Stringer – This is the horizontal component, which connects the pedestals together. It also provides additional lateral support at greater floor height and increases the structural performance of the raised floor system.
Pedestal – The pedestal is the vertical component that supports the floor panels. These are adjustable such that a level floor surface is created even if the sub-floor has undulations. Pedestals can be bonded to the sub-floor using adhesive or mechanical fixings as required.
Floor Panel – The horizontal load-bearing component of a raised access floor. The industry standard is a 600mm square, although there are a range of manufacturers and sizes offered by Fieldmans Access Floors. Panels are supplied with a bare finish; ready for a carpeted tile finish on-site, or bonded with a range of finishes as required.
Bridging Beams – This is a load-bearing component that is used when pedestals cannot be placed in their usual positions because of under floor service runs.
See the Solutions page of this website for more details, or contact us.
The expected life span of a raised access floor system is outlined in the PSA MOB PF2 PS / SPU specification as:
- The supporting components should have a minimum life of 50 years.
- The floor panels (excluding floor finish) should have a minimum life of 25 years.
A raised access flooring panel should only be lifted using the correct lifting device (vacuum lifter or spiked carpet lifter). Panels should be lifted vertically with no hinging movement. Replacement should be a similar motion ensuring the panel is resting correctly on the pedestal. Pedestals can be damaged easily if they are left completely exposed, therefore only single rows of floor panels should be moved at any one time.
- Finished floor height and level: Within a single floor area a datum height will be agreed between the floor installer and the main contractor. This datum height will be directly related to the building datum. This will determine the height to which the raised access floor will be installed. The raised floor will be installed level to this datum by the use of rotating laser.
- Set out of the raised access floor system: This is a very important aspect in ensuring that the raised floor operates satisfactorily throughout its anticipated life span. Depending on the size and shape of specific floor areas and size and location of any obstacles on the sub-floor a range of solutions can be sought. Raised access flooring panels are cut on site to fit at perimeter walls therefore a best fit situation can be sought using the appropriate floor panel module size. Ideally the setting out of the panels and pedestals can be coordinated by:
- Working in line with other building modules to avoid regular obstructions.
- Working out from the centre of an area.
- Working to column centres.
Cut panels should ideally be cut just under a full panel width or a half panel width in order to minimise wastage. Cut panels of less than 150mm width should be avoided in order to maintain structural integrity. When it is not possible to avoid small cut panels the following solutions are available:
In-board cutting, the principle of maximising the size of a cut panel by additionally cutting the last field panel adjacent to the perimeter. On certain product ranges and structural grades oversize panels are available as an alternative to the above.
Floor panels can be supplied and installed with a range of finishes. Alternatively barefaced panels can be used so a carpeted finish can be fitted after installation on-site. Factory applied finishes include:
- Vinyl;
- Anti-static vinyl;
- Static conductive vinyl;
- Linoleum;
- Rubber;
- Carpet;
- Wood finishes (range available);
- Marble;
- High-pressure laminate;
- Stone or ceramic tiles
Other finishes may be available on request, contact us to find out more.
Alternatives to raised access flooring could be:
- Suspended Ceilings – hard to relocate/ maintain services because all must occur at a high-level;
- Skirting – running cables along skirting boards around a room is adequate for small rooms but not an option for larger rooms or those which require more than a few small cables. Hard to maintain or access;
- Poke-through – running cables down power poles between floors provides no flexibility and is almost impossible to access. This method also requires cutting large holes into concrete and the building itself;
- Pre-cast Trunking – Common practise in the 70’s, this method involves steel trunking to be cast into structural slab along pre-defined runs. There is again no flexibility or the option to change set-up.
A raised access floor provides under floor space that can be used for a number of services, including:
- Electrical power;
- Telecom;
- Data cabling;
- Air conditioning;
- Fire detection and suppression;
- Security;
- Environmental control;
- Water/Drainage;
- Other cabling and pipe works.
The raised access floor enables quick and easy access to these services, as individual floor panels are removable. This is very important for the modern business to cope with technological advances and other requirements for changes to the office environment, which could require a major upheaval without the access provided by raised access flooring.
A raised access floor is a grid of load bearing floor panels supported by adjustable pedestals to raise them above an existing base. This creates an under-floor space for the housing and distribution of services. The floor panels are easily removable to allow quick access to these under-floor services as required.
See the Products page of this website or please call for more detailed information
See the Health and Safety and Accreditations pages of this website.
See the Case Studies page on this website for examples of some of our projects plus all images throughout our website are photos of our work.
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