The success of a distribution centre is closely tied to how much space it controls. Simply put, the more freight you can process, the greater your profit potential. There are numerous options available for warehouse expansion; everything from installing racking to leasing a new office space.

But within these options, there are even more choices to be made. Take racking and shelving; before installing them, you have to evaluate your SKUs, the space available, your budget etc. Then you have to choose between selective, drive-in, double-deep, cantilever racking etc. This many decisions can force a warehouse manager to abandon the prospect of expansion and look into the expensive but ‘faster’ choice of relocation.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. The choice of storage should primarily depend on the product being carried. Are they fast moving SKUs? Can they be palletized and stacked? These questions and more should feature in the selection process.

If you have unused roof space and decide that installing a mezzanine is the best storage option, you still have to choose between building supported, shelving supported, rack supported or free standing/structural mezzanines.

Increase storage and efficiency with a structural mezzanine

At Monarch Limited, we find that up to 85% of our customers can increase their storage and efficiency with a standard structural mezzanine. Structural mezzanines are custom designed to fit in all spaces. They can be built up to three floors high. They can be installed inside and/or around existing equipment. We’ve even used mezzanines to link two different buildings together.

A saying in the trade goes ‘don’t move out, move up’; the use of a mezzanine helps to minimize your storage footprint as much as possible.

5 considerations when installing a mezzanine

With mezzanines available in different sizes and configurations, it’s important to address these five considerations when installing one.

• Based on your pre-determined requirements, should you buy a modular mezzanine or a custom structural mezzanine? Modular mezzanines are prefabricated and sold as standard sized models. They’re supplied in specific sizes e.g. 10 x 10 ft lengths. These are excellent if you know the exact size you’ll need. But as the business grows, you’ll find they won’t always fit the exact area or application load requirements as much.

For more information on structural mezzanines, call Monarch Ltd. Today.

• Next consideration is the planned use of the mezzanine. Do you have existing machinery that it will cover or elevate? Do you have ceilings high enough to accommodate the extra platforms? Will it have one use or multiple applications?

Is there a possibility of future expansion?
Answering these will help clarify elements in the design process.

• Determine the floor slab capacity – Soil analysis must be done to ensure that the erected mezzanine will be structurally safe. In some cases, you may need to add special footings before erecting a mezzanine.
• Get the right sized mezzanine column base plates – The data obtained by now, will help determine just how much load the platforms can hold. Factor this into the size of the column base plates used. To avoid a possible collapse, make sure you consult a professional firm to determine the size of plates that will support your estimated loads.
• The final important consideration is to ensure you have your Planning Permission before you start the construction. Planning permission is required if the mezzanine is for retail usage and will cover over 200 square metres. It’s also required if there’ll be offices on the first floor and if the building will require alteration like the addition of a new fire escape.

Should you install a mezzanine? You’d be missing out on profits if you didn’t. It takes the versatility of regular shelving and racking, the creation of new work spaces while maintaining a small footprint. If you think this would be a profitable addition to your business, contact Monarch Limited today.