Mezzanine level as diaphragm

[ABDSUU]

I have a tilt-up panel warehouse that is up to 10m high. Instead of using the roof as diaphragm only. I want to design the mezzanine level as diaphragm as well so that the roof takes lesser lateral loads for some reason. Similar to roof, mezzanine consists of Z/C joists and yellow tongue.
Has anyone done something similar? Do I need to provide brace at mezzanine level to form a diaphragm like roof? (if so what brace do I use here? rod?) Or do I simply rely on yellow tongue to work as diaphragm and provide no braces? Thank you.

 

[DayRooster]

Sure you could use the mezzanine as a diaphragm as long as there is a load path from the mezzanine level down to the foundation and you follow all other relevant code requirements. I am familiar with Z and C shaped cold form purlins but I don’t have the faintest idea what is meant by yellow tongue. But if your floor is made up of a structural system that can be designed as a rigid, semi-flexible or flexible diaphragm based on conventional engineering practice than you can use this for the load redistribution to the vertical stability elements (lateral shear walls or vertical braces). Otherwise you would need horizontal bracing to bring the load to the vertical stability elements. These braces could be structural shapes or rods (even though rods are trickier since they are tension only elements). Hope this helps…

 

[Retrograde]

Yellow tongue is a colloquial name for a structural grade particleboard sheet flooring for use in residential & commercial buildings called STRUCTAflor.

I would be providing rod bracing or similar and not relying on the flooring.

 

[Tomfh]

I agree with putting in some real bracing too.

 

[DayRooster]

Nice, learned something new myself too!

 

[ABDSUU]

Thank you. I will provide rod brace just in case then.