How Mezzanine Floor And Fire Protection Are Connected?

The mezzanine floor steelwork is properly insulated to prevent it from heating up rapidly in the case of a fire. Steelwork that isn’t properly guarded warms up faster and can collapse unexpectedly. Fire safety at AW Structures is set for a specific time duration such as ‘half-hour, “1 hour,’2 hours,’3 hours,’4 hours,’ and so on. In the case of a fire, the duration period refers to the amount of time that the safeguarded elements remained structurally sound. Part B of the Building Regulations specifies the fire safety requirements for various components of buildings.

The fire protection of construction materials in compliance with regulations is a legal necessity that protects lives and assets while also allowing the fire department to determine how long they can successfully battle a fire before the risk of failure.

Supplying fire safety to mezzanine levels is known as ‘fire rating,’ and a mezzanine level that has been installed with fire precaution is known as ‘fire rated.’

Do Mezzanine Floors Always Need To Be Fire Protected?

The purpose, size, and extent of the mezzanine floor determine the need for fire safety. Mezzanine floors that are less than 10m x 10m in size, occupies less than 50% of the space of the property where it is situated, is not continuously leased and utilized infrequently (used for storage), and is not constantly leased and rarely visited does not require to be fire rated.

Any continuously utilized mezzanine floors, matter the size, such as work areas, assembly, and production, packing, cafeteria space, or sections such as store outlets with public accessibility will require to be fire secured. Mezzanines greater than 10m x 10m without fire monitoring and alarm equipment, all mezzanines greater than 20m x 20m, and all mezzanines greater than 50% of the area within which they are located are also prohibited. Fire safety can only be ignored in the tiniest storage applications, as can be observed.

How Is Most Mezzanine Flooring Fire Protected?

The employment of four basic parts of column casings, insulation, bulkheads/fascias,  a suspended ceiling, and cavity barriers, is the most prevalent method of fire protection for mezzanine floors. Because of its ease of implementation and relatively inexpensive, this method of fire-proofing mezzanine levels is widely employed.

Column covers are made up of a two-part metal sheet shell lined on the inside with ‘Promalit’ or equivalent board. The metal sheet cover is often galvanized or white ‘plastisol’ to match the function, but it can also be stainless steel or colored ‘plastisol,’ and the two components feature an invisible locking seam that allows them to be joined fast and cleanly with a couple of taps from a rubber mallet.

Conclusion

This basic information on mezzanine flooring fire protection is provided for informational purposes only. Every application should be judged on its own merits.

Prior to beginning construction, it’s generally a good idea to talk to an authorized inspector or building control officer about your unique job which your mezzanine floor builder will be happy to help with. For experts on Engineered Wooden Flooring or other real flooring options, visit One Stop Flooring online.