Raised Floor System Construction: Components & Accessories Of Access Floor Structure

To proceed with the individualization of the functional structures of the raised flooring system, firstly, some reference of the access floor components must be separated and defined. In this article, we will details every component of raised floor construction, which will help you get to know the raised floor system better!

Raised Floor System Structure & Components

• Base Raised Floor Panel is defined as the firm or slab floor on which the raised pavement is installed. The whose main function of consenting or improving traffic and resistance to loads under certain conditions of use；

• Raised Floor Covering is defined as the finishing layer having the function of conferring certain mechanical, chemical, physical, welfare and safety benefits to the flooring;

• Raised Floor Support is defined as the integrated set of layers arranged under the cladding to form the paving (some layers concur to ensure the main function of the sub-system, others to confer improving qualities of the sub-system itself).

The main functional components of the raised floor system are listed below:

Raised Floor Panels

It is the set of generally modular and removable parts that make up the horizontal floor plane of the raised paving. It is composed of various parts:

• Access Floor Tile: generally modular and mobile forming the horizontal floor plane of the raised paving.

• Panel Covering: finishing layer with the function of completing the panel, from the aesthetic point of view in relation to the user's requirements or the destination of use and contributing to the achievement of predetermining mechanical, chemical, physical, welfare and safety performance .

• Panel Core: integrated set of more or less homogeneous layers arranged under the upper cladding to form the panel.

• Panel Lower: functional layer interposed inside the anima or positioned on the surface in order to improve the mechanical resistance of the panel by improving the distribution of the service loads of the low structure elements, as well as to contribute to the increase of other characteristics (chemical, physical, security).

• Perimeter edge: rubber band or strips, generally made of plastic, applied over the thickness of the panel with the function of finishing and stability of the system.

• Adhesive: material of various kinds that enters the panel manufacturing cycle and is used to bond the cladding and the perimeter edges.

• Joint between panels: existing space between panels of the raised flooring system placed adjacent, in which the size of the project requires the maximum attention, both in the production phase and in collection and installation, through the management and definition of precise tolerances .

Vertical Raised Floor Support Structure

It is the set of the constituent elements of the main structural frame, having the function of ensuring the support of the panels and the transmission of stimulations (mechanical, electrical, etc.) that derive from normal use to the subsystem structure of the building with which they are in contact.

• Raised Floor Pedestal: The main part of the vertical support structure adjustable in height within the safety interval foreseen according to the type of destination of use, which constitutes an indispensable structural transmission link either in the case of a simple frame (without crossbars) or in a complex frame (with crossbars).

• Pedestal Head: upper component of the pedestal. It can be shaped in different ways, depending on whether it needs to fit the access floor panels directly or through the cross members. In a different way as it must fit the panels directly through the cross-sections.

• Pedestal Joint of polymeric material: element, generally made of elastomeric material with the function of making the elastic joint between the panel and the upper terminal element of the structure and the vertical support element.

• Pedestal Base: it is solid or not in the head or the base of the column that constitutes a variable part to the extent of allowing the relation of a different range of heights.

• Height adjusting device: a group of parts with the function of allowing the height adjustment of the vertical support structure, at millimeter intervals, in order to remedy any unevenness in the regularity of the supporting pavement or the presence of unevenness ensure the flatness of the system.

Horizontal Rigidity Raised Access Floor Structure

It is the set of constituent elements of the secondary frame, having the function of improving the continuity of the support of the panels and the transmission of mechanical and electrical stresses. that derive from normal use to the vertical elements of the main structure constituting a further hardening especially with respect to dynamic or lateral stresses and also increasing the hermetic capacity of the complete system. 

Crossbar: Horizontal profile that joins the pedestals to form the framework, to increase the stability of the raised pavement to increase its admissible loads and its tightness.

Fixing device: component or system whose purpose is to create a bond of solidarity and continuity between the different elements of the support structure, whether vertical or horizontal, and sometimes between them and the panel.

Joint strip: It generally made of the elastic material with the function of creating an elastic joint between the panel and the horizontal support structure and of improving the capacity of the plenum under the floor.

Functional Raised Access Floor Accessories

Finally, some functional accessories and special elements are individualized, that is, components or elements with the function of completing the range of the system, increasing the degree of flexibility and the level of response to the different demands of the various typologies in relation to different hypothetical destinations of use or project situations.

• Perforated Panels: airflow panel characterized by the presence of through holes in the sense of thickness, intensity and differential diameter, and in any case compressed by a flow volume regulation system with the function of allowing air to escape.

• Raised floor dampers (grilles): Adjustable dampers assembled to raised floor perforated panel ventilation grilles are devices that use adjustable blades (contained in a square or rectangular frame) to regulate the airflow and air pressure, in order to balance the Access Floor HVAC/UFAC system. 

• Temperature Control Units: When the conditions reflect the cooling air is desirable, raised floor mount fan unit will turn on and transport cooling air to those hard to cool areas where high-density servers have created hot spots through an individual directional raised floor airflow panels, all the way to the top of the rack.

• Raised Floor grommets & other accessories: they definitively incorporates accessories or different installation terminals (electrical, telephone, computer, fire-fighting, anti-dust, etc.), problematic by wandering on the exit floor plane through closing doors.

• Perimeter skirting: completion element with the aesthetic function of covering the perimeter joint between the raised flooring system and the vertical parts similar to traditional flooring.

• Ground connection: connection generally made through copper cables, in order to stabilize, where provided, an electrical continuity between the raised flooring system and the building's ground outlet system, in order to allow the limitation of damages to persons in the event of accidental loss of current in any way derivable.