An Introduction to Steel Mezzanines – Definition, Types, Components, and Uses
Among the different types of mezzanine floor systems, the steel mezzanine is the most widely used and interesting solution in modern construction! Relatively thin, the steel beams offer an interesting aesthetic and are durable, resistant to moisture as well as economical!
Structural steel, therefore, remains the top choice in the construction of mezzanines, especially when adding one to an existing structure to increase the floor space.
If you want to know more about the steel mezzanine, its types, uses, components, and the advantages it offers over other mezzanine materials, here’s a detailed explanation!
Steel Mezzanine Floors— Definition
Steel Mezzanines, also called Steel Platforms or Steel Structure Lofts, are widely used in modern storage and are often the top choice when adding a mezzanine floor to an existing structure. The biggest feature of this type of mezzanine flooring is its fully assembled steel engineering structure and flexible design, usually comprised of steel plate beams, plates, columns, and other components.
A mezzanine is an effective way to save space while creating a very contemporary design effect and a steel mezzanine is often the best solution adapted to all types of interiors. It is fixed to the ground and/or in the walls depending on the structure of the building.
Components of a Steel Mezzanine Floor
In construction, the steel mezzanine is a horizontal metal structure that is used to delimit and shape the construction. With the help of beams and columns, they distribute the weight of the building.
It is made up of three components:
Decking
As the name indicates, a deck is the part of the mezzanine floor that endures the weight of the foot traffic. In simple words, it is the flooring of a mezzanine and therefore needs to be strong enough as it has to support the foot traffic for years. In addition, if installed outside of a building, it must be resistant to external elements that may cause damage to the floor.
Steel Grating
A floor steel grating is a deck in a mezzanine floor, the design of which determines the flow of heat, light, liquid, and air via the floor, combining the strength of the steel with the low maintenance properties.
Steel grating is a strong, well-built steel deck in the form of a square grid type platform comprised of welded flat bar and round bar sections. It comes in full sheets of different measurements, such as 1.2 meters by 2.4 meters or as staircase treads.
The surface is non-slip, usually galvanized, and is often used as platforms or exterior walkways (steel walkway grating.) To be used in the interior steel mezzanine floor, steel grating is mostly used in wet areas.
Staircase
A staircase leading to the mezzanine floor is, of course, one of its main components, without which a mezzanine floor would be of no use. The design of the steel staircase is often similar to the mezzanine floor’s grating. Although you can personalize it, similar grating offers a cohesive look, maintaining the strength and low-maintenance design of the mezzanine floor.
The supporting components in a mezzanine floor project are:
Support Columns
The top manufacturers in the industry design steel platforms following the load requirement of a particular project, precisely considering the column profile and steel thickness and ensuring their cost-effectiveness without compromising on quality and safety.
The flexibility of the designs and column positioning make these steel structures suitable for a wide range of spaces, offering plenty of room under a mezzanine floor for storage and other purposes.
They can be adapted depending on the project since many columns are not necessary for their development. They are fast structures that can also be reused and have anti-seismic properties.
Steel Support Beams
These main support beams are made of steel and can be constructed to any spec. The steel beams are bolted to plates that are welded on the top of the support columns. Like the columns, the manufacturer determines their thickness as per:
- a mezzanine floor’s specific loading requirements
- the spacing required between columns
Base Plates
The base plates are bolted to your existing floor, being welded to each column’s base. They aim to spread your mezzanine floor’s downward load to the floor beneath. Again, the size and thickness of the base plates vary according to the requirements of the load.
Secondary Beams (Mezzanine Floor Purlins)
These steel purlins are the secondary beams bolted to the main support beams with cleats and run between them for a thinner floor. The type of the decking and the load requirement of your mezzanine floor determine their length and centre point.
Handrail
A handrail is required on all types of mezzanine floors for safety reasons. Whether home or office, you can choose from the wide range of handrail mezzanine systems offered by the top manufacturers for your mezzanine floor.
Types of Steel Mezzanine Floors
The different types of steel mezzanines include:
Structural Steel Mezzanines
Often heavier than other types, structural steel mezzanines are one of the most widely used types for businesses offering a more open feel and providing easy electrical and plumbing access.
Rack Supported Steel Mezzanine Floors
This is a less heavy option offering storage area in a single unit and is often called ‘space savers.’ Rack-supported mezzanines are cost-effective in terms of providing a lot of storage space.
The only setback is that they are not flexible and once they are installed, maneuvering and rearranging become difficult.
Here comes the role of a professional and trusted partner in constructing the mezzanine floors. Sydney has some of the best companies to hire to get the best steel mezzanine floor according to your needs.
Column-Connected Steel Mezzanines
This type of steel mezzanine is manufactured to support extra loads and depends on the existing building’s support columns. It can also be built in a way where the columns support the mezzanine floor partly while the building structure supports the rest.
Shelving Supported Steel Mezzanines
This type of steel mezzanine is suitable for storing smaller and lighter items. These are the least flexible among all the types but are more economical than the ones mentioned above.
Free-Standing Mezzanines
These are the equipment platforms used to hold equipment just like the structural steel mezzanines. Often used to hold large and heavier items in warehouses, free-standing mezzanines offer great flexibility.
Use of a Steel Mezzanine Floor
A steel mezzanine floor is an alternative to conventional constructions that use large amounts of concrete, which are very heavy and take too long to complete.
So the main reason for the use of steel mezzanines is economic savings and time efficiency because the projects are delivered in much shorter times compared to those projects with conventional construction processes.
Why Opt for a Steel Mezzanine?
The physical properties of a steel mezzanine bring with it multiple advantages for the entire structure, some of the most relevant being those related to the total weight of the structure, the resistance it offers, and the low cost of building with this system.
With a steel mezzanine, we have:
- Positive reinforcement for the concrete slab
- Great structural resistance
- The wooden formwork of the construction is eliminated
- Structural stability, even in the face of seismic events
- Its measures help the mezzanine joint and avoid waste. The steel sheet makes it possible to stiffen the structure and design your mezzanine with fewer joists.
- It has a deep union that allows mooring with the concrete.
- It offers value for money: A steel mezzanine floor makes it possible to lighten the structure and therefore lower the price per m² of your platform. This type of floor is particularly suitable for mezzanines with an area greater than 100 m². In addition, on the price side, a steel mezzanine is more expensive than the wooden one but by far less expensive than a glass floor!
Due to these measures, a steel mezzanine is one of the best alternatives for construction. Although it continues to use concrete, its use is significantly reduced, almost by 50%. So, in addition to all the benefits mentioned above, you also have a lighter and safer enclosure, whether for work, storage, or housing.
We hope the information we shared has provided you with some useful insights into steel mezzanine floors. We recommend you always opt for the best mezzanine floors Sydney manufacturers in every project of steel mezzanine floor project, with experienced and trusted companies in the market.