Is a mezzanine floor fixed to my building or does it stand free?
Anera's floors are free-standing: they rest on the concrete floor on their own uprights only and are entirely self-supporting, in terms of both strength and stability. They are therefore not connected to the building.
This is a deliberate choice. A building can move (due to wind loads, for example) and if the floor were connected to it, the structure would have to be able to move along with it. In addition, it is often difficult to demonstrate that the building structure can absorb the additional vertical or horizontal forces from a mezzanine floor. And even where that can be demonstrated, the connection still has to be approved by the local authority.
A free-standing floor avoids these complications: the structure exerts reaction forces on the existing concrete floor through its uprights only. This creates a clear division of responsibility and considerably shortens project lead times. It also makes a mezzanine floor easier to reuse elsewhere.
- What is the difference between a cold-formed and a conventional steel structure?
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A conventional steel structure uses hot-rolled, relatively thick steel beams that are sawn, drilled and welded and then given a finish such as powder coating or galvanising. With cold-formed steel, pre-galvanised thin-walled sheet material is rolled into open steel sections.
Anera works with cold-formed steel wherever possible, within its own system-built design. The sections have a fixed hole pattern and are bolted together entirely using standard couplings developed by Anera. This offers three advantages:
- It is more efficient and therefore more cost-effective;
- It is highly reusable thanks to the fixed hole pattern;
- It is lightweight and therefore easy to install, including in enclosed buildings where heavy equipment cannot be brought inside.
There are limitations too: cold-formed steel has a lower load capacity and shorter possible spans than conventional steel, and requires extra attention to stability. Anera's engineering department resolves these stability issues. If an application does call for a heavier structure, Anera opts for hot-rolled steel or a hybrid combination. The principle is always the same: the best solution for each individual situation.
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- How much weight can a mezzanine floor carry?
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That depends on the intended use; the floor is calculated accordingly. As an indication from Anera's practice:
- Approximately 200 kg/m²: the technical minimum, purely for maintenance applications;
- Approximately 350 kg/m²: average for industrial environments;
- Approximately 500 kg/m²: average for storage;
- Approximately 750 kg/m²: for heavier pallets or where robots drive across the floor.
Higher loads are possible and can be calculated. From roughly 1,500 kg/m² upwards, Anera considers the standard building system to no longer be the appropriate solution, and a conventional steel structure becomes the more obvious choice.
Please note: these are indications. The load capacity your floor actually requires is determined and documented for each individual project. To make sure users are aware of the load capacity, load notices are fitted to the structure to avoid any ambiguity.
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- Is a mezzanine floor fixed to my building or does it stand free?
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Anera's floors are free-standing: they rest on the concrete floor on their own uprights only and are entirely self-supporting, in terms of both strength and stability. They are therefore not connected to the building.
This is a deliberate choice. A building can move (due to wind loads, for example) and if the floor were connected to it, the structure would have to be able to move along with it. In addition, it is often difficult to demonstrate that the building structure can absorb the additional vertical or horizontal forces from a mezzanine floor. And even where that can be demonstrated, the connection still has to be approved by the local authority.
A free-standing floor avoids these complications: the structure exerts reaction forces on the existing concrete floor through its uprights only. This creates a clear division of responsibility and considerably shortens project lead times. It also makes a mezzanine floor easier to reuse elsewhere.
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- Can my existing mezzanine floor be extended or modified later on?
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Yes. Anera's building system is designed specifically so that the floor can be modified easily, without any loss of quality.
This already applies during construction: Anera often works in existing situations, and if something turns out to be in the way on site or does not quite fit, the structure can be adjusted then and there. A great deal is also possible afterwards. If the customer later wants an additional staircase or a lift through a closed floor, for example, creating such an opening is relatively straightforward. Extending sideways is equally feasible.
Extending upwards (adding a level on top) is also possible, but only if this was taken into account in the original design.
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- Can I build one level now and add a second level later?
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Yes, provided this is included in the design in advance. Anera does this regularly for customers who have the space for two levels but only want to invest in one level for now.
In that case, the structure of the first level is calculated from the outset to be strong enough to carry a second level later on. The building system is prepared for this: when the customer decides to add the second level, no additional modifications to the existing structure are needed.
Considering future growth? Do mention this when you make your enquiry, so it can be included in the calculation straight away.
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- Which floor finish is most suitable for a mezzanine floor?
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Anera's standard floor finish is chipboard, and in Anera's view this is also the most functional choice for most customers.
Chipboard is a strong, structural material that is easy to work with, suitable for heavier loads and the most economical floor deck on the market. It is also highly reusable: old chipboard can be ground down and serves as the basis for new chipboard. The panels are available with various top layers.
The main alternative is a steel grating floor. Grating is considerably more expensive and less practical in day-to-day use. It is mainly used where an open floor is required, for example:
- To allow smoke to escape in the event of fire;
- To let sprinkler water pass through where a sprinkler is only fitted above the floor;
- Where no combustible material may be used.
The choice therefore depends primarily on fire safety requirements and how the floor is used.
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