Business · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026

Building offices inside a warehouse or industrial unit: a guide

Common approaches

Many businesses need offices, a canteen or a supervisor's room inside a warehouse or industrial unit. There are three main ways to create them, each with different costs and approval needs.

Modular in-building office systems are common in logistics, with insulated steel-faced panels that are durable and easy to clean. Ground-level partitioned offices are usually the simplest and cheapest, but they take up floor space that could be used for racking or operations. Mezzanines make better use of tall buildings but add structural, fire and access costs. Modular units are quick to install and can be moved, but offer less flexibility in layout and finish.

Building Regulations and planning

Creating offices inside an existing building is generally building work, and a mezzanine floor almost always needs Building Regulations approval because it affects structure, fire safety and means of escape. Some mezzanines also add floor space that matters for planning, business rates or the lease, so check with the landlord and local planning authority before committing. Building control will look at structural design, escape routes and travel distances, fire protection, accessibility, ventilation and, where offices are heated, insulation under Part L.

Fire separation and escape

Warehouses can carry large fire loads from stored goods, packaging and vehicles. Offices often need fire-rated partitions and doors to separate them from the warehouse, and the escape route from the office must be safe and not lead people through high-risk areas. Mezzanines generally need protected stairs, fire-rated underside protection in some cases and limits on travel distance. The fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 must be updated, and sprinklers, alarms and emergency lighting extended to cover the new rooms.

Comfort and welfare requirements

• Temperature: the Approved Code of Practice to the Workplace Regulations suggests at least 16 degrees, or 13 degrees where work involves rigorous physical effort
• Lighting: offices need good general and task lighting, and emergency lighting
• Ventilation: fresh air supply to each room, especially where there are no windows
• Noise: insulated partitions and ceilings reduce noise from forklifts, machinery and loading bays
• Welfare: toilets, washing facilities, drinking water and a place to eat are required under the Workplace Regulations
• Windows: vision panels into the warehouse help supervision and safety

Insulated walls and ceilings reduce heating costs and noise, and are usually worth the extra cost compared with uninsulated partitions. A ceiling over the office also keeps dust from the warehouse roof out.

Protecting offices from vehicles

Forklifts and other vehicles are a major risk around in-building offices. The Workplace Regulations require traffic routes to be organised so pedestrians and vehicles can move safely. Office walls next to traffic routes should be protected by steel or polymer barriers, and doors should open onto pedestrian walkways rather than directly into vehicle aisles. Kerbs, bollards, floor markings and visibility mirrors at corners all help. Large vision panels into the warehouse are useful for supervision, but they must use safety glass, and any glazing facing vehicle routes should be protected. Think about where delivery drivers and visitors arrive, so they can reach the office without walking through busy loading areas.

Services and practical points

• Plan power, data and lighting runs, often from high-level trays in the warehouse
• Check the floor slab can take the loads of mezzanine columns
• Allow for heating and cooling, as offices in large sheds can get very hot or cold
• Plan drainage early if you need toilets or a kitchen
• Consider future expansion, such as extra rooms on the mezzanine
• Keep fire and security systems consistent across the whole building

Lease and dilapidations

Most industrial leases require landlord consent for structural changes, including mezzanines and in-building offices, and many require reinstatement at lease end. Demountable and modular office systems can make lease-end removal easier and cheaper. Agree with the landlord in the licence for alterations whether the offices can stay at the end of the lease, as some landlords prefer to keep good-quality offices for the next tenant.

Frequently asked questions

warehouse industrial unit mezzanine in-building offices