Mezzanine floor systems are widely used throughout the UK by companies due to the fact that they allow them to double their storage space. The additional space that is created by a mezzanine floor can be used in order to increase the production room or to accommodate more offices. Thanks to these independent storage systems, you will no longer have to think about leasing additional space or even moving to larger warehouse facilities. Equally important is that the mezzanine floor can be installed without having to interrupt daily business operations. However, you should pay attention to some details when buying a warehouse system.

The number of options available

Taking into consideration that there are various options available on the market, each type should be discussed. Depending on the intended use, you will find the following types of mezzanine floors:

• Free-standing: Also called structural or steel mezzanines, these floors are the most popular one. Their design will not only ensure easy flow of traffic and better space utilisation. In addition to this, you have the possibility of customising some of the features.
• Rack-supported mezzanines are a sort of catwalk system and they are added to the structural mezzanine. They have walkways that allow the manual loading and unloading of pallets within the racking system.
• Integrated mezzanines are part of the building design, reason why their place is decided in the original design. They offer the highest load-bearing capabilities, so that you can store and move heavy loads freely.
• Shelf-supported mezzanines are ideal for order picking operations because they can be accessed from all four sides.

The buyer’s checklist

Taking into consideration that an independent storage structure can cost as much as a car or a house would, the purchase deserves special attention. In order to maximise your investment, you should make some effort and plan the purchase of a raised platform. When you assess proposals, check to see if the quote you receive meets the specifications. This includes vertical dimension requirements like finished floor, construction depth and clearance. Equally important is to verify if special considerations have been taken, such as extra beam decks located at the distribution point. What you basically have to do is see if the proposal meets the design brief, but you should not neglect to research if the prospective contractor is actually competent.

Find a mezzanine floor designer

A professional supplier will actually guide you through the entire buying process and since it can be time-consuming, the help of someone with specialist knowledge will be useful. You also have the possibility of designing your own raised platform. A specialist can tailor the storage solution to your needs; based on your specifications and on some calculations, a specialist will present you the ideal storage solution for your business. With regard to the installation process, it is fairly simple. As long as the task is undertaken by professionals that have the right experience and he necessary tools, it will completed right away. For them, the installation process will be rather an exercise than a chore.