Invicta Mezzanine Floors - Mezzanine Floor Fire Resistance and Staircase Datasheets

Datasheets

Raised Storage Areas Without Fire Resistance

Case 1

No protection required (as conditions below)

Case 2

Smoke detection and alarm to the lower level - required standard L3 to BS 5829:Pt 1 (as conditions below)

Case 3

Sprinklers or fire resistance (as conditions below)

8.9 Conditions to satisfy

a. The structure has only one tier and is used for storage purposes only;

b. The number of persons likely to be on the floor at any one time is low and does not include members of the public;

c. The floor is not more than 10m in either width or length and does not exceed one half of the floor area of the space in which it is situated;

d. The floor is open above and below to the room or space in which it is situated; and

e. The means of escape from the floor meets the relevent provisions in Section 4, 5 and 6 of B1 - horizontal escape

Limitations on travel distance

	Maximum travel distance where travel is possible:
	one direction only (m)	more than one direction (m)
Storage	25	45

If storage layout is unknown it is taken as two thirds of the travel distance

Staircases

All mezzanine floor installations are subject to Building Regulations, compliance with which is usually handled by Invicta as part of the service we provide. We are often asked to explain the implications of the Building Regulations and, in particular, the differences between the requirements of approved Document K and Approved Document M as they relate to staircases. Below details the key differences only; should you require further detail regarding the content of the Approved Documents, please email enquiries@invictastorage.com.

A brief summary of the Approved Documents relating to staircases

The Approved Documents that run from Part A to Part N reproduce the legal requirements and give practical and technical guidance on how to meeet them. The two that regulate staircases are Approved Documents Part K and Part M. The main purpose of each is as follows:

Part K - Stairs, Ramps and Guards

Stairs, ramps and ladders shall provide safety for people, when moving between different levels of a building.
Stairs, ramps, floors and balconies shall be adequately guarded.
Safety shall be provided for people using vehicle ramps and loading bays.

Part M - Access and Facilities for People with Disabilities

In Part M, "people with disabilities" means people who have an impairment which limits their ability to walk or which requires them to use a wheelchair for mobility or have impaired hearing or sight.

Reasonable provision shall be made for people with disabilities at entrances to and within new dwellings and buildings.

An existing building should have reasonable provision:

For people with disabilities to gain access and use the building.
If toilets are provided, reasonable provision shall be made available for people with disabilities.
If a building has seating such as audience or spectator seating, reasonable provision should be made for people with disabilities.

As part of the service we offer, Hi-Level's Approved Inspector can advise you on the regulations and show those instances where there is some flexibility in the application of the rules.