If your business is running out of room but your building still has plenty of height above head level, a mezzanine floor is usually the cheapest way to get more space. Here's what one actually is, and how they work.
A mezzanine floor, defined
A mezzanine floor is a raised, self-supporting platform built inside an existing building to create a second level of usable floor area. It sits on its own steel structure, so it doesn't rely on your building's walls or frame.
Think of it as an intermediate floor between the ground and the roof. You're simply putting the empty air in your building to work.
How a mezzanine works
A mezzanine stands on steel columns and beams, with a decked floor on top and stairs (and often a pallet gate) for access. Altivo systems bolt together with no on-site welding, so they go up in days rather than months.
Because the structure is independent, a mezzanine can usually be installed while you keep operating, and it can be extended or even dismantled and relocated later.
What businesses use them for
- Extra warehouse storage without leasing more space
- Offices or a staff area built over the workshop floor
- Retail stockrooms and back-of-house
- Room for more racking, plant or production
Kitset or custom?
Standard kitset mezzanines come in set bay sizes and are the fastest, most cost-effective option for most buildings. When your spans, loads or layout fall outside the standard grid, a custom mezzanine is engineered to fit.
Either way, Altivo systems are designed and fabricated in New Zealand to the NZ Building Code, with a standard load rating of 3 kPa (300 kg per square metre) and higher ratings available.