Mezzanine Loading Capacity

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Staffordshire
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Good Day,

We have just moved in to a unit that has a open mezzanine floor space. It is constructed from wooden joists. Its an L shaped floor space with one section having 18 beams @ 4m span (beam size 225 x 50mm), and the second section having smaller beams of 12 beams @ 5.4m span (beam size 125 x 45mm).

The plan is to erect a contained office space onto this mezzanine using metal stud / plasterboard walls and suspended ceiling.

The 1st section above seems chunky enough to have good loading capacity. But I have some concern about the second section which might need strengthening.

I have found calculations for working out the loading capacity per joist, but what is the planned metal stud walls are to be directly above the support pillars etc. Does this then become a UDL compressing directly on to the support structure?

Also, what should the loading capacity per square meter be for an office space?

Cheers
 
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Be wary of this one, not only structurally as your 5.4m span of 125 x 45 sound to be scary even for its current use which hopefully is nothing but you will also need to comply with building and fire regs.
I would suggest you seek some professional advise before going any further.
 
Live load for office use is usually taken as 2.5 kN/m2 (around 250kg/m2).

Doubtful if the 2x9s over 4m span will do - the 2x5s certainly won't.
 
Thanks for the replies

Am I right in thinking the same building reg used for housing are the ones applied here as well, I.E: Document A (Structure)

What is the fire regs document I need to read up on?
 
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Thanks for the replies

Am I right in thinking the same building reg used for housing are the ones applied here as well, I.E: Document A (Structure)

What is the fire regs document I need to read up on?

No, regs will be different; the main areas are Structure and Means of Escape.

Approved Doc A is intended for domestic buidings; Approved Doc B (fire) will give you info on means of escape.
 
As above, there are no 'deemed-to-satisfy' rules for non-domestic structures.

An SE would check the existing structure fior office loading, provide any necessary calcs and details if strengthening is required, and these would be checked by the council.

For mezzanines there are also specific rules for lateral stability; they either have to be braced, or suitably tied back to the main building.
 

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