Elevated Platform Deck Cost Comparison Study

The report, "Work Platform Deck Cost Comparison Study," was prepared by Matt Rescorla of Rescorla Engineering, a registered professional engineer and 30-year veteran of the material handling industry whose primary design focus is on elevated equipment platforms, mezzanines and related structures.

Evaluation of Mezzanine Floor Cost of Construction

In his evaluation, Rescorla compared the costs associated with the construction of three hypothetical elevated work platforms measuring 225 x 225 feet and utilizing different flooring surfaces and framing shapes:

• ResinDek panels over metal deck with cold-formed, c-channel framing
• Concrete over metal deck with cold-formed, c-channel framing
• Concrete over metal deck with hot-rolled, wide-flange framing

These elevated equipment platforms were designed for a live load of 125 pounds per square foot and the appropriate dead and seismic loads for each platform. Both concrete deck options specified a 3-inch concrete thickness above the 1.5-inch corrugated deck ribs. The c-channel framing design options sought to maximize the most efficient joist spacing and member gauge; the wide-flange framing option sought to maximize joist spacing by utilizing the maximum deck capacity. All three options are typically considered when comparing the potential designs for an elevated work platform.

Based on both the design calculations and the industry standards for live load deflection limits, Rescorla created three models using commercially available structural analysis software. He then obtained three estimates for the concrete work and averaged the costs.

The Calculations For Concrete Flooring Costs Compared to ReskinDek Included:

• Interior footings (material and installation)
• Columns, joists and metal floor deck (material)
• Columns, joists, and metal floor deck (installation)
• ResinDek or Concrete (material and installation)
• Total freight to site for all material

RESINDEK FLOORING FOR YOUR ELEVATED PLATFORM IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN CONCRETE FLOORING

Based on the calculations, Rescorla concluded that constructing an elevated equipment platform with ResinDek composite engineered floorings panels was more cost effective than either of the concrete flooring options.

Overall cost of concrete decking per square foot (excluding freight) was 31% and 34% higher for the two concrete options, respectively. In the report Rescorla noted that, on a percentage basis, the largest contributor to this gap is the cost of the concrete with installation. Based on the installed mezzanine floor cost, he wrote, using concrete as the elevated work platform flooring surface is 77% higher than the cost of ResinDek panels.