Lessons Learned from Platform (Mezzanine) Installations

Providing Fast-Turnaround Workspace and Inventory Solutions When it comes to reaping the benefits of a new work platform (mezzanine), the key to keeping Murphy’s Law at bay is good planning and anticipation. But, for many platform (mezzanine) projects, lessons have been learned the hard way:

• Design integration is not given enough careful consideration (ex: base plate orientation, span not correlating with existing wall or column locations. Column bearing surfaces are of unequal height

•  Not enough contingency time is built into the construction time-line

• Life Safety and OSHAC considerations aren’t thoroughly addressed.

When a large material handling system is planned for and then implemented as part of a new construction effort, everyone involved can thank their lucky stars. This can be labeled a “best case” scenario, with ample time for planning and installation. More often than not, a client needs to integrate a new material handling system within an existing structure already in full operation.

Two common mistakes that can lead to “worst-case” scenarios when installing an add-on platform (mezzanine) are:

1.      Putting the cart before the horse:

Insufficient planning regarding how construction can impact daily operations can be costly.
A large east coast appliance company needed an efficient material handling solution built within its 500,000 square foot warehouse to accommodate the company’s imminent launch into the small-electronics market. The primary objective was to provide optimum efficiency, handling and delivery of small electronic goods to its customers arriving at a will-call location.

The warehouse space, initially set up to handle large carton items like refrigerators and washers, required space for an additional 10,000 electronic SKUs.

Working under a tight three-week production deadline, a 14,000 sq. ft. custom wide-span platform (mezzanine) was designed and built over the facility’s existing dock area with compliance to code and clearance requirements. The platform (mezzanine) span had to correlate with the building’s column span of 44’ and handle a load of 150 Psi.

View Original Source:  www.wpss.com/blog/lessons-learned-from-platform-mezzanine-installations/

Contact Details:

 
Western Pacific Storage Solutions

300 E. Arrow Highway, 
City:San Dimas, State: California
Phone No: (800) 732-9777
Web: http://www.wpss.com/
Email: customerservice@wpss.com