A Guide to Mezzanine Floor Fire Regulations

Considering installing a mezzanine floor within your commercial or industrial premises and looking to find out a little more about Fire Regulation requirements? This guide takes you through some of the key regulations you need to know about to ensure that your new mezzanine floor installation is safe and compliant.

In the UK, fire safety is an integral part of mezzanine floor design. From the materials used in the structure to the escape routes and alarm systems, there are several fire safety aspects that must be considered. It all comes down to Building Regulations, and when we’re talking about fire safety, we’re specifically referring to Part B - Fire Safety.

According to Part B of the Fire Safety Building Regulations, mezzanine floors must be suitably fire-rated unless they meet all of the following criteria:

• Does not exceed 50% of the building’s total floor area.
• Does not exceed 400 square metres in size.
• Does not measure more than 20 metres in any direction.
• Will not have people working continuously on or below the floor.
• Will only be used for storage with limited human access.

While some mezzanine floors may not need to be fire-rated, it's crucial that these criteria are carefully assessed when submitting an application to Building Regulations.

As part of our consultation service, we meticulously identify your fire safety responsibilities to ensure compliance from the very beginning.

We are here to help ensure your new floor space is completely compliant. We address the following areas during the initial planning stage to ensure fire safety is fully factored into your installation.

Structural Fire Protection

The physical structure of your mezzanine floor must be protected to prevent collapse in the event of a fire. Several key elements can be integrated into the design to protect structural components:

• Fascia systems: These shield exposed edges from flames and smoke.
• Column casings: These offer fire protection to the structural columns and beams.
• Suspended ceilings: Fire-rated suspended ceilings are installed below the mezzanine to prevent heat, fire, and smoke from travelling upwards.
• Cavity barriers: These may be installed to stop smoke and flames from spreading through concealed gaps in the floor.

Mezzanine Floor Fire Escape Regulations

Providing a clear means of escape is another vital aspect of fire safety compliance. The quantity and location of staircases are critical factors in a compliant mezzanine floor design.

Escape route travel distance

Maximum travel distance must be considered to ensure that anyone using the floor can escape quickly and safely in a fire. Regulations state that a person on a mezzanine floor should be no more than 18 metres from the top of a staircase, and no more than 45 metres from a final exit if there is more than one staircase.

This travel distance is reduced to 12 metres in areas with a high risk of fire. In some low-risk scenarios, the travel distance can be extended to 25 metres. If you cannot guarantee these distances, additional staircases must be installed to provide adequate means of escape.

Mezzanine Floor Fire Detection and Lighting

It goes without saying that fire detection is an essential part of fire safety, but actually it’s really important that you have the right type of detection system on your mezzanine floor.

Smoke detectors must be installed on the underside of the mezzanine. The number and location of these detectors will depend on the size of your floor, its use and any changes in ceiling height. HMF will ensure your mezzanine has a safe and compliant fire detection system.
To ensure a safe exit route, emergency lighting must also be installed as part of your mezzanine floor installation.

HMF is one of the South Coast’s leading mezzanine floor installers. We operate as the Principal Contractor, managing the entire design and installation process from start to finish. This includes handling Building Regulations applications, ensuring fire regulation compliance and completing the full installation and fit-out.

If you are ready to discuss an installation project for your commercial or industrial premises, get in touch today.