Choose Right Raised Floor For Your Project: Cost, Wiring, Load Capacity, Panel Material & More

The purpose of installing a raised floor is to hide cables, cords, etc. under the floor, but which type to choose depends on the use of the office and the construction conditions. In this blog, we will focus on 5 points on how to choose and explain which type of raised floor to choose for your office and project.

① Construction period / cost

The first point is the construction period and cost. The construction period and cost are different between the "placement type" and the "support type". The table below is an estimate of the construction period and cost for each of the laying types and the support type (* excluding the construction cost).

• Placement Type - Estimated construction period: Minimum 1 week, Estimated cost: 20$ / m²

• SupportType - Estimated construction period: Minimum 2 weeks, Estimated cost: 45$ / m²

The stationary type is selected by many companies because it does not take much time to construct and the cost is about half that of the support type. If the construction period or budget is limited, you may want to consider the placement type.

② Wiring method / wiring storage capacity

The second point is the wiring method and wiring storage capacity. There are two ways to store wiring on the raised floor. One is to store it in the cavity between the posts and legs (under-panel wiring method), and the other is to wire along the groove of the panel and cover it from the top to protect the wiring (groove wiring method).

• Panel bottom wiring method - Pros: Large wiring storage capacity, Cons: Interference may occur

• Groove wiring method - Pros: Easy to change or add wiring, Cons: Wiring storage capacity is small

The under-panel wiring method has advantages such as a larger wiring storage capacity and a higher degree of wiring freedom than the groove wiring method. In addition, in the case of a pillar type, it is possible to further increase the storage capacity by changing the height of the legs by adjusting the floor height. However, it is necessary to design the wiring so that interference does not occur.

On the other hand, the groove wiring method has a small wiring storage capacity, but it can prevent touching because it is wired in an orderly manner along the groove.

In addition, the ease of wiring and the ease of maintenance are also merits of the groove wiring method. Wiring can be rearranged simply by removing the cover, making it easy to change or add wiring.

It is a good idea to decide which one to use, assuming the "number of wires" such as power supply, network cable, and telephone line. If the number of wires is small, or if you plan to change the layout or increase the floor space, the groove wiring method is recommended.

What is the guideline for the number of wires?

You can narrow down the candidates for raised floors according to the expected number of wires. The following is a guideline for recommended types for the capacity of a typical office.

Depending on the work and the number of people (call center, etc.), the number of wires may be larger than expected. It is necessary to select the one that can be handled depending on the number of wires, so it is recommended to consult with the vendor before making a decision.

• Floor for about 20 ordinary office workers: Low-floor type (height 40 mm)

• Floor for general office work of about 50 people: Low floor type (height 50 mm or more)

• Floor for General office work of 50 or more: Low floor type (height 50mm or more) / Strut type (level adjustable)

• Floor for Server room: Strut type (level adjustable)

③ Load capacity

The third point is the load capacity. To judge the load-bearing performance, it is necessary to know the unit "N (Newton)". Generally, it is said that the "support type" has higher load-bearing performance than the "standing type", but it depends on the material. It is recommended to judge by the numerical value of the load capacity.

There is a notation such as "Load capacity: ○○○○ N" in the product catalog of the Raised floor.

N (Newton) is a unit of strength that can withstand 1 m². Since 1000N = 100kg, for example, "4000N" means that the floor can withstand a weight of 400kg per 1m².

The guideline for the load capacity of each type is as follows:

• Placement type (Made of resin): 2000〜3000N

• Placement type (Made of concrete): 3000〜5000N

• Support type (metallic): 3000〜5000N

The load-bearing performance differs not only depending on the type but also on the material. How much performance is required is determined by the weight of the fixtures installed in the room. The rough guide is as follows:

Estimated load capacity

• 3000N - General office. Standard furniture such as office furniture, library stacks, and multifunction devices are installed.

• 4000N - Heavy items such as large library stacks / bookshelves and small server equipment are installed.

• 5000N - Large electronic devices such as computer rooms and server rooms are installed. Large offices, businesses, schools, banks, and government offices.

④ Material

The fourth point is the material. The main materials of the panel are resin, concrete, aluminum and steel. Resin and concrete are used for "placement type" OA floors, and aluminum and steel are used for "support type" access floors.

We mentioned earlier that materials are related to load-bearing performance, but each material has its own characteristics. Here, I would like to introduce the main features of each material.

Material Features:

• Resin - It is lightweight and does not require adhesive or screwing, so the burden on the building is small.

• Concrete - Prevents noise problems due to malfunctions of electronic devices and poor communication.

• Aluminum - Since it is a non-magnetic material, it is not affected by the magnetic field. Ideal for computer rooms and machine rooms.

• Steel - Excellent recyclability. Good walking feeling.

It is important to decide which material is suitable together with the wiring storage capacity, wiring method, and load-bearing performance. It is determined by the purpose of the room where the OA floor is to be installed, and the type and weight of fixtures and equipment.

⑤ Check the construction conditions

The fifth point is the construction conditions. In particular, you need to be careful when considering the installation of a "placement type". Before installing, you need to confirm the following two points:

• Construction conditions for office buildings

• Office ceiling height

These are due to differences in construction methods. I will briefly explain the construction method of "placement type" and "support type".

Placement type Installation method:

• Lay a floor sheet for uneven land adjustment

• Arrange the raised floor panels without any gaps

• Place the tile carpet

Strut type installation method:

• Determine the position and height of the support legs and fix them.

• Install the panel on the support legs

• Place the tile carpet

In the laying type, block-shaped panels are laid on the floor. In order to prevent the panel from rattling, lay a floor sheet (underlay sheet) for irregularity adjustment as a preliminary step, and level the slope and uneven areas of the floor surface flat.

On the other hand, for the support type, after positioning, level adjustment, and fixing of the support legs, the panel is installed on the support. Adhesive is used to fix the support legs to the floor, but depending on the office building, there may be construction rules that the tenant should comply with, so check the construction conditions with the building management company. is needed.

You also need to check the height of the office ceiling. Normally, it is about 2.5 to 2.6 m, and in a large office, it is about 2.8 to 3 m high. However, in old office buildings, the ceiling height is lower than this, and if the height of the raised floor is increased, the ceiling will be lowered and you may feel oppressive. We recommend that you consult with an interior contractor to adjust the height of the columns.