The installation of raised access flooring should only be undertaken by suitably qualified and experienced experts. This is because, raised access flooring has to be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions so that it is both safe and secure.
Raised access flooring that has not been installed appropriately is more likely to malfunction and failure. The implications of a flooring failure could be considerable. If the flooring substructure failed expensive equipment could be damaged, staff, customers and members of the public could suffer serious injury. There could be significant financial loss to the business while damage flooring is reinstated and builders make good any damage to the fabric of the building.
The installation of raised access flooring involves the following steps:
1) The site survey – every planned installation begins with an analysis of the area where the floor is to be installed This is to ensure that the base upon which the raised access flooring will be built is level enough for access flooring to be installed. If it is not remedial action will be required prior to remedial action taking place;
2) Mapping the starting point – once the survey has been completed and any necessary remedial action has been undertaken it’s time for the raised access flooring team to commence installation of the flooring. This process starts with mapping out the installation to determine the starting points. In addition it will be at this point that the positions of the support pedestals will be determined and the place where the installation will begin is decided;
3) Bisecting the floor – it is vital that the flooring is located correctly on the base floor. Walls and other built features of the office space cannot be relied upon to provide accurate right angles and therefore installation engineers marks two lines on the floor, in chalk, that bisect one another at 90 degrees. This is used to ensure that the flooring will be laid out appropriately and accurately even if the walls are not straight or the room is not square;
4) Pedestal assemblies – installation engineers will ensure that the pedestal assemblies are the right height. This has to be done with meticulous attention to detail if rocking floor panels, or sloping and dangerously unstable flooring is to be avoided;
5) Fixing the pedestal – glue is used to attach the pedestal base to the sub floor, stringers are then bolted to the pedestal heads and then also glued;
6) Laying flooring panels – finally flooring panels are laid on top of the structure. It is at this stage that any rocking or slipping panels can be dealt with appropriately;
Quality installation calls for experience, expertise and commitment. Contact us on 020 8462 7100 for professional raised access flooring systems and installation.
