So how do you re-invent your space to suit these new needs and keep your team happy, healthy and safe?

1. 1. Work out how many of your team are likely to be in at any time. You’ll be surprised how much space you can open up.
   2. Consider removing some fixed desks and use the space to create a social hub where remote workers can feel part of the team.
   3. In the social hub have a selection of areas people can choose to work within, single stations, small groups, informal spaces.  This way there’s something suitable for everyone and every task – spaces aren’t owned they are used.
   4. Modify shared spaces with staggered seating and buffer zones so teams can practice healthy social distancing in the workplace.
   5. Keep your space adaptable so it can easily be changed to suit new circumstances.
   6. Design a ‘domercial’ environment where domestic meets commercial creating a warm relaxed and welcoming place to be.  Think hotel receptions, coffee bars etc so that people enjoy their time in the office.
   7. Use the space and the way you decorate and furnish it to reinforce your corporate values and the culture of the business.

Remember happy employees are healthier and more motivated, so it’s a win-win for the team and the business.

If you’re considering how to re-work your space for 2021 and beyond we have loads of experience and advice to offer – you know where we are, so just reach out. Email us on sales@cubexcontracts.com or yvonne@cubexcontracts.com or call 01933 460422 or 07874 871903.

The post 7 Key things you can do in your offices next year that won’t cost a fortune appeared first on Cubex Contracts.

Most warehouses have multi-levels for employees to work from with segregated areas for loading, unloading, storage, production and more (with heavy machinery here, there and everywhere in between!). As a result, your staff and products are both vulnerable from falling from a dangerous height, so what preventative measures can you put in place to stop this type of casualty occurring?

We’re so glad you asked!  A safety gate, of course!  At Cubex Contracts we can install a variety of pallet safety gates into the infrastructure of existing and new mezzanines, helping to incorporate an added element of safety to your business operations.

But with multiple options to choose from, how will you determine which pallet gate offers the best safety for your employees?  Let’s see if we can help you…

The Sliding Pallet Gate
The sliding gate system is a very easy and cost-effective way to transport goods from one place to another on both ground and higher levels (eg a mezzanine floor).  They’re great for restricted areas, although sliding pallet gates come with a huge safety faux-pas…

There is always an exposed area; when your staff are loading and unloading heavy pallets there is room and opportunity for either them or your pallets to fall off the upper open edge and onto the floor below potentially damaging stock, injury themselves or others or far worse, a fatality.

So do we recommend sliding pallet gates as a fantastic safety solution for your employees?  Absolutely not!  Onto Plan B…

The Hinged Pallet Gate
This hinged gated system is great for unrestricted pallet height.  Similarly to the sliding gated system, with a hinged gate there is a safety concern regarding the risk of falls from openings along the edge of the raised levels.

But unlike with sliding gates, there is an option to set the gate back from the edge and install side handrails. In doing so, there is no reason for your staff to enter the loading area and, ultimately, they are protected from falling.

That said, once the pallet has been loaded there is still a chance it could fall backwards as it is only guarded at the front, not all the way around.

So whilst a hinged pallet gate could work well in your business, is it the best option in terms of safety?  No – we think you can do better!

The “Up and Over” Pallet Gate
Up and over pallet gates provides continuous edge protection; when a pallet is loaded onto a mezzanine, the gate is swung open to allow access to the higher floor. As the gate lifts up, it simultaneously closes off the back section of the gate, preventing workers (or products) from being able to access the open edge and therefore eliminates the risk of falling altogether.

This enclosed up and over gated system guards the ‘open’ edge throughout the entire loading and unloading process and it’s this continuous protection that offers constant reassurance to employers and employees alike as the risk of any work-related accidents is significantly reduced.  With that in mind, it’s this double-gated system that gets the thumbs up from Cubex as it offers the best safety for your employees.  Plus, up and over pallet gates are incredibly lightweight and easy to operate too… bonus!

One size doesn’t fit all
Whether you’re considering installing a brand new mezzanine or perhaps all you require is a single pallet gate installation for your existing mezz, our “up and over” pallet gates can be specifically designed to suit your workplace with the width and height of any loading pallet accommodated for.

Anything else?
Yes!  To ensure the area surrounding the gate is kept in good condition, Cubex Contracts recommend a steel loading protection plate to further protect the mezzanine deck from wear and tear as a result of regular use from your forklifts.

Up and Over Pallet Gates – In Action!
We wanted you to see a Cubex Contracts installation in action and thanks to Prosaw Limited, one of our clients who we installed an up and over pallet gate for, we can show you just how they work:

The gate size we installed was 2.500m wide to clear loads 2.250m high.  Here, you can see the up and over pallet gate in position on the upper floor of a busy warehouse, ready to receive its next pallet.

Once a pallet is loaded, you will need to pull on the up and over protection barrier in a downwards position, as demonstrated by Rob O’Brien of Prosaw Limited.

The up and over gate protection barrier starts to move easily with just a firm pulling motion.  As the protection barrier comes down, the pallet becomes closed off to the upper level and is no longer accessible by your workers; it is only at this stage that it becomes accessible for your forklift to remove the pallet and move it to its new location.

If you want to know more about how exactly up and over pallet gates work and what you need to consider, just click here to read our blog. 

It’s no secret that industrial space is expensive which is why many businesses have a single or multi-tiered mezzanine installed in their warehouse and, as a result, significantly increase their storage and/or production space without the fuss (or hefty cost!) of moving premises.

But it’s not just a new mezzanine that Cubex Contracts can install for you – conveyor systems, lifts to access additional levels and pallet safety gates are the additional accessories worth considering too.

So if you are thinking about installing a new mezzanine floor or, if you have one already and are considering a new pallet gate, Cubex can help. Give us a call on 01933 460422 today and we’ll help ensure that whatever pallet gate you need, your employees safety will be taken care of.

The post What pallet gate offers the best safety for my employees? appeared first on Cubex Contracts.

A key criterion in assessing workplace environment under BREEAM includes optimising health and wellbeing in the office environment. This could include flexible workstations with accompanying storage, encouraging collaborative working, interior finishes that limit VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions, highly efficient LED (Light-Emitting Diode) lighting and the use of depolluting plants.

Depolluting plants at work

Research shows us that in developed countries, the population typically spends over 90% of their time indoors and improving the indoor air quality has been seen to have a positive impact on health, well-being and productivity. Indeed a 2-year study conducted by Oxford Brookes University and LCMB Building Performance*, revealed that workers showed a dramatic 60% increase in productivity once CO² emissions within their workplace was reduced and air quality was improved.
Depolluting plants are a great and aesthetic way to improve the air quality in your workplace. But not every office has unused space so combining plant holders with storage options helps to minimise the space that the plants take up, meaning it’s a good option for all businesses. It’s also worth considering that plant holders with storage options can assist in creating informal partitions too, which is another way they can be a part of your office layout and be functional at the same time. Ensuring your planters are fabricated out of FSC (Forest Certified Timber) timber further supports the requirements of BREEAM and is a big tick for the environment too.

A Cubex Contracts we can supply planters in a variety of colour finishes and sizes to suit your environment.

If you would like to improve the air quality in your workplace by introducing plants in planters that don’t waste precious office space contact us today on 01933 460422 to chat about your requirements.

*Read more about this study here: https://workinmind.org/2018/12/05/study-reveals-c02-levels-in-offices-are-silently-damaging-uk-productivity/

The post How can you improve Air Quality in the Workplace? appeared first on Cubex Contracts.

Once you’ve decided that a new mezzanine installation is the right solution for your business, you’re going to need a reliable, trusty team of workplace design and fit out experts to do the job for you – and luckily for you, Cubex Contracts can do just that!

Mezzanine floors offer ideal extra space for boardrooms, kitchens and washrooms, additional office space, production or storage. From single story mezzanines to multi-tiered installations, we will design, plan and install the entire solution, including all those nitty gritty bits like building regulation, fire exits and protected corridors too.

So what do we need to consider?
Good question!  At Cubex Contracts we firmly believe that when it comes to mezzanine floor designing, it’s most definitely not a ‘one size fits all’ job.  We look at two very important factors to ensure your bespoke mezzanine meets your specific needs:

1. How can a new mezzanine installation accommodate our client’s usage requirements?
2. How will a bespoke mezzanine floor work best within the existing infrastructure of our client’s premises?

Designing and building a mezzanine floor is essentially about re-configuring existing space and optimising it to better accommodate the needs of your growing business – what’s the point in having more space if either you don’t really need it or you don’t know how best to optimise if effectively?  That’s why at Cubex Contracts we pride ourselves on understanding our clients’ businesses from the inside out, from the day-to-day responsibilities to specific operational tasks that, together, contribute to the overall success of their company.  In doing so, this helps us to understand how much additional space you actually need (how big does your mezzanine need to be?), how you can optimise that new space effectively (what will you use your new mezzanine for eg office, industrial or storage purposes?), how you can increase productivity among your staff with an increase in space and, ultimately, how a new mezzanine floor installation can support your business (we want this to be a worthwhile investment just as much as you do).  In addition, we’ll also consider:

• What is the weight bearing requirement of the floor?
• How is the mezzanine floor going to be accessed, how frequently and by whom?
• What is the area underneath the mezzanine going to be used for and are there any special considerations for this (eg lighting or heavy machinery)?
• Is the mezzanine going to require partitioning or handrails to protect workers, machinery or products from falling from open edges?
• Does the floor require any other access points (eg pallet gates)?

Now we don’t mean to brag, but throughout the 25 years Cubex Contracts has been in business, we’ve installed hundreds of mezzanine floors and we can assure you that no two mezzanines are the same!  Every mezzanine installation is unique, totally bespoke to fit and function within every individual client’s building, and for a mezzanine to successfully support your operations, we look at the following factors surrounding a premises, ensuring the design adheres to building regulations:

• What is the load bearing of the slab that the mezzanine floor will rest on (slab bearing samples can be arranged if necessary)?
• Do we need to erect the new mezzanine against an existing mezzanine or first floor level that’s in situ?
• What is the building’s current ceiling height (we require 5 metres of clear headroom in order to install a mezzanine in line with current building regs)?
• Where are the nearest fire exits and what are the travel distances from the furthest point of the new floor to the nearest protected route (this will impact the placing and numbers of staircases that the new floor will require)?
• Is there adequate existing smoke detection and emergency lighting in place?

The turnkey solution you’ve been looking for
From survey through to design, planning and building regulations, full installation, project management and handover, Cubex will be your new business partner as we manage the entire process from start to finish, meaning you can carry on running your business… isn’t that a weight off your mind?

Our mezzanine floor designer will carry out a survey before submitting a proposal incorporating the essential features and all elements of building regulations such as fire protection, disabled access and means of escape – we’ll also include a disruption audit as part of our proposals to ensure your business experiences minimum downtime during installation.

All industrial mezzanine structures are manufactured off-site, cutting down build time and therefore overall disruption onsite.  A typical project can be completed within 5-6 weeks of order.

Changing the use of an existing mezzanine
At Cubex we know that when you invest in a mezzanine floor, you want it to last, that’s why as your business (and the world around us!) expands and changes, we want our investments to do the same.  Thankfully mezzanine floors are incredibly versatile as you can change the use of your existing mezzanine to accommodate changing demands; the ability to expand your workspace will create many new opportunities without the unnecessary expense of relocating to a different premises.

We look to understand every motivation that drives each decision you make, from privacy to security and space to collaboration, it’s our job to recognise your current requirements whilst keeping an eye on any future expansion or developments too.  Whether you’re looking to install a brand new mezzanine floor, change the use of your existing mezz or perhaps you’re only looking for some advice on how to make space for your business to grow, Cubex Contract are here to help.

Give us a call on 01933 460422 or email us to get your mezzanine project started; we’ll visit your premises and survey the area before drawing up a bespoke design, helping you to see the potential of one of your most expensive assets…. your premises!

The post What factors are important when designing for a Mezzanine Floor project? appeared first on Cubex Contracts.

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that our ways of working and business demands can change in an instant – and change again.  Whether you’re looking to reduce the size of your existing mezzanine due to a change in workplace demand or perhaps you need to increase its size for additional storage or production areas, Cubex can deliver the solution.

What do we need to consider?
When it comes to installing a new mezzanine floor, we look at two very important factors to ensure your bespoke mezzanine meets your specific needs:

1. How can a new mezzanine installation accommodate our client’s usage requirements?
2. How will a bespoke mezzanine floor work best within the existing infrastructure of our client’s premises?

And when it comes to changing the use of an existing mezzanine, we look at two very similar factors:

1. What is the new purpose of the mezzanine floor going to be?
2. What is required to ensure the new design of the mezzanine continues to adhere to building regulations?

The Purpose
Similarly to installing a new mezzanine floor, it’s important to understand exactly what your new space will be used for when changing the use of an existing mezz.   We often see clients wanting to expand their storage space to house additional stock, increase their production areas to accommodate growing business demand or create new office spaces and meeting areas to support additional business operations; we partner with our clients to transform their workplace and when change comes knocking again, we’ll be there!

Building Regulations
Although building regulations have not changed significantly within the last few years, they are still a key element to consider as part of a workplace refurb.  Time and time again we partner with new clients whose existing mezzanine structures lack specific design calculations and/or drawings.  In these situations, it’s not uncommon for there to be an absence of approval for building regulations and other key safety features.  And this needs rectifying… pronto!

When installing a new mezzanine, building regulation approval is required in all cases.  If however you are changing the use of an existing mezzanine, depending upon the overall scope of works, it is likely your project will require building regulation approval, but that’s not to say that it definitely will.

Don’t worry, Cubex Contracts will advise you accordingly to remove any confusion.  In the meantime, as a general rule of thumb when changing the use of a mezzanine floor, you must have building regulation approval if:

• the means of escape in the event of a fire or other hazardous occasion for both the people on the floor and those under it are affected
• there are changes to the structure of the building
• your refurbishment makes any changes to the number of toilet facilities, insulation or compartmentation of the building

If building regs are not adhered to then there is the potential that should an incident occur, the lives of individuals could be at risk and as a business owner and/or landlord of the premises, you could be held culpable.  Also, your local council has the right to enforce the removal of the works previously undertaken in order to return the building back to its original structure (at your expense!), in addition to sending you a hefty fine.

This might sound like it could cause you a real headache, but there is no need to panic because Cubex are here to help!  Once appointed, we’ll administer the building regulation application on your behalf – what a result!

Don’t just take our word for it…
Cubex Contracts can help with all of the necessary adjustments and fit-out that converting a mezzanine may require, including the initial design concept right through to the finishing touches.   Here’s what one of our customers had to say after they partnered with Cubex:

“Many thanks to Cubex Contracts for your help with making some alterations to our existing mezzanine floor – we now have a larger mezzanine area with the addition of a meeting room and additional office space that has been fitted out to match our existing offices.  The project was completed in a week and was installed in a quick and efficient manner.  From my first contact with Cubex, every member of their team was professional and helpful, making the overall project an easy and stress-free experience. The result is that we now have greater room to house personnel as well as a central meeting space for our other regional offices.”

Andy Johnstone
Northern Commercials (Depot Manager Northampton)

Helping your vision become reality
Perhaps you are unsure about the process of changing the use of your mezz and are just looking for some advice this stage, or maybe you want a site survey and design proposal putting together to help your vision come to life, here at Cubex Contracts we love creating space for businesses to grow, helping clients realise the best possible potential from one of their most expensive assets… their premises!  And converting an existing mezzanine floor is a really easy way to realise those possibilities.

If you need the space for additional offices or meeting rooms, we can change the use of an existing mezzanine, just like we did here for an existing client:

From the need to the solution, we’re in it for the duration, and if we’ve learned one thing over the last 25 years it’s that our clients have a problem to solve:

• More space
• Less space
• Reconfiguration
• Adaptation

The triggers vary, but our clients generally have the same things in common:

• They’re not planners, designers, builders, installers or project managers.
• Timescales are often tight and disruption needs to be kept to a minimum.
• They know what result they want, but don’t know how to achieve it.
• Results are often intangible (better staff collaboration, better use of space, happier workplace).

If you’d like to discuss how changing the use of your mezzanine floor could benefit your business, get in touch with Cubex Contracts today.  You can call us on 01933 460422 or just click here to email us.

The post Changing the Use of a Mezzanine Floor appeared first on Cubex Contracts.

The poll went on to reveal that after the number one reason for a negative impression, 20.5% said lack of natural light, 19.1% referenced dated decor, 24.9% poorly dressed staff and 1.6% said all of the above/bad people skills.

Whether you are looking to attract top talent or new customers or keeping your existing staff happy, these stats suggest that if your business fails in these areas then they could be costing you business.

Did you know it only takes 1/10 of a second to make a first impression? How can you make sure that the first impression is a positive one?

Cubex Contracts can help

Luckily for you we have a host of options to help combat most of these challenges.

Tackling cluttered workspaces – fixing this problem is easier than you might think. Starting with new furniture and accessories to create a modern new space for your staff, to a complete redesign of the office to make it flow better and improve communication, or even adding a mezzanine to give your people more space to work better and more efficiently – we’ve got the answer.

Letting the natural light in – sometimes ensuring your staff have workspaces with natural light can be hard especially if they spend a lot of time in areas of the building where windows are few and far between. But with innovative products at our disposal we can suggest solutions from glass in your partitioning to installing solar tube lights which channel the natural light from the roof to places that need them. Both options are affordable and can easily be integrated into a bigger re-design project or a one-off requirement. If there is no natural light available at all – we can advise you on some of the most up to date and energy-efficient lighting options.

Bringing the decor up to date – you may not have noticed just how old your office space is looking but you can bet your customers and staff have. With a priority on “being on brand” we have a range of solutions to design spacious and flexible spaces including all the latest technology, furniture and designer materials. From manifestations on glass, brand colour co-ordinated chairs, sit and stand desks and much more – we can make your office look brand new.

And if you are in the type of industry where employing talent between 25-34yrs old is key to keeping your business ahead of the competition then this is well worth the investment – as this age group said in the poll that dated decor was the second biggest turn off in a business.

While we can’t help with a fashion makeover for your staff or improve their bad people skills we can definitely get your business looking, well – the business! Contact us today to ask for our help to re-design your workspace and make your customers and staff smile again. If your office is costing you business, give us a call on 01933 460422.

We’d like to thank Ignition Search for sharing their poll results with us and if you’d like to read the original article go to https://www.cmd-ltd.com/advice-centre/cmd-office-say-company/ for more ideas on keeping your workspaces tidy.

The post Is your office letting your business down? appeared first on Cubex Contracts.

As a general rule of thumb, the following weight loadings are recommended:

• 3.5kN/m2 – office use
• 4.8kN/m2 – light storage
• 7.2kN/m2 – medium storage
• 9.6kN/m2 – heavy storage

The minimum mezzanine loading specified by building regulations is 3.5kN/m2 uniformly distributed which allows for office space and personnel. Perhaps you want a mezzanine floor installed in your workplace to host team meetings or to provide your staff with a communal area away from the noise of the shop floor – in this case your mezzanine would require a weight loading of 3.5kN/m2.

It may be that you intend to use your new mezzanine for storage purposes or to carry out material handling, in which case you would need to raise the loading specification to 4.8 – 7.2kN/m2.

Or let’s say you are responsible for the day-to-day running of a busy industrial warehouse and are looking at installing a new mezzanine level to increase operational space – you’ll need something much stronger particularly if you’ll be operating heavy machinery on the new level too.  In this case, a loading specification of 9.6kN/m2 or more may be required depending upon the weight and size of your machinery.

Thankfully though, when you partner with Cubex Contracts you don’t have to worry about the technicalities… that’s our job!  We’ll work with you to understand your requirements for a single or multi-tier mezzanine and ensure it is delivered in your workspace to the highest quality.

What does kilonewton per square metre actually mean?
Let’s take light storage as an example:

The load bearing recommendation for light storage is 4.8kN/m2, meaning the floor can hold a fully dispersed load of 480kg per square metre.  If you wanted to store a piece of equipment on your mezzanine floor that weighed 2500kg with a base plate 2m x 2m (making an area of 4m2) then you’d need a mezzanine capable of holding 6.25kN/m2, so a 7.2kN/m2 mezzanine would be suitable.  

Planning for the future
After your new mezzanine is installed you will be advised to carry out inspections every 24 months.  Why?  Well, if the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that our ways of working and business demands can soon change – and change again.  Although you might not think it now, you may find yourself considering changing the use of your mezzanine floor in order to better suit business demands in the future. Let’s say your current mezzanine is currently used for office space and personnel only, but you want to expand the overall size of the mezzanine so that you don’t lose any of that precious office space, but you have additional areas for product storage.  In this instance, you would need to increase the load bearing requirements of your mezzanine from 3.5kN/m2 up to 4.8 – 7.2kN/m2.  As it’s not viable to upgrade a mezzanine once installed, many people choose to future-proof their installation by having a 4.8kN/m2 even if they first only intend to use it for office space.

As a business owner or manager, you have a responsibility to ensure the usage of your mezzanine and corresponding load bearing capacity remains in accordance with the intent of the initial design. If the use changes, then you will need to review the strength of your mezzanine to ultimately protect you, your business and your valued members of staff … safety first, remember!

Cubex Recommendations
At Cubex Contracts we normally advise customers who are considering installing a new mezzanine floor for office purposes to go for a loading requirement of 4.8kN/m2 (light storage) as it provides them with greater flexibility on what to use the floor for in the future – like we said before, business demands can soon change!  But not only that, if you’ve got a new, growing business on your hands then you’ll be wanting to plan ahead whilst keeping a close eye on costs and, thinking ahead in terms of weight loading requirements for your mezzanine will support that (it is far more complex and expensive to try and retrospectively strengthen a floor later down the line).

What’s so great about mezzanines?
Many commercial buildings are designed with a headroom height of 6 metres or more and, apart from being expensive in terms of heating and cooling, this unproductive space can be used to erect a mezzanine floor to create a useful space with a variety of uses including:

• meeting rooms
• breakout areas
• kitchens
• washrooms
• additional offices
• storage areas
• work areas for heavy equipment/machinery eg chemical tanks, industrial pumps, sorting machines and conveyor systems

By installing a single or multi-tier mezzanine you can significantly increase your storage or production space without the fuss (or hefty cost!) of moving premises.  What’s more, at Cubex we also install lifts to access additional levels, meaning you can virtually double (if not triple!) your workspace – yes, we really have thought of everything!

Mezzanine floors have always been a great way to create additional space as with more space, comes as increase in productivity.  Take a look at a recent project of ours where we helped our client to become one of the biggest parts distributors in the UK with a two tier mezzanine!

The Nitty Gritty
In all cases, a new mezzanine will require building regulation approval but, once appointed, Cubex will administer the application on your behalf.

Plus, you can rest assured that Cubex take health and safety very seriously – in fact, we are proud of our site safety record and are accredited with SafeContractor, SMAS and CHAS, so both new and existing clients can feel confident that they’re in good hands when they partner with us.

If your workspace needs are changing and you’d like to discuss how a mezzanine floor may work for your business or if you are unsure about the correct load bearing for your mezzanine, get in touch with Cubex Contracts today and our creative design team will find the right solution for you.  Give us a call on 01933 460422 or click here to email us – we’re always happy to offer advice and guidance.

The post How to calculate how much weight a Mezzanine Floor can safely hold? appeared first on Cubex Contracts.

A recent survey reported that 72%* of people working from home said that the sofa was their seating of choice during lockdown. You might be thinking how cosy that sounds, and yes it probably is – but if you are sitting “working” for many hours during the day, what you really need is something supportive and that’s where the humble office chair comes in.

Advice for employers

Due to the current situation, employers need to consider whether their employees will be required to continue working from home for a much longer period than initially thought. If that is the case they should carry out a remote ‘working from home’ assessment to determine if their employees have a set up which is suitable for the amount of hours they are carrying out their day-to-day work. This would include a risk assessment looking at where they are planning to work and if that space has everything they will need to do so safely, and by safely we also mean from a physical health perspective too.

It is the employer’s responsibility as a result of this assessment to:

1. suggest improvements (if any) to their current set up
2. discuss with them how you can help provide the necessary equipment/furniture they need to carry out their work safely (especially if they have nothing suitable they can use already)
3. provide a quick and easy method they can request what they need from you (ie. email them a request form document)

When you have agreed to their requirements you can supply what they need to do their work safely and without further risk to their health. In the absence of proper furniture, especially an adjustable office chair, your employees are more likely to put added strain on their bodies which will lead to aches, pains and possible injury in the long term.

If an employer does not believe their employee(s) will need to work from home for too much longer they should, if they have not done so already, provide their workers with advice on completing their own basic assessment at home. As an employer it is also up to you to stay in touch with your employee(s) and have regular discussions to assess if additional steps or support is needed.

The HSE website has some very useful information and links to a workstation checklist you can send to your employees.

Advice for employees

Although it might be tempting to work from the sofa or stay snuggled in bed – neither of those options are good for your physical health.

If they haven’t been in touch with you already, contact your employer (probably a department head or HR person) and ask for a remote “working from home “ assessment to be carried out because you are concerned your home working set up is not adequate for the hours you will be sitting. They will help you get set up at home in the space you have available, and in many cases all you may need is an adjustable office chair.

An adjustable office chair, as its name suggests, can be adjusted in many ways to fit your needs – including height control and back position, and some even offer extra lumbar support, head rest options and adjustable arms.

How can Cubex help?

We can advise and supply you with a range of options when it comes to kitting out a home working space. From different size and shaped desks to a fantastic choice of adjustable office chairs – we have options to suit every budget.

Please get in touch with us on 01933 460422 or email us to discuss your needs.

PS If you are an employee send this blog post to your employer!

* Survey carried out by Physiotherapy provider Ascenti, 2,000 people took part in the survey.

The post Working from home – Sofa Vs. Office Chair? appeared first on Cubex Contracts.

A mezzanine floor is an additional level of flooring installed within a building which covers part or all of the main floor, creating valuable additional space without incurring the large costs of relocating or extending your business premises.  Throughout our 25+ years in business, we’ve been asked to install mezzanines in some funny old places for all manner of uses and, at Cubex Contracts, we are always happy to oblige!  From petting zoos, access platforms and walkways, to housing theatrical props and scenery, we pride ourselves on devising practical and functional solutions to meet our customers’ requirements (and we make it look good too!).

So what exactly could you use your mezzanine for?  And what could you store on it?  Is there a weight restriction?  Or a height restriction?  These are all very good questions!  If you’re considering a mezzanine floor installation for your workspace, you’ll be pleased you came to Cubex Contracts!  We’ve covered all of the important things business owners need to know about mezzanines right here, so read on to learn how you can make space for your business to grow:

Uses of a mezzanine floor
If you’re running out of floor space, just look up!  The most popular uses for a mezzanine floor are storage or offices – built within the existing structure of the building, mezzanines are a great place to store material that requires easy access, making them the perfect solution if you’re looking at enhancing the efficiency of deliveries!  That said, we have also been asked to build a Formula 3 racing simulator room on top of one mezz, as well as installing two mezzanines into a gym in Cambridge, one of which is used to host spin classes and store the equipment in between sessions!  From retail to distribution, commercial offices to open warehouses – and probably every business sector in between – a mezzanine floor installation can work for your business and virtually double your existing floorspace.

Manufacturing: Avoid the need to cram packaging and storage onto one level and instead streamline your operations to manufacture products safely and efficiently across different floors (with a separate office area to manage the logistics too).

Distribution: With the popularity of online shopping forever on the rise, distribution industries can increase their operational workspace with a new mezzanine, enabling them to take in more products and, in turn, boost profits.

Offices: There’s nothing worse than working in a cramped and crowded office and it will no doubt restrict the productivity and satisfaction of your employees too.  By installing a mezzanine floor, you can instantly inject a contemporary, open plan feel into your office and give your team the space they need to work at the optimum level.

Retail: It’s not just the productivity of back-office teams that can improve with a mezzanine floor, customer facing industries including DIY and furniture stores or homeware and car showrooms can reap the rewards too.  Within retail outlets, a mezzanine floor offers a private space for customers to browse products and then liaise with the sales team members away from the shop floor helping to increase profits.

What can be stored on a mezzanine floor?
By installing a single or multi-tier mezzanine, you now know you can significantly increase your workspace no matter what sector of business you are in.  Here is a list of just some of the uses a mezzanine floor can have within your workspace (they’re incredibly versatile which is why we love ‘em so much!):

• Meeting rooms
• Office space
• Communal areas (breakout rooms, staff rooms, kitchens etc)
• Washrooms
• Storage areas
• Production and assembly space
• Additional shelving/increased racking lengths/block stacking
• Working areas for heavy equipment/machinery eg chemical tanks, industrial pumps, sorting machines and conveyor systems

Weight and height restrictions of a mezzanine floor – what to consider:
Many commercial buildings are designed with a headroom height of 6 metres or more and, apart from being expensive in terms of heating and cooling, this unproductive space can be used to erect a mezzanine floor to create more space for your business to grow.  You can install a mezzanine floor in any office or industrial building providing the ceilings are high enough to allow you to utilise the space above you (ideally the headroom height for each floor should be a minimum of 2300mm).

The weight load of a mezzanine floor is worked out on a kilonewton per square metre basis (kN/m2), and the weight loading of any mezzanine floor will depend entirely on the use of the mezzanine – we’ve explained more about that here.  For guidance, the following weight loadings are recommended:

• Office use and personnel: 3.5kN/m2
• Light storage: 4.8kN/m2
• Medium storage: 7.2kN/m2
• Heavy storage: 9.6kN/m2

Mezzanines are installed to maximise unused vertical space, providing additional room above and below, and they can be built free of existing structures to address the most common space issues.  The addition of a mezzanine can improve communication, production, supply chain management and productivity, plus a mezzanine floor is a rent-free space because it’s not part of the structure of the building and therefore the cost per square metre is significantly reduced… billy bonus!

Whether you’re on the hunt to maximise space for additional office space, production zones or perhaps you too are looking for a viable solution to utilise every inch of your petting zoo (and can we just add that we love the idea of sitting on top of one of our mezzanines petting a rabbit or a guinea pig!), Cubex Contracts can help!

Typically speaking, no formal planning permission is required to install a mezzanine floor.  And when it comes to installation, we won’t keep you waiting (we have previously installed a single mezzanine in just one day so you’ll be back to work in no time)!

We don’t mind what you want to use your mezzanine floor for, we’ll simply work hard to design and install the right solution for you and your business to make the most of the space above your head.  Give us a call today on 01933 460422 or click here to email us and let’s get your workplace refurb started! 

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