# Mezzanine Floors & Steel Structures

> A steel mezzanine is a structural steel floor, platform or multi-level structure built inside a factory, warehouse, showroom or existing building to add usable floor area. Its design turns on the load case for its actual use under IS 875 Part 2, the capacity of the existing slab under its columns, and escape routes under NBC 2016 Part 4.

## What we deliver

**Steel mezzanine floors, platforms, walkways, staircases and multi-level steel
structures** for factories, warehouses, showrooms and commercial buildings —
designed, fabricated and erected, including in existing buildings.

A mezzanine is the fastest way to get more usable floor inside an existing
building. It is also a structure that people and goods stand on, which makes the
load case and the escape route the two things to get right before anything else.

## Scope of works

| Stage | What we deliver |
| --- | --- |
| Assessment | Existing slab capacity, clear heights, access |
| Design | Beams, columns, bracing and decking to IS 800 |
| Load case | Office, storage or racking loads per IS 875 Pt 2 |
| Fabrication | Steel members, shop-primed |
| Erection | Columns, beams, decking, handrails |
| Access | Staircases, handrails, edge protection |
| Finishing | Deck surface, fire protection where required |

## Where projects go wrong

- **Designed for office load, used for storage.** A common and dangerous
  mismatch.
- **Existing slab not checked.** Mezzanine columns bring concentrated loads down
  onto a floor that was not designed for them.
- **Escape routes not considered.** Added floor area needs exits.
- **Clearances overlooked.** Headroom under and over the mezzanine, and around
  services and sprinklers.
- **No edge protection.** Open edges need handrails and toe boards.

## Why Hagerstone

**Structural steel fabricated and erected in-house** with 15 welders and 15
fitters, and the civil, MEP and fire teams to handle the slab checks, services
and escape routes a mezzanine brings with it.

**Work at height, lifting and equipment safety** covered under our HSE system,
with ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001 and 79+ quality checkpoints.

## Standards referenced

Steel design to **IS 800:2007**. Imposed loads to **IS 875 (Part 2)**. Means of
egress under **NBC 2016, Part 4**.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can a mezzanine be added to an existing building?

Often, yes — that is one of the main reasons mezzanines are used. It needs the existing floor slab checked for the new column loads, clearance under and over the mezzanine confirmed, and the fire and escape implications of the added floor area assessed. A mezzanine that works structurally can still fail on escape routes.

### What load should a mezzanine be designed for?

It depends entirely on use — an office mezzanine, a storage mezzanine and one carrying racking are very different cases under IS 875 Part 2. Storage and racking loads in particular are high and concentrated. Designing for a light office load and then using it for storage is a common and dangerous mistake.

### Does a mezzanine need its own fire escape?

Depending on its size and occupancy, it can. Added floor area adds occupants and travel distance, and NBC 2016 Part 4 governs exits from it. This should be settled with the design, since a staircase is far easier to plan in than to add afterwards.

## Sources

- [IS 800:2007](https://standards.bis.gov.in/website/published-standards/department-wise) — General construction in steel — code of practice
- [IS 875 (Part 2)](https://standards.bis.gov.in/website/published-standards/department-wise) — Imposed loads
- [NBC 2016, Part 4](https://www.bis.gov.in/standards/national-building-code/?lang=en) — Fire and life safety — means of egress

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Source: https://hagerstone.com/services/peb/mezzanine-floors-and-steel-structures