Tangmere Military Aviation Museum Mezzanine Project

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum have recently had a mezzanine floor fitted by Hampshire Mezzanine Floors in their main museum hall at Tangmere.

The museum contacted Hampshire Mezzanine Floors to see if it was possible to install a mezzanine floor storage platform for storing antiquities that were previously stored outside in external storage areas.

HMF came to site and did an evaluation of how a mezzanine floor could be sited within the museum located at the rear of the hall above a workshop.

HMF then prepared AutoCAD plans of the proposed storage platform and then had project meetings with the museum to refine the design.

The challenge was to fit the storage platform where required and to locate a staircase up onto the storage platform that would satisfy Building Control for means of escape.

Located around the storage platform was various types of aeroplane and museum exhibitions so the location was very tricky to accommodate and HMF came up with a cantilevered special design for the top landing of the mezzanine floor and then located a twin flight staircase with mid landing running down over exhibition areas that could then have exhibition information boards and exhibits located around the mid landing and below the top flight of the staircase.

HMF liaised with Building Control to get their blessing on a workable design which included a crane beam that was designed by HMF to be located below the mezzanine floor to enable a crane hoist and jib to lift heavy equipment in and out of the workshop.

HMF fitted the electrical and lighting installations including energy efficient LED batten lighting, emergency lighting and metal clad power points as part of the project

On the first floor mezzanine HMF fitted steel partitioning complete with a secure access door and mullion supports so the partitioning could be built around the perimeter of the mezzanine.

HMF designed a special fascia that then ran down to the existing perimeter wooden partition forming the workshop and then subsequently decorated to match in everything so it looked aesthetically pleasing.

On the first floor storage platform HMF fitted Dexion LS3 Longspan shelving and also Dexion Hi280 small parts adjustable bolt free shelving.

Within the shelving HMF provided Blue plastic drawer bins complete with adjustable dividers to enable a very large quantity of very small locations to be created in a small area that also had the shelves closed up directly above the bins thereby protecting the artifacts from dust and light.

The installation was complicated due to access of the steelwork into the building and HMF hired in a forklift truck and specialist access equipment to enable the mezzanine floor steelwork to be brought through the museum and then installed safely into position.

HMF provided a CDM safety plan identifying the work required and how this would be carried out safely and also provided risk and method statements as well as all the necessary certification once completed.

The installation was carried out on programme and within budget and is a valuable additional space now utilised by the museum.