Wildeck Mezzanine

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Technical Definitions on Work Platforms

ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990. A wide-ranging civil rights act prohibiting discrimination based on disability, including accessibility in public places.

AIA

American Institute of Architects, the leading professional membership association for licensed architects.

AISC

American Institute of Steel Construction, a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association that serves the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States. Activities include: specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, and market development.

AISI

American Iron and Steel Institute, an alliance of North American steel producers that serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice.

ALLOWABLE SOIL BEARING

Allowable vertical loading that can be put on soil before it fails. (Given in PSF – pounds per square foot)

ANCHORS

A mechanical or chemical device used to attach a base plate to the concrete floor.

ANSI

American National Standards Institute, which oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines, including safety standards for conveyors

ASTM

American Society for Testing and Materials, an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services

AWS

American Welding Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the science and profession of welding by developing standards and specifications, maintaining a certification program, and philanthropic activities

BAR GRATING

Open grid assembly of metal bars in which the bearing bars (running in one direction) are spaced by rigid attachment to crossbars

BAR JOIST

A light steel truss composed of a bent bar welded between top and bottom chords.

BASE PLATE

The steel plate upon which the column tube sets.

BAY SIZE

The mezzanine’s column spacing in two directions.

BOCA

Building Officials and Code Administrators, association which developed the BOCA building code, which has since been replaced with IBC code.

BUILDING CODE

A unified set of rules to regulate and govern construction practices in a given locality.

C-SECTION

A cold formed structural member formed into the shape of a “C”.

CATWALK

Elevated service platform or walkway constructed to permit access to equipment, controls or other devices not frequently used. Generally designed to support only itself and the weight of persons required for access to the aforementioned items.

CLEAR HEIGHT

The distance from the floor to the lowest framing member of the structure. This is applicable to a mezzanine or even the building itself.

CONCRETE STRENGTH

The strength that the concrete slab obtains after 28 days. (Given in PSI – pounds per square inch)

CROSSOVER

Small mezzanine with stairs or ladders on either side used for safely directing pedestrian traffic over conveyor belts.

DEAD LOAD

The weight of the mezzanine structure only. To include objects permanently attached to structure with the exceptions of sprinklers and lights.

DECK HEIGHT

Distance from the floor to the top of the mezzanine decking surface.

DIAMOND PLATE

Type of metal stock with a regular pattern of raised diamonds or lines, used as flooring in industrial settings because the texture lowers the risk of slipping.

EXTERNAL STAIR

A stair that is located outside the confines of the mezzanine framing. The stair may either exit directly onto the mezzanine or may have a top platform.

FACTORY FIELD MEASUREMENT

Site visit by Wildeck staff to verify crucial building and equipment measurements.

FOOTINGS

A concrete pad for the purpose of distributing the concentrated column load over a larger area.

FRAMING SYSTEM

Engineered assembly of steel components that supports the mezzanine structure. In the case of Wildeck mezzanines, either bolted c-section, wide flange beam and c-section, wide flange beam, wide flange beam and bar joist, or truss girder and bar joist.

GIRDER

A framing member that spans from column to column.

HANDRAIL

2- or 3- rail system integrated with the mezzanine that provides guidance and prevents falls.

HORIZONTAL STAIR RUN

Horizontal distance covered by a stair system, not including the IBC-compliant 12″ handrail extension at the bottom of the stair.

HSLA (HIGH-STRENGTH, LOW-ALLOY STEEL)

A type of alloy steel with low carbon content which provides superior mechanical properties and resistance to corrosion than carbon steel.

HSS (HOLLOW STRUCTURAL SECTION)

A type of metal profile with a hollow tubular cross section, commonly used in welded steel frames where members experience loading in multiple directions.

IBC

International Building Code: a comprehensive model building code adopted and enforced by all states.

ICC

International Code Council; a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention that develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including IBC code.

IGCC

International Green Construction Code, currently in development by the ICC, a set of guidelines for environmentally sustainable buildings.

INTERNAL STAIR

A stair that is located within the confines of the mezzanine framework on at least two sides. Requires an opening in the framing/deck.

JOIST

A framing member that spans between two other framing members (girders).

KICKPLATE

Steel angle attached to roof deck to prevent objects from falling or rolling off of the mezzanine.

KNOCK-DOWN STAIR

A stair on which treads and stringers are field assembled. Treads must be bolted to the stringers and guardrail/handrail assembly is required. Ideal for applications where lifting a one piece stair is not practical.

LANDING

The area of a floor near the top or bottom step of a stair. An intermediate landing is a small platform that is built as part of the stair between main floor levels.

LIVE LOAD

The load superimposed by the use and occupancy of the mezzanine, not to include the dead load. (Examples: rack, carts, desks, mobile objects.)

MHI

Material Handling Institute, the largest U.S. material handling & logistics association representing the leading providers of material handling & logistics solutions.

MODULUS OF SUBGRADE REACTION

Another measure of the load carrying capacity of soil. (Given in PCF or PCI – pounds per cubic foot or inch)

NAAMM

National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers, trade association representing manufacturers of a wide range of metal products used chiefly in commercial and industrial building construction.

NBC

National Building Code of Canada: a comprehensive model building code generally accepted by most Canadian provinces. Each province has the discretion to adapt the code to its specific requirements.

NFPA

National Fire Protection Association, an international nonprofit agency whose goal is to advocate fire protection through consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration: not a code but a set of rules establishing minimum safety standards for work areas.

P.E. SEALS AND CALCULATIONS

Drawings and calculations that are reviewed and sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer in the state where the mezzanine is located.

POINT LOAD

A load concentrated over a small area.

POUNDS PER SQUARE FOOT (PSF):

An estimation of the weight a mezzanine could hold if completely uniformly loaded. Calculated by adding the live load and the dead load, and dividing by the square footage of the mezzanine. IBC code requires storage mezzanines to have a minimum rating of 125 psf.

ProGMA

The Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) members are the Industry’s leading suppliers of fixed protective guarding products designed to protect personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities.

RESIN BOARD

Moisture-resistant composite board used for mezzanine decking surfaces.

RISER

Vertical component of a stair step.

ROOF DECK

1.5″ deep, 20 gauge, wide rib steel that transfers a load from the deck surface to the framing system. Also called “B” deck. Depth and gauge may vary depending on load and span requirements.

SAE INTERNATIONAL

Society of Automotive Engineers, a professional organization for mobility engineering professionals in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries

SAFETY GATE

An access gate that provides protection from falling regardless of the position of the doors. An integral kick plate is provided to keep objects from falling off the mezzanine. All safety gates meet OSHA section 1910.23 load requirements.

SAFETY LADDER

A ladder is a vertical appliance usually consisting of two side rails joined at regular intervals by cross pieces called rungs on which a person may step. Cages may also be attached for additional safety.

SEISMIC CODE

Design procedure as detailed by the International Building Code (IBC). This procedure applies to all buildings and structures as a method to resist earthquakes. It is a compilation of data of many agencies including ASCE-7 and the USGS.

SHIP’S LADDER

A fixed ladder of 75 degrees. Usually only permitted as a secondary means of egress in certain applications.

SMA

Storage Manufacturers Association, group of shelving, mezzanine, and modular storage suppliers within the MHI.

SPAN SIZE

The distance between supporting columns of a mezzanine.

STAIR HEIGHT

Vertical span covered by a stair system, measured from the floor to the top of the decking.

STRINGER

The structural framing member of a stair unit.

TREAD

The horizontal component of the stair that is stepped on.

TRUSS

An open web structural member.

UBC

Uniform Building Code, first published in 1927 and replaced in 2000 by the IBC code.

UNIFORM LOAD

A load that is assumed to be spread evenly across the surface area of a structure (most likely never occurs).

W-SECTION

Wide flange beam structural member in the shape of an “I” or “H.”

WELDED STAIR

One piece stair assembly. Treads are welded to the stringers. Requires assembly of the guardrail/handrail.

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