without expanding the building footprint. It is essentially an elevated platform supported by columns or existing shelving, providing an extra level for storage, office space, or equipment. Mezzanines are common in warehouses and factories for creating multi-level storage.

Type of Mezzanine Floor

There are several mezzanine types:

Structural (Free-Standing) Mezzanine: A dedicated steel-framed platform with its own columns supporting the floor. Can be single or multiple levels.

Racking-Supported Mezzanine: Built on top of industrial racking; uses rack frames as part of the support structure for the floor.

Drilled or Concrete Mezzanine: Very heavy mezzanines with concrete decks poured on steel formwork, used for machinery or very heavy loads.

Portable/Modular Mezzanine: Prefabricated steel sections bolted together, designed to be reconfigured or relocated.

Applications in Various Industries

Mezzanines make efficient use of vertical space in:

Warehouses: Creating additional shelving/storage levels for inventory without enlarging the building.

Manufacturing: Adding work platforms or mezzanine offices above production areas or storage.

Retail and Showrooms: Extra display or sales floor space inside a store (e.g. furniture showrooms).

Logistics: Pick modules (intermediate pick levels) in distribution centers to separate picking zones by height.

Material Selection Considerations

Mezzanines must be strong and safe, so:

• Primary Structure: Almost always steel—wide-flange beams (I-beams), columns, and joists. Steel is chosen for its high strength-to-weight ratio. Typically, structural steel (e.g. ASTM A36/A992) is used for frames and supports.
• Floor Decking: Common options are steel flooring (diamond plate or grating) or wood panels. Steel plate is very durable and allows light penetration if open-grate. Plywood or engineered wood is less expensive but best for lighter loads. (Concrete decks are sometimes used for heavy loads, but require permanent construction.)
• Finish: Components are often primed/painted or left galvanized (especially for fire safety marking in mines, etc.). Non-slip coatings may be applied to decks.
• Accessories: Guardrails and stairs (usually steel with fine mesh) for safety. In some designs, acoustical tile ceilings or insulated panels may be added on the mezzanine underside or flooring depending on use.