Mezzanine Goods Lifts: When you need one and what is involved
A pallet gate is the right solution for moving goods to a mezzanine level when a forklift can deposit pallets directly at the edge of the floor. But not every mezzanine installation has forklift access to the loading edge, and not every goods transfer is a whole pallet. In those situations, a goods lift is the correct solution.
Western Industrial installs goods lifts as part of mezzanine floor projects where the operational requirements make them necessary. Our Mercedes-Benz South West installation at Clyst St Mary in Devon is an example: a two-tier mezzanine serving customer reception, management offices and parts storage, with a goods lift serving all three levels.
When does a mezzanine floor need a goods lift?
The decision between a pallet gate and a goods lift comes down to three operational questions:
- Is there forklift access to the edge of the mezzanine? A pallet gate requires a forklift to be able to approach, deposit and retrieve pallets at the open gate. If the building layout prevents this, a goods lift is needed.
- Is the goods transfer frequent enough to make staircase carrying impractical? In office mezzanines where occasional items need to move between levels, carrying by staircase is acceptable. In operational environments where goods transfer is continuous, a lift is needed.
- Are the items being transferred too large or heavy to be carried by staircase? Equipment, stock, components or materials that cannot be safely or practically carried on a staircase require a mechanical lift.
The most common applications for goods lifts on mezzanine floors are: parts storage mezzanines in automotive dealerships and engineering facilities, multi-level office and warehouse mezzanines where regular goods movement between levels is part of the operation, retail mezzanines where stock is moved from ground floor storage to an upper-level retail area, and food production environments where goods transfer needs to be contained and controlled.
Types of goods lift for mezzanine floors
Platform goods lifts
The most common type for mezzanine floor applications. A powered platform, typically 1,000kg to 3,000kg capacity, travels between the ground floor and the mezzanine level within a structural shaft. Platform lifts are designed for goods movement, not passenger use. Fitting sizes typically range from 1,200mm x 1,200mm to 2,000mm x 2,000mm for pallet-capable lifts.
Scissor table lifts
Used for vertical transfer within a defined area, typically at a fixed workstation. A scissor table lifts goods from one level to another using a hydraulic scissor mechanism. Less suitable for frequent or high-volume goods transfer than a platform lift but practical for occasional movement of heavy items.
Goods-only lifts vs goods-and-passenger lifts
Goods-only lifts are not for human use and are designed and certified accordingly. Where occasional access for maintenance or loading assistance is required, a goods-and-passenger lift must be specified instead. The specification, certification and maintenance requirements for a goods-and-passenger lift are more extensive. The intended use must be confirmed at the design stage: specifying a goods-only lift and then using it for passenger access creates a serious safety and liability issue.
How goods lifts are coordinated with the mezzanine structure
A goods lift installed as part of a mezzanine floor project needs to be designed into the structural frame from the outset, not added afterwards. The lift shaft requires structural support from the mezzanine frame. The opening in the mezzanine deck where the lift passes through requires coordinated structural detailing. The load from the lift and its maximum payload must be included in the mezzanine structural calculations.
At Western Industrial, we coordinate the goods lift specification with the mezzanine structural design from the survey stage. The Mercedes-Benz project is a clear example: the goods lift serving all three levels was designed alongside the two-tier mezzanine structure, not as an afterthought.
Where we supply and install the mezzanine
Building Regulations for mezzanine goods lifts
Goods lifts require Lift Regulations 1997 compliance (for machinery directive) and are subject to LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) for ongoing inspection requirements. The lift installation is also covered within the Building Regulations application for the overall mezzanine project.
All goods lifts must be inspected by a competent person at regular intervals under LOLER, typically every six months for a goods lift. This is a post-installation operational requirement that building owners need to factor into their maintenance programme.
Frequently asked questions about mezzanine goods lifts
A goods lift is needed when there is no forklift access to the edge of the mezzanine, when goods transfer is too frequent or heavy to be managed by staircase, or when the items being transferred are too large for a pallet gate system.
Yes, but it is more complex than including one in the original design. The structural implications of the lift shaft and opening must be assessed by an engineer, and the original mezzanine structure may need reinforcement. It is always simpler and cheaper to include the lift in the original mezzanine design.
A standard 1,000kg capacity platform lift is sufficient for most mezzanine goods transfer applications. Pallet-capable lifts typically require 1,500 to 2,000kg capacity. The capacity is specified from the maximum load that will be transferred in a single lift cycle.
The building owner is responsible for arranging regular LOLER inspections, typically every six months for a goods lift. These must be carried out by a competent person and the results recorded. Western Industrial can advise on a suitable inspection programme as part of the project handover.
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Western Industrial | Designing, Supplying & Installing Mezzanine Floors since 1979
Established in 1979, Western Industrial Group have grown to a dedicated & professional workforce, delivering consistently high quality services across a range of projects, large & small.
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