Offices, public spaces and operational areas (data centers, clean rooms, internet server rooms) benefit greatly from the types of raised floors. And why is it so advantageous to be used in projects? Flexibility and mobility are the main characteristics of the raised floor.

Raised Floor creates a space between the subfloor and the panel, allowing the creation of a space that is very useful to hide all types of wiring, air conditioning ducts, internet network cabling, among other elements. According to the type of raised floor chosen, there will be aesthetic, technical and functional characteristics to take into account when making the choice. 

Therefore, knowing the types of raised floor is essential to analyze what will be the best solution for the project you are working on. Keep reading and get to know each one!

Types of Raised Access Floor You Must Know

From the most traditional to the most recent materials used in the floor and wall covering market, the types of raised floor have a good catalog of options. In the construction planning stage, it is important to carefully analyze the criteria to choose the most suitable one. Next we will talk about the main types of raised floor that you will find on the market:

1 - Concrete Raised Floor

This type of access floor is manufactured with a lightweight material filled with aerated concrete and PVC scratches. It does not allow great elevation - usually 15 cm - in relation to the floor and cannot be reused either. But it is still one of the most popular types of access floor on the market, present in several works. Despite these initial disadvantages, it provides a good finish and even with the small gap between the floor and the floor, it allows them to be used well. Especially, in an environment where the wiring is not so complex and bulky.

2 - Calcium Sulphate Raised Floor

This type of raised floor is produced with plaster and cellulose fibers from recycled materials. Anti-static Galvanized steel calcium sulfate raised floor consists of high-density calcium sulfate core. Galvanized steel sheet is glued to the bottom of the calcium sulfate core, HPL, PVC, or ceramic tile is used to finish the top of the calcium sulfate core, and four edges are closed with PVC tapes. It has characteristics of waterproof, fireproof, anti-rust, soundproofing, large load capacity, good decorative effect and excellent interchangeability. It is ideal for the office building, tel communication room, power room, control room, computer room and clean room etc.

3 - Steel Raised Floor

This is the ideal type of raised floor for projects where the cabling that goes through the gap is bulky and more complex. The height between the floor and the floor can reach up to 90 cm. The steel access floor is also the one that offers easier adjustment and maintenance and the plates can be removed and reused in other projects and undergo maintenance according to the changing environment.

4 - Chipboard Woodcore Raised Floor

This natural, renewable raw material is ideally suited for further processing into raised floor panels. In the combination of price to load capacity and flexibility as well as fire resistance, raised floor panels made of wood are almost unbeatable. We use sustainably produced, high-density chipboard for our raised floor panels. With panel thicknesses of 28 to 38 mm, we cover almost every need in all price segments. From 1 to 10 kN, woodcore access floor panels can be equipped with almost any surface covering.

5 - Aluminum Raised Access Floor

Aluminum raised floor is die-cast with aluminum bars is light and corrosion protection. Aluminum access floor is widely used in DLR, military command headquarters, data center and clean rooms. The high load capacities and the non-magnetic properties of the material are a plus here. Perforated aluminum access flooring is the only airflow plate in the industry that allows adjustment in thickness to sit flush with the adjacent fixed plates. The aluminum airflow floor has a free area of 10% to 75% and comes with or without a slide damper.

6 - Thermoplastic Access Floor

A polypropylene raised flooring solution designed to facilitate changes in the layout of offices. The type of thermoplastic raised floor is light and malleable (which facilitates the cutting of the planes). To take advantage of the full potential of thermoplastics, you need to precisely level the subfloor and fix the pedestals carefully. The span size can be built from the lowest to the highest standards to accommodate a larger volume of wires and tubes. The thermoplastic raised floor can also be removed and reused or modified for other projects.

7 - Slate Raised Access Floor

For a different finish, the slate raised floor is one of the types of raised floor that can be used. The plates made with this type of rock are supported by PVC pillars. Durability is considered high and the price is also lower compared to other options.

It is recommended for outdoor areas as it has more resistance and can resist for longer even with climatic influences.

How To Choose The Idea Raised Access Floor Type For Your Project?

During construction management it is important to consider what type of raised floor will accommodate the span. This will be decisive for defining the choice, as each has different possibilities. So evaluate this criterion carefully.

• Another very important factor in relation to the raised floor is the type of load that it must support. The structure of the type of raised floor chosen must correctly support this weight, so that there is no damage.

• Therefore, the dimensions of the plates must be chosen accordingly and the calculations of the construction engineers must indicate what resistance the material must provide.

• It is also important to evaluate the type of access floor finish and covering that will be chosen and whether the types of raised flooring you are considering are allowed for it or not.

• And as we emphasize a lot the issues of mobility, reuse, and flexibility in each of the types of raised floor, assessing whether it is 100% removable or can not help in the choice process. 

Knowing the characteristics of each type of raised access floor it is easier to choose the one that best fits your corporate project.