The Benefits of Custom Mezzanines in Modern Warehousing

Is your warehouse floor getting cramped? You might consider “building up” and adding additional floors by incorporating an industrial mezzanine level into your facility.

Mezzanines are elevated warehouse flooring systems installed between the floor and the ceiling. They represent an alternative to moving to a different location or building an addition to the existing facility. They can provide additional storage space, office space, or other purposes.

This post will discuss the benefits of a custom mezzanine level for your warehouse and how its addition can help you maximize your warehouse space or distribution center. Read on to learn more about the types of mezzanines you can incorporate, how they represent a cost-effective solution, how to customize these spaces, and more.

Custom Mezzanines: Maximizing Space and Efficiency

To truly put the value of these warehouse platforms into context, think of what occurred in America as people flocked to the big cities to live and work as the country grew. While you could develop cities, there’s only so much land – so we built up to accommodate growing populations. All you need to do is look at the skylines of New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles for evidence of this, as high-rise residential living and skyscrapers became the norm.

Think of mezzanines in a similar context. Warehouses only have so much valuable floor space. While it’s possible to move locations or add additional office space, quality mezzanine floors offer a more affordable alternative to maximizing modern warehouse design by going up – and not out. You can also think of mezzanines as being similar to a loft bed. Not only will you have the vertical overhead space of the mezzanine itself at your disposal, but all of the space underneath the mezzanine will still be available to you as usable space. In some cases, warehouses can double the functional space by installing a mezzanine.

Mezzanines are far more than just “Band-Aid” solutions that can buy warehouse managers a few years before they figure out a plan. They can add a significant amount of additional space to any facility, thereby representing a long-term solution. Many mezzanines are also modular, meaning they can be added to or extended over time as necessary.

Types of Mezzanines

Mezzanines are also very flexible and come in various styles to meet the needs of your warehouse. Some of the most popular types of mezzanines include:

• Free-standing mezzanine: The most popular type of mezzanine, free-standing mezzanines don’t require any permanent structural components to install. This makes them very flexible, as they can be installed and deconstructed with ease.
• Catwalk mezzanine: Ideal for controlling flow or streamlining processing, catwalk mezzanines can also serve as an ideal “observation deck” to monitor activity on the floor level.
• Shelving or rack-supported mezzanine: Rather than installing support columns or support components, these types of mezzanines are installed directly on top of any existing shelving or storage racks, which serve as the foundation.

Key Benefits of Mezzanines

We’ll cover many of the key benefits of mezzanines throughout this post. However, a summary of their advantages includes the following:

• They represent a flexible storage space that can often be added to as needs change.
• They can help improve storage and distribution.
• They can help enhance the organization and streamline productivity.
• They can be customized to meet a warehouse’s needs.
• They can be designed to comply with safety standards and regulations.

Mezzanine Warehouse Storage: A Cost-Effective Solution

As mentioned earlier, building up is much more cost-effective than building out. Adding a mezzanine can also keep you at your current warehouse facility longer, eliminating the hassle of moving locations to a larger space. From size to decking style to features and incorporated materials, many factors influence the price of any mezzanine you install within your property – but the cost of doing so often pales compared to constructing an addition, moving facilities, or acquiring an additional facility. Since mezzanines are often easily installed and deconstructed, if there ever comes a day when you have no other choice but to move facilities, you can take down the mezzanine and move it with you to the new location.

Mezzanine pricing tends to range from $15 to $45 per square foot, depending on the type of mezzanine and any features you wish to include. For businesses looking for robust and enduring solutions, structural steel mezzanines provide a solid foundation capable of supporting heavy loads and meeting various code requirements. Contact A-Lined Handling Systems for more pricing information.

Warehouse Mezzanine Design: Customizable Solutions

Outside of the main types of mezzanines that you can add to your warehouse, some features allow you to customize them further. These solutions range from handrails and stairways to more advanced solutions like gate systems and flooring styles. Modular offices can also be integrated into the mezzanine design, providing valuable overhead space for administrative functions without sacrificing floor space. Where support columns are placed or installed, and more, can significantly impact the overall utility and efficiency of the mezzanine.

Other options to further customize your mezzanine level include:

• Gates (swing, pallet drop, lift-out, and more)
• The type of decking (steel floor, concrete, composite, and more)
• The type of framing construction
• The shape of the platform
• And more!

Installation services for mezzanines are crucial to ensure that the addition to your warehouse meets all safety standards and regulations. Experienced professionals can provide installation services, ensuring that your mezzanine system is constructed efficiently and effectively, ready to bear heavy loads, and compliant with building code requirements. Contact A-Lined today for more information on how to customize your mezzanine to help it reach its full potential with minimal disruption.

Industrial Storage Mezzanines Help Improve Organization & Workflow

As we noted earlier, some mezzanines in an industrial setting can help warehouses double the functional space they have to work with. This can help improve storage capacity and a warehouse’s organization and workflow. One of the true value propositions of adding a mezzanine level to your facility is that you can use the space for whatever best suits your industrial facility. Whether adding an industrial steel mezzanine, more storage racks or shelving to house products, or meeting seasonal demands to create a whole new workflow on an upper level, mezzanines represent a flexible solution to help your facility function smarter and more streamlined.

Mezzanines Help Comply with Safety Standards and Regulations

Since mezzanines are at elevated levels, it’s important to ensure proper protection for any workers present underneath these floors. Depending on the type of activity, protective guardrails, safety gates, and netting can be incorporated to comply with safety regulations and requirements.

Other features that can help enhance worker safety and product security include:

• Floor lighting
• Handrails
• The type of mezzanine deck relative to the activity that’s being done
• And more

There’s also the aspect of adequately training workers to ensure they stay safe when working at elevated levels.

Contact A-Lined Today for More Information About Mezzanines

From cost savings versus alternative means of acquiring more space to flexibility, it’s easy to see the benefits of installing a custom mezzanine in your facility. As a solution to many of the challenges that your warehouse may currently face – or may one day face – mezzanines can help increase storage space and streamline productivity by maximizing the use of your existing facility’s vertical space.

Contact A-Lined today for more information on mezzanines and how they can help take your warehouse to the next level.