If you’re reading this article, you probably already know what raised flooring is, but just in case you don’t, here’s a quick refresher. Raised flooring, also known as suspended or Raised flooring, are multi-tiered structure used to support equipment and wiring inside the walls of buildings. In the past, raised floors were most commonly used in laboratories and server rooms because they provided easy access to wiring and unrestricted airflow underneath the flooring system.
The Benefits of Installing Raised Flooring
A raised floor system is an elevated floor base with wires, cables, and pipes running through it. Raised floors offer many benefits over traditional installation methods, including improved cooling efficiency, easy access to equipment and lines, better overall aesthetics in a room, extra space for wiring requirements, flexibility of layout (floor tiles can be laid on top of raised floor), and reduced clutter. With so many advantages to choosing a Raised flooring system over traditional installations, you might wonder why more companies don’t use them. Thankfully we’re here to provide you with all of the information you need to decide if a raised floor is suitable for your project!
Things to Consider Before Installing
Before you take on a project like installing raised flooring, make sure you know your unique situation. Raised flooring can solve many problems in older buildings, but it may not be ideal for some projects or people. For example, consider that raised flooring will only work for certain types of businesses, such as data centers or offices with lots of people near one another. Also, not all building codes allow raised flooring because it can present serious fire hazards. Raised floors are generally made of wood, so they’re flammable by nature; if an electrical fault occurs, there is no easy way to ventilate smoke from a room containing thousands of square feet of wooden panels.
Before installing raised flooring, make sure that you have a clear idea of your budget. Raised floor systems can be costly, especially for smaller businesses. If you’re concerned about how much it will cost to raise your floor, explore some of your alternatives. For example, you might be able to find cheaper panels by buying them used or secondhand. They’ll still work just as well as newer ones, but they may not look as nice once installed.
The Main Types of Raised Floors
There are three main types of raised floors, each serving a specific purpose. The most common type is called open-grid flooring. This type of floor allows servers, racks, and other IT equipment to be directly installed onto it. Open-grid flooring is generally what you’ll see in data centers. Another type is known as closed-cell raised flooring, in which cables can be run under floors for cable management, but nothing (neither cabling nor hardware) can directly sit on top of it. Closed-cell has come about mainly because IT hardware doesn’t have to be exposed to dust and dirt anymore, but that also means that some people may not like its more rigid look than an open grid floor plan.
The third type of raised floor is known as solid-floor raised flooring. This is similar to closed-cell, but some openings are filled with a grout material (not unlike the grout used in bathrooms). The purpose of these gaps is to allow for water drainage since a raised floor installed above a basement or below ground level may get water in it over time if it’s sealed completely. Like open-grid, solid-floor options let you install cabling under them for your convenience. Solid floors tend to be more expensive than open grids because they can’t be reused once something sits on top of them they need to be replaced outright but that isn’t necessarily true.
Installing a New Raised Floor
A raised floor is an engineered platform intended to support computers, telecommunications equipment, or other electrical and electronic components. An expanded floor system can be installed at ground level or below a raised structure, such as a mezzanine or suspended ceiling. In fact, many of these elevated platforms are designed to sit directly on top of a raised floor; in either case, it’s helpful to have access to all sides so you can quickly connect cables when needed.
Installing a raised floor requires careful planning. Your system must be correctly designed to handle heavy machinery, computers, network cables, electrical devices, and people walking on it every day even forklifts or cranes used for maintenance. To determine if your company needs a raised floor system, first conduct an assessment of your current situation. You’ll want to identify all of your electrical requirements including any unique or unusual equipment that might require access from below and assess whether you have enough space for a new system. If you do, talk with several companies about their experience installing raised floors and find out how much they charge per square foot. The price should include installation and any additional services you might need to ensure proper connectivity.
