Sustainability is something that all businesses need to factor into their daily decision making. Beyond making your operations more environmentally friendly, the construction of your building, including any mezzanine floors can also make a positive impact towards your wider efforts.
If you’re planning on adding a mezzanine floor or making any retrofitting upgrades to an existing mezzanine structure, now is the perfect time to incorporate sustainability into your design considerations.
Learn from the UK experts here at The Mezzanine Company about some of the top sustainable materials to look out for when installing a mezzanine floor.
Steel
Steel is the most common material used to build mezzanine floors, especially for the primary structure. But with steel also being 100% recyclable without losing quality, it’s also considered sustainable. In fact, most UK steel suppliers offer recycled content (often 30%-60%).
Crucially, the steel should come with EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) or BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing certification.
In terms of how the steel is used, bolted connections instead of welding can also make it easier to disassemble and reuse the steel in the future.
Timber (Decking & Secondary Structure)
With the steel providing the primary structure material, responsibly sourced timber can provide the secondary structure. Timber can also be used for decking.
Specifically, FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certified timber is a top choice for sustainable mezzanine projects. Additional options include cross-laminated timber, which is strong yet stable. Or, engineered wood, which offers a high strength-to-weight ratio and is made from smaller wood sections, which promotes a more efficient use of resources.
One consideration to note with using timber within a mezzanine structure is that additional fire protection measures may be needed, especially in industrial or warehouse settings.
Composite Decking Panels
Many people are surprised to learn that composite is an environmentally friendly material. It is made from reclaimed wood fibres and recycled plastics.
The hybrid material offers strength and durability, especially compared with using panels that are solely made from plastic or wood. However, by using recycled materials for both elements, the reliance on raw materials is also reduced, which in turn improves sustainability.
Composite decking is ideal for mezzanine office or retail spaces. Another benefit here is that composite decking is resistant to moisture and rot, which means it boasts a great lifespan.
Additional Sustainable Materials & Design Considerations for Mezzanine Floors
Modular design: Modular mezzanines give you the flexibility to dismantle, relocate or expand the structure over time, which can help reduce waste. Here’s one we built earlier for a client in Cheshire.
Insulation & acoustics: As is the case with all types of buildings, insulation helps improve energy efficiency. For office mezzanines especially, insulation can aid not just with thermal comfort, but it can also enhance the acoustics by shielding out external noise. Some sustainable material ideas for insulation include mineral wool or cellulose.
Lighting integration: LED systems with smart controls can reduce energy use by 40%-70%. As with many of our sustainable mezzanine tips, smart lighting can also lower your energy bills!
Internal features: For furniture and accessories, look for sustainable materials. Ideally, the item will be made of recycled material or offer the ability to be recycled or repurposed at the end of its lifespan.
Discuss your Sustainable Mezzanine Floor Requirements with us
Do you want to reduce the environmental footprint of your mezzanine floor?
Contact the experts here at The Mezzanine Company for further advice or to arrange a free survey.
Our team is based in Nottingham, and we provide sustainable mezzanine expertise across the East Midlands and Yorkshire.
Alternatively, please give us a call on 0115 647 7140.
