Tag: Millennium SI (page 9 of 18)

Benefits of glass office partitioning

Choose glass office partitions to enjoy the visual appeal of a bright and spacious open plan design, whilst simultaneously sectioning off and dividing your space for maximum productivity.

More and more businesses are now choosing to update their office design with functional and attractive glass partitioning. Here are just five of the key benefits of glass office partitions.

Aesthetically pleasing

Switching from traditional partitioning to glass partitioning can completely makeover an office to give it a swish, new, contemporary feel. Glass partitioning looks modern and attractive, creating a great first impression and boosting employee wellbeing and productivity.

Free-flowing light

One major benefit of glass partitioning is that it allows natural light to flow freely through the office. Natural light is extremely important to our health and wellbeing, and healthy employees are happy and motivated employees. Letting in lots of natural light also reduces the need for artificial lights, reducing your business’ electricity bill.

Divided but not alone

Glass partitioning is used to create clearly defined areas and workspaces in your office without isolating people. Employees can benefit from their own individual workspaces whilst also enjoying a clear view of the office, preventing them from feeling segregated.

Reduce noise

Whilst employees can still see each other, glass partitions make it more difficult to partake in idle chitchat, helping to improve concentration and productivity. They also offer effective sound insulation, providing employees with a peaceful and relaxing work environment.

The illusion of more space

Solid partitions can sometimes feel claustrophobic, particularly in an office that is already very small. Using glass partitions allows you to create clear sections and spaces within your office without making it feel enclosed or cramped.

For more information about glass office partitioning, get in touch with our team of experts here at Millennium Storage and Interiors by giving us a call on 01942 603344.

Office design features that increase productivity

May 20, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

Could your office design be holding your employees back from reaching their full potential?

The design of your office workspace could be having more of an impact on employee performance than you realise. Creating an inspiring work environment that assists productivity and looks after employee health and wellbeing is key to boosting productivity.

Does your office incorporate these five design features that are key to productivity?

Natural light – Not getting enough natural light can take its toll on the health and wellbeing of your employees. Working in an environment with poor levels of natural light can disrupt sleep, increase the risk of mental health problems, and cause health problems related to vitamin D deficiency. Fill your office with natural light and sunshine to keep employees feeling bright-eyed and healthy as well as boosting moods and productivity.

Ergonomics – No one can perform to the best of their ability if they’re not comfortable at work. Taking the time to ensure that the ergonomics of your employee’s desk spaces are correct is essential to the health, wellbeing, and productivity of your workforce.

Partitions – Office partitioninggives individuals their own private workspace, minimising distractions and aiding concentration. Partitions encourage a quieter and more relaxing work environment, reducing stress and encouraging productivity.

Social spaces – Whilst partitioned workspaces are excellent for staying focussed on individual tasks, it can be beneficial to also include social spaces in your office design. Social break out spaces are useful for employees working on collaborative tasks. Employees are more productive when they can take short mental breaks away from their desks between tasks to recharge. Social spaces provide a change of scenery and the opportunity to gain a new perspective.

Add plants – Spending time in nature is said to be good for our wellbeing, making us feel more connected and relaxed. Most of us spend our working hours shut away in offices, so it makes sense that if we can’t be outside, we should bring a little of the great outdoors indoors instead. Bringing houseplants into the office will help to clean and oxygenate the air to improve employee wellbeing and boost productivity. In fact, a study has found that employees are 15% more productivewhen plants are added to the office.

Ready to find out more about our market-leading office partitioning solutions? Give our team of experts a call on 01942 603 344 to discuss your requirements.

Affordable ideas for modernising an outdated office

May 7, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

If your office has become drab and you can’t afford a full refurb, use the ideas in this blog to transform it back into a motivating space.

Your office should be a pleasant and relaxing space that inspires creativity and motivates employees. A rundown or drab office could be having more of a negative impact on morale and staff performance than you realise.

If you’re not ready to invest in a full refurb, implementing just a few of these ideas can help to bring your office back to life.

Add art and plants– Ditch the tired, old, cheesy corporate posters and invest in some bold artwork for your walls. Choose art that is personal to your business or that reflects the atmosphere you’re trying to create. Art doesn’t have to be expensive; you can pick up some great prints at affordable prices on Etsy. If you’ve got a creative team of employees, you could even make your own art as a team building exercise!

Office partitioning– Office partitioningcomes in all different shapes and sizes and is an excellent solution for revamping your office’s layout and design affordably and with minimal disruption. Glass office partitioning is particularly popular as it doesn’t block any light and has an attractive, contemporary appearance.

Add a pop of colour– Adding a few splashes of colour to a characterless office can make the world of difference to its appearance. Add a colourful rug, paint a feature wall, update the blinds on your windows, or invest in some new colourful office furniture to create a more exciting, vibrant and motivating work space.

Be creative with storage– A tidy and organised office can help employees to work more efficiently, feel more relaxed, and be more productive. Invest in some modern storage units and clear the clutter to make your office cleaner, tidier and more attractive.

Light– Natural light keeps us feeling happy, healthy and motivated. Try rearranging the furniture in your office to let more light in. If you are using solid partitioning walls, updating to glass partitions can make a dramatic difference to the light and atmosphere in your office.

Racking safety checklist

April 20, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

Use this handy racking safety checklist to check your racking’s condition and ensure that it is being used safely.

It’s important to have your warehouse’s racking inspected by a professional on a regular basis to ensure that it has not become damaged and still meets all building and safety regulations.

Whilst professional racking inspections are important, it’s just as important to keep up with your own regular checks to make sure that employees are always working in a safe environment.

Familiarise yourself with the different parts of your racking and then use this handy checklist to perform regular safety checks.

Racking use

Your racking will have been designed, built, and positioned according to safety regulations and with its original purpose in mind. It should not be used for a different purpose unless this has been cleared with an expert.

Is the racking being used as it was intended?

Is it in the correct location?

Check for damage

Racking can easily become damaged over time, particularly in warehouses where machinery like forklift trucks are used. Inspect the different parts of the racking for signs of damage like dents, rust, and missing or loose parts.

Parts to inspect include:

Beams
Posts
Base plates
Frame bracing
Beam safety locks
Column guards

Debris

Your racking and the area surrounding it should always be kept clean and tidy to prevent accidents and avoid it becoming damaged. Empty packaging should be removed and disposed of immediately and not left on or around the racking.

Is the racking and the area surrounding it free from rubbish and debris?

Maximum load

Your racking will have a maximum load limit that should always be adhered to. Make sure that all employees are aware of what this limit is and check that it is being adhered to.

Is maximum load limit being adhered to?

Is there anything extra leaning up against the racking?

To book a professionalrack safety inspectionfrom one of our qualified personnel, give us a call on 01942 603 344 or email info@millennium-si.co.uk.

Mezzanine design safety requirements

April 10, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

The two most important considerations when designing a mezzanine floor are that the structure is fit for purpose and safe.

Mezzanine floors are an ideal solution for conveniently and affordably increasing the size of your business premises.

No matter how big or how small your new mezzanine floor is going to be, it will need to be designed by an expert who can ensure that it complies with all relevant building and safety regulations.

A few of the key safety requirements of a mezzanine floor are:

Guard rail– To comply with building regulations, all mezzanines must have toe boards and hand rails to provide users with protection from falling. Guard rails protect people from slipping, tripping or falling over the edge of a mezzanine floor. You will also need to ensure that the rail is installed at the right height and can withstand a certain amount of force, our team of designers will help you to ensure that your guard rail meets all relevant safety requirements.

Safety gate– Areas with stairs or access for pallets should always be guarded by a safety gate to reduce the risk of anyone falling from the mezzanine floor. Safety regulations should ensure that gates are always in operation when employees are loading or unloading pallets from a forklift or other machinery.

Stability and maximum load limit– Your mezzanine floor will need to be designed according to building regulations to ensure that it can safely hold the weight it is intended to. Your mezzanine must be a safe and stable structure that will stand steadfast even in the event of ground movement or severe weather.

Access and fire safety– Your new mezzanine will need to be carefully designed with fire safety regulations in mind. These specifications will vary depending on the size of your building, number of employees, and size of the mezzanine.

Contact our team of experts here at Millennium Storage and Interiors by calling us on 01942 603 344 to discuss a mezzanine design for your business premises.

Planning permission and building regulations for commercial mezzanines

March 20, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

Before having a commercial mezzanine installed, it’s important to gain all relevant approval required.

Commercial mezzanine floorsare typically raised, demountable platforms, commonly used by businesses to cost-effectively gain more space within their premises.

Having a mezzanine installed before it has been approved is risky business, as it could end up requiring changes to make it compliant with the relevant regulations.

Does a mezzanine require planning permission?

Providing that your mezzanine floor is a mobile structure and that no external changes are required to install it, then you won’t require planning permission.

You are, however, likely to require building regulation approval.

Building regulation approval for mezzanine floors

Nearly all new mezzanine floors require building regulation approval to ensure that they are safe, meet quality standards, and are compliant with safety regulations.

Mezzanine floors are required by law to be compliant with the following statutory requirements:

Building Regulations 2000 (England and Wales).
Structure: Approved Document A.
Fire Safety: Approved Document B.
Stairs, ramps and guards: Approved Document K.
Means of access for disabled: Approved Document M.

When you apply for building regulation approval, your local authority or approved inspector will look at the detailed plans for your new mezzanine and information about the existing building, to ensure that the new structure will be safe and complies with access and fire regulations.

At Millennium Storage and Interiors, we have 20 years’ experience in designing and installing mezzanine floors. We will be happy to provide you with everything you require to gain building regulation approval.

Mezzanine safety tips

March 7, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

Keep employees safe at work by implementing these four simple mezzanine safety tips.

Installing a mezzanine floorin your warehouse is a smart way of affordably gaining more floorspace.

Once you’ve had your mezzanine installed, it’s important to train employees in the safety rules and regulations surrounding how to use your new space safely.

As well as initial training, processes should be put in place to ensure that mezzanine safety is maintained ongoing.

Here are our top 4 tips for using your mezzanine safely.

Review your safety policy

After your mezzanine has been installed, don’t forget to review all existing health and safety policies and update them accordingly. Safety regulations surrounding your mezzanine should adhere to OSHA, be easy for employees to access, and actively communicated and implemented.

Keep it free of clutter and debris

Staff should take extra care to keep the mezzanine floor and staircase clean and free of clutter and debris. Workplace slips, trips and falls could often have been prevented if an area had been kept tidy and free of obstruction.

Designate a safety officer

All employees should be trained in mezzanine safety as part of their onboarding process. Having said that, it can also be useful to assign one or more people the role of ‘safety officer’, making it their responsibility to know the safety regulations inside out and ensure they are being adhered to.

Do not exceed load limits

Your mezzanine will have a maximum load limit which should always be adhered to. Make sure the maximum weight limit and person capacity are clearly visible and there are processes in place to ensure that they are never exceeded.

For more help and advice about how to use your new mezzanine safely, give our friendly team a call on 01942 603 344.

How To Increase Your Warehouse Capacity Ready For Brexit

February 18, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

If you’re a business owner relying on imports and exports for your business to function, Brexit is most likely going to be an unwelcome distraction this year. Uncertainty over supplies is going to be the biggest problem, therefore stockpiling is going to be the best answer to getting through the uncertainty in March.

Carrying more stock, however, means freeing up more storage space and doing that can mean taking a fresh look at how you use your warehouse space and where possible reconfiguring it. Reconfiguring your warehouse space is likely to be far more cost effective than moving to a different warehouse and it saves the time involved in moving everything.

To begin with it’s a good idea to do an inventory of the stock you already have. You will need to factor in any likely increases in stock levels and how much demand there is likely to be.

Next take a close look at your current storage methods – you may find that pallet racking needs to be replaced so that it makes better use of the space available. If the space between racking is overly generous then you could add considerably more storage capacity and still provide enough space for your forklifts and pickers.

If you are taking on extra stock, then it will be important to make sure that you can easily access stock that will be in higher demand in the coming months. This means distances to the exits should be shorter than for products you are storing long term.

How To Create A Breakout Space

February 8, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

If your office doesn’t have a breakout space and you have thee space to create one, then you and your employees will be missing out on all the benefits they can bring. Here’s some guidance on how to create the ideal breakout space in your office.

A breakout space may have a name that suggests something new and exciting but really, it’s simply an area where employees and visitors can sit and relax in an informal space. The breakout area or break room to use the old-fashioned term is simply the modern evolution of an area that would have been a smoking room in factories and offices before it was banned.

Now the breakout room is a place for relaxation away from computer screens which the most people now work on in service industries. They can also be places to eat lunch, hold informal meetings and brainstorm.

Breakout rooms should be furnished with soft furnishings, comfy chairs and sofas and painted using colours that encourage relaxation. Ideally the area should be partitioned to separate it from the main office.

If you are looking for office refurbishment call us today to find out about the services we offer.

Office Partitioning Doesn’t Have To Be Boring

January 28, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

Lets face it most people outside of office fitters pay much attention to office partitions. They are those everyday features of the office that people take for granted even though they can be a vital part of an office layout.

If you have an office with partitions picture that office without them or replace those glass partitions with solid walls. You will probably end up with rooms that are either far too open in the case of the former or claustrophobic in the case of the latter.

Clearly office partitioning plays a critical part in the layout of offices that have it but office partitioning is far more than just a way to separate spaces. It can have an influence on anything from staff wellbeing to productivity and external perceptions of the business.

Partitions provide a cheap, alternative way to set the right balance between group working spaces, private areas and even spaces to relax in progressive offices.

Unlike solid walls, portioning can also provide flexibility. You can modify them and use different materials depending on your needs. For some offices having branding clearly visible is important and it’s easy to do this with partitioning. For others the priority might be create the illusion of open spaces, which is easy to achieve with glass office partitioning.