At First Floors we know that when designing a mezzanine floor, the top priority for you will be the safety of your personnel and any clients that need to access the floor. This is also a top priority for us, which is why we make sure that all our mezzanine floors are fit for purpose and safe. With that said, there are a number of aspects that need to be planned in detail for a successful mezzanine solution to happen – read on to find out what the key safety requirements of a mezzanine floor are.
Handrails
To comply with building regulations, all mezzanines must have handrails to minimise the risk of falling and ensuring the health and safety of all personnel as they protect people from slipping, tripping or falling over the edge of the mezzanine floor. You will also need to ensure that the rail is installed at the right height and can withstand a certain amount of force, our team of designers here at First Floors can help you to ensure that your guard rail meets all relevant safety requirements.
Safety Gate
In some instances, it may be necessary to access pallets from your mezzanine floor. When this is the case, it is important to have safety gates in place to reduce the risk of anyone falling and being seriously injured. Safety regulations should ensure that gates are always in operation when loading or unloading pallets.
Stability and Maximum Load Limit
Your mezzanine floor will need to be designed according to building regulations to ensure that it can safely hold the weight it is intended to without breaking or damaging. It is always worth requesting qualified advice at the design stage as the regulations can be quite complex.
Access and Fire Safety
Your new mezzanine should be carefully designed with fire safety regulations in mind. This can be another complex area, but your suppliers will need to keep fire escapes, extinguishers and fire retardant materials in mind at all times when designing, although it goes without saying that these specifications will vary depending on the size of your building, the exact location of the mezzanine floor and number of employees. Read this article to learn more about fire safety and mezzanine floors.
If you’re looking to optimise available space in your business, get in touch with First Floors today on 01789 764172 to discuss how a mezzanine floor can solve all your space problems.
