What is raised access flooring and how does it work

What is raised floor panels and how does it work? This knowledge article, written by steel raised access floor tiles experts, will cover the basics of raised access flooring, including what it is, how it is used, how a raised access floor system is constructed, and the numerous benefits that can be gained by specifying access flooring.

What is Raised Access Flooring and how does it work?

In order to create an open space or void between a raised floor panels system and a subfloor, which is typically a concrete floor slab, the raised access flooring system is installed above the subfloor. Some people refer to raised floor systems in various ways: as "access floors," "raised access floors," "platform floors," "computer floors," or "suspended flooring."

Cabling and pipework required to distribute services throughout a building are housed in the space created between the two floors created by the separation of the two floors. These services may include the following:

Electricity is the source of power.

The cabling used for network data and telecommunications

CCTV (closed-circuit television)

Water supply and drainage are important considerations.

HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)

cabling for security

Controls over the environment

The detection and suppression of fires

Accessed floors are most commonly specified in newly constructed or refurbished buildings where there is a requirement for information and communications infrastructure, along with advanced fire and safety systems, such as commercial offices, data centers, airport lounges, shopping malls, department stores, supermarkets, and hospitals, among other things.

Also commonly specified as a refurbishment solution in historic or listed buildings where traditional construction methods could damage period features, historically significant artifacts, or interior decoration, they are also known as "green" construction.

As an alternative to suspended ceilings, Steel raised access floor tiles is far more versatile and aesthetically pleasing than dado trunking and pre-cast trunking, as well as being far more cost effective.

What does a raised access floor system look like in terms of appearance?

Raised access floor systems are made up of removable panels that are laid out in a grid pattern on vertical pedestals that are easily adjusted.

Because of the ability to accurately measure and determine the height of the pedestals, the gap between the solid floor and the raised access floor can range between 20mm and 1500mm in height, depending on the number of services that must be contained within the space. By designing bespoke raised access floor systems, it is possible to achieve greater depths than are otherwise possible.

With the help of an epoxy resin adhesive, the pedestals are attached to the concrete floor and meticulously adjusted to compensate for any undulations in the subfloor in order to provide a level plane on which to lay the access flooring panel (see illustration).

In the case of raised access floors, stringers are used either to improve the performance of the system or to provide lateral stability during the installation of finished floor heights greater than 600mm in elevation. Stringers are horizontal steel bars that connect the pedestal grid together. Depending on the type of access floor system, stringers are either clipped on or bolted on to the pedestal grid.

What materials are used to construct access floor panels?

In most cases, access flooring panels are made of chipboard cores that are encased in a steel frame. They can also be pre-bonded with other materials, such as vinyl, natural wood, granite, glass, or marble, to create an aesthetically pleasing finish of superior quality.

They are all of the same size; a raised floor panel is usually 600mm by 600mm in size, for example. In the United States, a typical access flooring panel is 24" x 24" (approximately 610mm) in size, with a slightly larger footprint.

What is the procedure for installing raised floor panels?

The installation of raised floor systems can be accomplished through the use of gravity systems, also known as loose lay systems, in which the floor panels are laid out so that they rest loosely on the pedestal head. This makes it simple to remove them in order to gain access to the void beneath them. In some cases, where increased security is required, they can be permanently attached to the pedestal head using a process known as lock-down or screw-down installation.

The raised floor system is designed in accordance with the needs of the end user and is dependent on the type of traffic and static or dynamic load that it will be subjected to during its operation.

What is the maximum amount of weight that a raised floor panel can support?

The type of access flooring panel used in a raised access flooring system determines the load bearing capacity of the system.

In accordance with two industry standards, access flooring panels are designed and manufactured in accordance with PSA MOB PF2 PS/SPU and BS EN 12825.

Access Flooring, a division of Raised Floor Solutions that specializes in access flooring products, is a Tier 1 supplier and installer of Kingspan Access Flooring Products. Kingspan manufactures access floor panels that are compliant with both sets of regulations, with different grades of access floor panel product available for each set of regulations.