How to get warehouse mezzanine

approval in Dubai?
Dubai Approvals

May 4, 2019

Warehouses are required to abide by certain Building Regulations and Design Guidelines in order to
get a license approval for both establishment and for any subsequent Fit-out modifications done to it.
The approvals are demarcated between 2 jurisdictions. Warehouses located in Al Quoz, Dubai
Investment Parks and Ras Al Khor come under the jurisdiction of the “Dubai Municipality and Civil
Defense” whereas, the Jebel Ali Free Economic zone (JAFZA) are required to get a Trakhees license.
Let’s have a look at the general guidelines:

 The locations for warehouses are required to be chosen as special areas usually set
aside for industrial types of work. This is as per the Land Use and Classification and
Regulations in the Emirates.
 Unless considered otherwise by the authority, warehouses are required to provide
skylight openings of at least
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floor area in order to provide natural ventilation and lighting.
 The net internal height of any storage area such as a depot or a workshop must be
between 4 and 9 meters in height unless indicated otherwise by the authority.
 A maximum limit of
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the industrial area can be set aside to set up commercial activity. Outside of this area,
commercial activity or goods display for trading cannot be carried out.
 Provisions for canteen, pantry and changing rooms with lockers are required to be
provided for employees. People with disabilities maybe employed only when special
provisions for them are incorporated into the design of the space.
 Kitchens and related cooking activities are not allowed on site.
 Sanitary Provisions:
o Wash closets (WC) and Basins (WB) are required to be provided for male and
female staff at the rate of 1 per 25 staff. If the staff number exceeds 100 then
WC’s and WB’s are to be provided at the rate of 1 per 40 urinals.
o Toilet corridors need to have a minimum width of 1.2 meters with stall dimensions
of 0.9X 1.25 meters.
o Vending equipment, waste receptacles and dispensers need to be 1 meter above
the floor level with the waste receptacles embedded into the walls out of the way
of people.
o Common toilets for both sexes are prohibited and doors to male and female
washrooms are to be separated well. Self-closing doors to be provided wherever
possible.
  Parking provisions: 1 parking space per 50 square meters of office space to be
provided. For vehicles such as buses, parking space provided depends on the
operations carried out and number of workers. Parking provision for visitors is
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space provided for the staff.
 Construction of perimeter fencing must be on property an must not exceed 2.4 meters
in height.
 Minimum width of all warehouse doors is 3 meters.
 Mezzanine floor constraints: A mezzanine floor is simply an intermediate floor space
provided above the warehouse floor. Its function may pertain to the space below or
above it.
o 100{0eae52fa29939d8be95e5d87686dbae0f164db59518e7c8936993a7728ee1f
75} of the mezzanine floor can be used if for the purpose of car parking or as an
extension of the building’s usage purpose.
o Balconies or terraces are not permitted to be built on mezzanine floors and
second mezzanines are not permitted when the first one is being detached and
used independently.
o The internal height of ground floor has to be a minimum of 3 meters. With the
addition of a half mezzanine floor it has to be between 2.4 – 4 meters. Finally,
with the addition of a full mezzanine, the permitted internal height is between 2.6
– 3 meters.
o Mezzanine floors installed must be done so without disturbing the existing
warehouse structures.
 Fire safety provisions:
o Smoke detectors are required to be fitted in every partitioned area within the
building and tested by a EHS (Environment, Health and Safety home)-Approved
Fire contractor.
o Fire extinguishers of 9-pound water type and 5-pound capacity carbon dioxide
type must be provided at strategic locations on site.
o Sprinkler systems to be provided where there is storage of fire hazardous material
and sprinkler piping system is to be tested and approved by the concerned Fire
department.

Any Fit-out / Modifications that are made onto existing warehouse structures requires an inspection
by the Trakhees authorities to obtain a Fit-out/Modification completion certificate.