As the title suggests, I'm considering the removal of the mezzanine floor in an standard old-ish Thai shophouse.

 

Just wondering if the mezzanine has a structural function? Does anyone have experience doing this?

 

Thanks

PS. Am hiring a structural engineer but just curious about own experiences

 

Was the mezzanine floor part of the original structure?

 

Yes it was.

 

The shophouse is the usual skeleton build with reinforced concrete columns and beams, just not sure if mezzanine is part of that structure.

We're in a shophouse, and would not be concerned about removing sections of the floor, but I think I would saw-cut it rather than jack-hammering it. I would also check that the stairway is independently supported. I know it is in our building. 

 

We have a half-floor mezzanine and plan to make it a full-floor.  

From some I have seen I would say that the mezzanine floor provides some structural stability if it is tied to the main RC frame.

 

There are some design considerations for height of unrestrained columns and their sizes and various other factors.

 

You could see transverse concrete beams supporting the floor to some supporting columns for the mezzanine then it would have some structural /stability support element.

 

Recently visited a shophouse in Bang Chak being rehabilitated where they removed the concrete mezzanine and were replacing the concrete floor/beam support by installing transverse metal H beams bolted to the concrete columns.

 

Any additional load/weight would also need to be considered for the building foundation.

 

I would say it needs the input and advice of a licensed Thai structural/foundation engineers.

 

 

1 hour ago, userabcd said:

From some I have seen I would say that the mezzanine floor provides some structural stability if it is tied to the main RC frame.

 

There are some design considerations for height of unrestrained columns and their sizes and various other factors.

 

You could see transverse concrete beams supporting the floor to some supporting columns for the mezzanine then it would have some structural /stability support element.

 

Recently visited a shophouse in Bang Chak being rehabilitated where they removed the concrete mezzanine and were replacing the concrete floor/beam support by installing transverse metal H beams bolted to the concrete columns.

 

Any additional load/weight would also need to be considered for the building foundation.

 

I would say it needs the input and advice of a licensed Thai structural/foundation engineers.

 

 

Thanks for your input. I agree with your assessment that the two transverse reinforced concrete beams that the mezzanine floor "sits on" could have a structural function. Almost as if they're needed to maintain the rigidity of the main skeleton if that makes sense.

I have an architect and structural engineer coming tomorrow. Wait and see what they say.

Replacing the two reinforced concrete beams with steel could be a good idea in our situation. Less bulky than two concrete beams and could us it to raise the ceiling height underneath the mezz as well.

Are you talking about removing the floor or the cross-beams? The beams are (generally)  necessary, support the stairs and part of the structure. The floor is typically just pre-cast concrete slabs set onto the frame. 

 

I would not remove any beams