BRE Digest 437 – Mezzanine and Raised Storage Platform Floors

As the potential purchaser of a mezzanine floor you may not be aware that the Government, due to a number of reported  failures in the design and construction of mezzanine floors, has just published new design guidance for mezzanine floors and industrial platforms known as Digest 437. This guidance is the result of two years consultation with structural engineers and the mezzanine floor manufacturing industry.

The Digest establishes a new improved minimum design standard, to give the user a high performing and safe solution. Any deviation from the recommendations contained in the Digest may save money but will invariably lead to reduce performance and could put the end-user at risk through failure of the mezzanine floor.

All Mezzanine and Storage Equipment Ltd,  Mezzanine Floors,  meet the requirements of Digest 437 within their standard specification.

The key changes introduced in Digest 437:

• Chipboard Decking: The new document insists on P5 or P7 particle board. These are both moisture resistant boards which do not suffer any significant strength changes as a consequence of water penetration. BRE Digest 437 also introduces new reduced deflection design criteria for decking design, reducing the ‘bounce’ feel to the mezzanine floor making it a much more stable environment to work on or under.
• Handrail and Edge Protection: Where toe plates are provided they should be robust and imperforate, and should extend to at least 100mm above the finished platform surface. The design of the guarding should preferably provide for anchorage fixings to be connected to the supporting steel structure.