Mezzanines

The metallic Tecrostar mezzanines of the S, M and L ranges support a uniformly distributed load of 40,96 lb/ft² (that means that you can place a 40,96 lb distributed load on each square ft). This is the live load for residential uses according to the international regulations. The total maximum load will be 40,96 lb by the ft² of the mezzanine.

The steel pieces of the structures, railing posts and stringers of the stairs are available in:

• Black and white. Available in stock without additional costs.

In both cases the paint is a lacquer with maximum adhesion applied by electrostatic process with polyester powder paint, suitable for outdoors.

Yes, it does. They are structural boards made of 18mm thick european radiata pine plywood. They have tongue-and-groove joints in their four sides.

Length: 81 7/8"

Width: 24"

Thickness: 3/4"

The kit includes as many boards as needed to install the mezzanine in its maximum dimensions. To install the mezzanine in smaller dimensions, it is necessary to cut the boards as it is explained in the installation manual included in the mezzanine kit. Cutting the boards is really easy and all the required tools are available at our online store as well.

No. Tecrostar does not have a different flooring alternative. However, it is possible to personalize the finish of the floor by adding some accessories on the boards (carpet, platform,...). Check our floor finishes in accessories section. If the customer installs a different floor from the boards provided, it is their responsibility to ensure the resistance of the full mezzanine, since the floor contributes to the stability of the whole.

Plasterboard is a low density material, so you can make a closing wall on top of the mezzanine. You can also close the lower part of the mezzanine when mezzanine is indoors. When this closing wall is made in mezzanines installed in the exterior, you should consult tecrostar, since lateral wind load can cause the structure needs stability kits.

No, you can’t. At the moment, our mezzanines are available just for a single height although some customers install them on another existing mezzanine. In that case, the resistance of the existing one should be checked.

It depends on the beam type, we need to calculate the corresponding surface load. For example, a secondary beam TM 15 supports around 1234 lb. You should take into account that if we apply additional loads, a part of the bearing capacity of the beam is being consumed.

If you have any doubt about important additional loads, contact our technical department.

TecroStar products can be installed outdoors (in the open), provided that the following considerations are taken into account, which define the structural, environmental and material maintenance calculation conditions.

Structural Calculation Considerations.

material maintenance calculation conditions.
1.- Outdoor installation involves forces due to snow and wind, which depend on the geographical location, altitude of the site, etc. These actions have been taken into account in the calculation, with certain maximum values that must be compared with those of the area where it is installed, to ensure that these limits are not exceeded.

2.- The snow-bearing capacity value must be subtracted from the total usage load bearing capacity, taking into account the dimensions of the mezzanine. As a guide value, TecroStar structures can be considered to withstand a minimum use overload of 200 kg/m², and therefore the load of snow that a mezzanine can withstand outdoors is very high.

3.- The mezzanine can be installed as an outdoor canopy by installing the stability kit, contemplating the case of a complete obstruction when it is placed against a façade, or free if it allows air to pass through its lower part. A wind speed of 100 km/h is taken as a reference. The regulations of each locality must be consulted to check that these limits are not exceeded.

4.- Under no circumstances should the sides of the building be closed, as this implies greater horizontal forces that are not included in the calculation.

5.- The columns of the mezzanine must be fixed to a solid base that resists the actions transmitted by the mezzanine.The TecroStar team provides guidance on the type of footing or foundations required under the columns. If you wish to place the mezzanine on a surface like grass or soil, some type of footing will also be required. The modular foundations system shown at https://piloedre.es/ could be a good solution. In both cases, it is the client's responsibility to check the final resistance of the ground with the technician in charge of the project.

Type of exposure to weather.

The specifications shown below refer to the characteristics of TecroStar products WITHOUT WATERPROOFING, as this treatment offers greater protection to the steel parts against rusting (for more information go to https://www.mezzaninesonline.com/faqs/mezzanines/waterproof-treatment-of-steel.html).

TecroStar structures have a thermosetting polyester polymerised powder coating, with a coating thickness between 60 and 80 microns. Corrosivity category C2 has been obtained, of medium durability, when submitting the pieces to the tests, according to the criteria of the European Norm EN ISO 12944 of May 1998: "Protection of steel structures against corrosion by means of protective painting systems". This rating is valid without waterproofing treatment. Examples of typical environments for corrosivity category C2:
• Indoors: buildings without heating where can form condensation (warehouses, sports centres…)

• Outdoors: atmospheres with low pollution levels. Mostly, non-coastal rural areas.

The medium durability of the lacquer covers a period of 5 to 15 years. The standard states that durability is NOT a "warranty period". Durability is a technical consideration that can help the owner establish a maintenance programme. This means, tests are performed for a specified number of hours under uniform conditions applied to smooth surfaces. The reality is that climatic and environmental conditions are very variable.

The edges of steel parts are the parts most prone to corrosion and where rust first appears, in fact, these areas are not evaluated in salt spray tests, as the standard does not contemplate them.

Preparation, performance and maintenance of the product outdoors.

The metallic steel pieces are lacquered with paints suitable for exteriors, but it is expected that, after a while, the structure requires paint retouching on localised areas, like edges or corners, that may show signs of oxidation and loss of gloss. It is recommended to polish these areas to remove the rust and then apply the paint.

TecroStar does not advise the use of metallic parts painted in white for exteriors, since the appearance of rust is appreciated much earlier than in black components.

If the mezzanine is to be installed outdoors in a marine or coastal environment, maintenance recommendations should be carried out more frequently, due to the corrosive power produced by the existence of salt and moisture. Ensure the control of the oxidation process to avoid further deterioration. In this case, it is recommended to polish the affected areas to remove the rust and then apply the paint.

The aluminium handrails of the rails do not require any special maintenance, as all of them are subjected to surface treatments that guarantee their outdoor performance (anodised silver, black lacquer or with a wood effect).

The load-bearing floor of TecroStar mezzanines consists of structural plywood panels. It is intended for indoor use in a humid or protected outdoor environment in accordance with EN 636-1-S. The customer must apply a lasur* or specific waterproofing treatment for wood to the floor and to the exposed edges, which protects the surface and prevents water from penetrating into the tongue and groove joints of the panels and affecting the edges.

Another aspect to bear in mind for the optimal maintenance of the structure is to seal the grooves with silicone and cover the top opening in order to prevent moisture from penetrating the structure. For preservation purposes, it is essential to insert plugs in the holes of the columns.

Likewise, all wood pieces (steps, wooden strips, etc.) must be treated with some type of water-resistant paint or varnish to prevent moisture from penetrating and the material from cracking, and therefore losing its mechanical and aesthetic characteristics. In addition, it is important to check that any coatings applied (varnish or paint) have not deteriorated, touching them up if necessary.

The presence of water in puddles or “ponds” on the mezzanine should be avoided. To that end, the mezzanine should be installed with a slight slope (approximately 2%) to facilitate the water evacuation and to avoid its accumulation. This unevenness can be achieved by installing levelling plates under the highest pillars of the structure. Drains can also be created for the same purpose.

* It is a product for outdoor uses that is more appropriate than varnish because it offers a high resistance, does not create a layer on the surface it is applied, controls humidity, gives a waxy finish and provides a wide range of finishes.

No, our mezzanines are sold with columns by default. We cannot guarantee the resistance of walls or corbels and the customer will be responsible if the product is modified in these cases.

S and M range

L Range

Yes. Provided that the inclination is small, we can use a wedge under the mezzanine columns to level it. If the inclination is too small it might be not necessary at all and the slope might be imperceptible.

You can adjust the structural floor, working around architectural barriers or irregular surfaces.

When the walls are irregular or when you want to work around a fixed object, the decking can be finished off against the wall

Adjustment from below:

Adjustment from above:

It is possible it to be lower it requires to cut the columns and drill again though. On the contrary, it is not possible it to be higher. The cut of the columns can be made by the customer or order Tecrostar to do it.

Yes. This is quite common and the results are very good. The telescopic system of the columns enables the height to be adjusted every 4 3/4", so in the worst case scenario you will have a 2 3/8" difference.

You can make aesthetic modifications, but any structural modification non approved by Tecrostar will be under customer’s responsibility.

Yes, you can. However, the maximum load capacity will be unaffected.

This treatment provides the steel pieces an additional protection that increases their durability in weather conditions that cause corrosion.

It consists of a cold-dip galvanizing or electrolytic zinc coating, whereby the steel pieces are covered with a thin zinc layer, between 8 and 15 um, in a low temperature bath. Subsequently, it is added a passivation using chromium that increases the protection and, finally, a sealing is made.

This zinc coating process differs from cold-dip galvanizing and avoids the pieces from deformation by heat and their holes from blockage, providing a much softer and more appropriate finish for the use of Tecrostar products.

After applying the zinc coating, the pieces are lacquered with the high-quality standard process typical of Tecrostar, with powder-coating paint, to obtain a perfect finish in the colour desired by the customer, also increasing the corrosion protection by creating a barrier (steel + zinc plating + lacquering).

With the TecroStar waterproof steel treatment, a high level of protection is achieved on steel parts, obtaining the following rating:

• Corrosivity category C4 with Low durability.

• Corrosivity category C3 with Medium durability

• Corrosivity category C2 with High durability

Durability is obtained by testing the parts according to the criteria of the European Standard EN ISO 12944. The standard indicates that durability is NOT a "warranty period". Durability is a technical consideration that can help the owner to establish a maintenance programme. That is, tests are performed for a given number of hours under uniform conditions applied to smooth surfaces. The reality is that climatic and environmental conditions are highly variable.

It should be taken into consideration that the guarantee of our treatments is given on the basis of laboratory conditions, which are the hours without rust appearing in a salt fog chamber, but every real location may imply a different kind of exposure. Therefore, we provide an extract from the European standard EN ISO 12944 of May 1998 "Protection of steel structures against corrosion by means of protective paint systems", where you can see some examples of typical environments.

When visual inspection indicates that touch-up painting is required, close attention should be paid to any edges or corners that may show the beginnings of rust and loss of gloss. It is recommended to polish these areas to remove the rust and then apply the paint. The edges of steel parts are most prone parts to corrosion and where rust first appears, in fact, these areas are not evaluated in the salt fog tests, as they are not covered by the standard.