 |
The
ICC is the organization that authored
IBC 2003. As a corporate member, our mezzanine systems
are built to the specifications of all local, state and
federal building, safety and seismic
codes.
Please read the following mezzanine guidelines and
specifications before you buy a
mezzanine system to ensure the safety of your property and personnel.
Please contact us with any questions.
|
Fully Engineered Systems-
See if your mezzanine supplier has at least one full time
Professional Engineer on staff. Ask if he/she supervises all
mezzanine designs. You will be surprised how many companies
don't engineer their systems.
Confirmed Certified Welders- All steel
fabrication work should be performed by confirmed certified welders.
A mezzanine system failure could spell disaster for you, make
certain all fabrication work is done by professionals.
Build to Code- Yes there are many
mezzanine "fabricators" that don't even build their systems to code.
If you are unlucky enough to purchase one of these, you could face
fines and/or be forced to remove the structure from your facility.
Even worse you could have a failure and personnel could be seriously
injured or killed. If you are in doubt, please ask for a
confirmation in writing, it's for your protection.
Experience / Past Performance-
Mezzanine systems are mostly custom products so every application is
different and unique, experience matters! Ask your supplier
how many systems they have sold in the last 12 months. Some
mezzanine dealers sell one a year if they are lucky! Also ask
for references names and telephone numbers. They should be
able to supply you with at least a few satisfied customers within
the last few months.
Warranty- A credible mezzanine supplier
will issue a warranty in writing for their systems. Usually a
warranty will be at least five years but some last the lifetime of
the mezzanine. Mezzanines don't have many moving parts to go
bad. The only real issues are factory defects and low quality
materials and/or engineering. Factory defects will be noticed
and corrected during installation so why are so many fabricators
afraid to offer lifetime warranties? Please, for your
protection, get a lifetime warranty in writing before you buy.
For more information, please visit our
Mezzanine Systems main page or
call us at 1-800-523-0611.
Top of Page
Please use the following
specifications as a starting point to create your own mezzanine
project specifications. If you need assistance, feel free to
contact us at 1-800-523-0611.
General
-
1. Mezzanine shall be a custom designed system by an
established firm specializing in mezzanine systems such as American
Warehouse Systems.
2. Mezzanine design firm shall be a member in good
standing with the International Code Council to ensure code
compliance and the highest level of structural safety.
3. Final mezzanine design shall be approved by a
licensed professional engineer.
4. All finished materials will be made in the United
States of America to ensure the highest quality.
5. Mezzanine shall be free standing and shall be
capable of being erected, dismantled and relocated with hand tools.
6. Mezzanine fabrication shall be completed by
confirmed certified welders.
7. All projects shall come standard with engineered
drawings that will meet customers approval before any fabrication
begins.
8. Mezzanine structure shall come standard with a
printed Lifetime Warranty Certificate.
Specifications
-
1. System Design: The American Mezzanine System
design is completed in accordance with Ninth Edition American
Institute Steel Construction (AISC). The structure shall be
designed per the following codes, IBC 2003 and OSHA
2. Vertical Loading shall consist of specified design
Loading, plus dead load of structure. Maximum vertical deflection
of beam shall not exceed L/360 (L=beam length).
3. Vertical design Loading shall be as required by
application, but not less than the minimum design Loading specified
by the governing building code.
4. Seismic design is computed when American Warehouse
Systems is informed of the zone in which the mezzanine will be
located.
5. The minimum horizontal Loading shall be taken as 3%
of the Live loading. The horizontal Loading shall be combined with
the maximum column Load without infringing on the standard AISC
factors of safety. The Lateral deflection of the column shall not
exceed h/400 (h=top of deck).
Column: Structural support columns shall
be totally free standing and constructed from cold formed structural
tubing. All columns shall have a welded top cap to completely seal
the tube from any debris. Columns shall continue past the mezzanine
deck to provide a stable structure to attach the guardrail whenever
possible. Minimum column size is 5" x 5" x 07 ga. Minimum base
plate size is 1/2" x 9" x 9".
Columns
-ASTM A500 Grade B Fy=46 ksi
Base Plate
-ASTM A36 Fy=36 ksi
Anchor Bolt -Ramset/Red
Head, 1/2" Diameter x 3 3/4" Long
Beam: Framing members (beams) shall be
constructed from structural Wide Flange beams (standard). All
structural angle connections shall be welded to the beam and made of
a minimum of 3/8" thick material. Distance between bolts of any
structural connection shall not exceed 3 1/2".
W-Beam -ASTM A36 Fy=36 ksi
Connections -ASTM A36 Fy=36
ksi
Hardware: All structural web connections
shall use no less than a 3/4" diameter Grade 5, A449 bolt. All
structural flange connections shall use no less than a 5/8" diameter
Grade 5, A449 bolt. For technical properties see AISC manual page
4-3 to 4-9. Hardware shall be tightened to a snug tight condition,
then the nut shall be turned an additional 1/3 turn. No high
strength bolts should be reused. Retightening is not considered
reuse.
Web
Attachment: -Grade 5
3/4" x 1 1/2" LG.
Flange
Attachment: -Grade 5 5/8" x 1 1/2" LG.
Guardrail:
Three rails (11" space), 2" square top rail, 1 1/2" square
intermediate rails, 2" x 4" rectangular kickplate. All tubing use
in handrail shall be 14 gauge wall thickness. Standard handrail is
fastened directly to the structural mezzanine columns using self
drilling screws.
Tubing: -ASTM A500 Grade B Fy=46ksi
Flat
Steel: -A36 Fy=36 ksi
Stair: Stairs shall be designed to meet
IBC 2003. Stairs shall be all welded one piece construction shipped
completely assembled with exception of guardrail. Stringers are
constructed of MC10 @ 8.4 c-channel and all treads shall be
constructed of solid 12 gauge checker plate. Minimum Length of run
is 11" and maximum rise is 7". Risers shall be closed risers.
Handrail is provided for both sides of the stair and has a 1 1/2"
grip.
Finish: All steel to be finished is to
be washed and treated to give it a phosphate etching. The finish is
to be a powder system using epoxy and electrostatic process. Finish
must then be cured in an oven to a temperature of 550 degrees. The
finished thickness must be at Least 2.5 mills.
Colors: Columns -American Mezzanine
Systems Blue
Beams -American Mezzanine Systems Blue
Handrail -American Mezzanine Systems Red
Stair -American Mezzanine Systems Blue
Bar Joists -Standard Factory Grey
Top of Page |
