Mezzanine floor stability service
Written by admin, 6 February 2022
Mezzanine floor stability is paramount for safe and comfortable use. Unfortunately, many mezzanine floors suffer from neglect or lack of stability. Both neglected and unstable mezzanines and specifically mezzanine floors form a safety hazards for workers. The inspection of newly installed mezzanines should involve checking for extreme horizontal movements at both ends of the mezzanine. And, the inspection of old mezzanines should focus on bent floors, disconnected from the steel structure or simply missing.
Mezzanine structures form sometimes complicated shapes on multiple levels. They allow employees to travel above the ground floor and performing multiple tasks. These steel structures form first floor, second floor and intermediate floors in many warehouses, factories and retail outlets.
They not only provide access but also allow the employees to safely exit the building in case of fire or other emergency. In case of emergency, the employees will exit the workplace fast and therefore all obstacles and barricades leading to walkway should be removed. Also, employees could touch other element aside of handrail and therefore we buff all welds.

Moreover, many mezzanines provide additional space for storage of bulky products or provide additional space for equipment used not so often. The manager should inspect all mezz structures at least once a year.
Horizontal movement of walkway floor
Newly installed walkways especially these long and narrow walkways between the first floor and second floor cause often trouble when walking. These long and narrow structures consists of many independent sections and sometimes they are either shaky in the middle or very flimsy at the end.

Obviously, the inspection should cover the whole length of the structure for comfortable and safe walking but the priority of inspection should take place in the middle and at the end of the structure. The exit and entrance stairs stairs usually act as stability points for walkway floor therefore the walkway is rather stable at this point. The stabilization of the middle section and the end section usually causes employees to question safety of the whole steel structure.
Where to stabilize the horizontal movement of the flimsy mezzanine?
The corrective action should always take place at the point of concerns. At JW Portable Welding & Repairs we stabilize walkways at floor level and handrail level, on the right hand and on the left hand. We recommend the independent stabilization points for mezzanines. Therefore we anchor each point separately. Preferably, these points should not connect to one structural element.



Inspection of old floor
Old mezzanine floors often suffer from many years of neglect. Many floors are patched with substandard materials that bent when walking on them. Employees carrying heavier products, tools or equipment often question the safety of these floors. As much as we appreciate the workmanship of our fathers and grandfathers, we have to keep in mind that safety standards have change for the better. And, we have better material that provides better and more stable support for these floors.
More specifically, the inspection should focus on middle sections of wide mezzanine floor for bending. However, the manager should not forget to inspect corners for bent up sections. These flaws of well built structure are sometimes caused by broken welds and lack of support. The repairs or improvements of these flaws will allow for comfortable and safe use of the platform for many years to come.
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