Highlights
All structural steelwork installed in mezzanine floors in Great Britain must carry UKCA marking assessed against BS EN 1090-1. This is a legal requirement under the UK Construction Products Regulation. A mezzanine floor installed with non-UKCA-marked steelwork is a legal offence and may be uninsurable. Western Industrial supplies UKCA-marked structural steelwork on every mezzanine project as a legal standard requirement, with a Declaration of Performance included in the project handover documentation.
If you are planning to install a mezzanine floor, you may have come across the term UKCA marking and wondered what it means, whether it applies to you and what you need to check. This guide explains the requirement clearly, why it exists, what it means in practice for mezzanine floor installations, and what questions to ask any supplier before you proceed.
Western Industrial , one of the UK’s leading mezzanine floor suppliers, installs UKCA-marked mezzanine floor steelwork in compliance with BS EN 1090 on every project we deliver.
What is UKCA marking?
UKCA stands for UK Conformity Assessed. It is the product marking system introduced in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) following the UK’s departure from the European Union. It replaces the CE marking that was previously required for construction products sold in the UK market.
UKCA marking is required under the UK Construction Products Regulation (UK CPR). It demonstrates that a product has been assessed against the relevant UK designated standard and meets the declared performance characteristics required for its intended use. For fabricated structural steelwork, which includes the steel columns, beams and other structural components of a mezzanine floor, the relevant standard is BS EN 1090-1.
The UKCA mark is applied to the product by the manufacturer or fabricator after demonstrating conformity with the standard. It is accompanied by a Declaration of Performance setting out the declared characteristics of the product.
Why does it apply to mezzanine floors?
A mezzanine floor is, at its core, a fabricated structural steel system. The columns, primary beams, secondary beams and joists that make up the mezzanine structure are all load-bearing steel components. Under the UK Construction Products Regulation, all fabricated structural steelwork delivered to a construction site in Great Britain must carry a UKCA mark assessed against BS EN 1090-1.
This requirement applies regardless of the size of the mezzanine, its intended use, or whether it is being installed in a rented or owned premises. It applies to every steel structural component that forms part of the mezzanine floor system.
The purpose of the requirement is straightforward: to ensure that the structural steel components used in buildings across the UK have been assessed to a recognised standard, that their load-bearing capacity and structural performance have been declared, and that the materials and processes used in their fabrication are traceable and documented.
What does BS EN 1090-1 require?
BS EN 1090-1 is the UK’s designated standard for the conformity assessment of structural steel and aluminium components. It sets out how manufacturers and fabricators must demonstrate that the components they produce meet their declared performance characteristics.
In practice, it requires:
• A documented factory production control system, demonstrating that the manufacturing process is controlled and consistent
• Structural calculations and design documentation that declare the load-bearing and performance characteristics of the components
• Material traceability — the origin and specification of the steel used must be documented and traceable throughout the supply chain
• Welding procedures and welder qualifications where welding is part of the fabrication process, documented to the required standard
• A Declaration of Performance issued by the fabricator confirming the declared characteristics of the product
• UKCA marking applied to the product, identifying it as compliant with the declared standard
The standard also introduces Execution Classes (EXC1 to EXC4), which reflect the complexity and consequence level of the structural application. Most standard mezzanine floors are assessed at EXC2, which applies to structural steel components in buildings and engineering structures used in normal service conditions.
What are the consequences of non-compliance?
Supplying or installing a mezzanine floor using steelwork that does not carry the required UKCA marking is a legal offence under the UK Construction Products Regulation. The enforcement body in the UK is Trading Standards, which has the power to issue suspension notices, prohibition notices and notices to warn, and to apply for forfeiture of non-compliant products.
Beyond the legal implications, the practical consequences for the building owner or occupier are serious. A mezzanine floor installed with non-UKCA-marked steelwork may be considered structurally unverified, meaning the load-bearing capacity of its components has not been assessed to the required standard. This has implications for the safety of anyone using the structure, and for the building’s insurance position. Insurers may refuse to cover liability arising from a non-compliant structure, or may void existing cover on discovery of non-compliance.
For businesses operating in leased premises, a non-compliant mezzanine may also create issues with landlords, whose consent is typically given on the assumption that the installed structure meets legal requirements.
What should I ask a mezzanine floor supplier?
Before appointing a mezzanine floor supplier, confirming their UKCA compliance position is an important step.
The key questions to ask are:
• Is the structural steelwork you supply UKCA marked in accordance with BS EN 1090-1?
• Can you provide a Declaration of Performance for the mezzanine floor components?
• Are your fabricators certified under BS EN 1090-2 for the relevant Execution Class?
• Can you provide documentation of material traceability for the steel components?
• Will UKCA marking documentation be included in the completion handover pack?
A reputable, compliant supplier will answer all of these questions directly and provide the relevant documentation as part of their handover pack. If a supplier is unable to confirm UKCA compliance or is reluctant to provide documentation, that should be treated as a significant concern.
UKCA marking and CE marking: where does it stand?
Since January 2021, UKCA marking has been available as the appropriate mark for construction products placed on the Great Britain market. CE marking, the equivalent European mark, has continued to be accepted in Great Britain during a transitional period.
The UK Government has confirmed that CE marking will continue to be recognised in Great Britain. However, UKCA marking remains the correct mark for structural steelwork fabricated and supplied in the GB market, and suppliers operating primarily in the UK should be assessed under BS EN 1090 with UKCA marking applied.
The key point for buyers is not which mark appears on the product, but whether the product has been assessed to the appropriate standard. Both UKCA marking and CE marking against BS EN 1090-1 provide this assurance.
What matters is that the assessment has been carried out and the documentation exists.
Western Industrial and UKCA compliance
All mezzanine floor structural steelwork supplied by Western Industrial carries UKCA marking in accordance with BS EN 1090. This is not optional and not an added extra, it is a non-negotiable requirement for every project we deliver. We provide a Declaration of Performance and full material traceability documentation as part of our standard handover pack.
We are transparent about our compliance position and happy to answer any questions a client or their insurer, landlord or building surveyor may have. If you are comparing suppliers and want to verify their UKCA compliance before making a decision, we welcome that conversation.
For more information or to arrange a free site survey for your mezzanine floor project, contact us today.
Frequently asked questions about UKCA marking for mezzanine floors
Yes. Under the UK Construction Products Regulation, all fabricated structural steelwork delivered to a construction site in Great Britain must carry a UKCA mark assessed against BS EN 1090-1. This includes the structural steel components of mezzanine floors. Supplying or installing a mezzanine with non-UKCA-marked steelwork is a legal offence, enforceable by Trading Standards.
BS EN 1090 is the UK’s designated standard for fabricated structural steelwork. Part 1 (BS EN 1090-1) sets out the requirements for conformity assessment, how manufacturers demonstrate that their products meet the declared performance characteristics. Part 2 (BS EN 1090-2) sets out the technical requirements for the execution of steel structures. Mezzanine floor fabricators must be certified under both parts to UKCA mark their products.
A mezzanine floor installed with non-compliant steelwork may be legally non-compliant, structurally unverified and potentially uninsurable. The building owner or occupier may face enforcement action from Trading Standards, insurance complications, and issues with landlords or building surveyors. The structure’s load-bearing capacity will not have been independently assessed or declared, which raises safety concerns.
UKCA marking is the appropriate mark for construction products placed on the Great Britain market. CE marking continues to be recognised in Great Britain during the current transitional period, but UKCA marking is the correct standard for UK-based suppliers. The important question for any buyer is whether the steelwork has been assessed to BS EN 1090, whether that assessment is evidenced by a UKCA mark or a CE mark against the same standard.
Ask the supplier directly whether their structural steelwork is UKCA marked in accordance with BS EN 1090-1, and ask to see the Declaration of Performance for the components. A compliant supplier will provide this documentation readily. You should also ask whether UKCA documentation will be included in the completion handover pack, this is important for insurance purposes and for any future inspection of the structure.
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About Western Industrial
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.
From Mezzanine Floors to Warehouse Storage and Racking, Western Industrial Business Interiors design, supply, manage and install, to provide you with a complete office refurbishment package.
We supply and install Mezzanine Floors, Office Partitioning, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Suspended Ceilings, through to all your Electrical & Mechanical requirements.
