RFQ of Raised Access Floors

1. What is a technical floor system?

A raised floor system is composed of identical and independent horizontal panels between supported on vertical pedestals adjustable in height to provide a space under the floor that will accommodate the necessary facilities. The panels are easily removable allowing quick access to the facilities.

2. What are the key components of a raised floor system?

The key components of a reliable technical floor system are the following:

·System panel:

The panel offers a high strength platform for the users. Normally, there are 3 panels sizes: 500mm*500mm; 600mm*600mm; 609.6mm*609.6mm. Different market prefers different panel dimensions.

·Pedestal:

Vertical part of the structure, adjustable to obtain the desired height with possibility from 70 mm to 1500 mm.  See more.

·Stringer:

Metallic profile that joins the heads of the pedestals in a horizontal way creating a rigid structure, modulated in 600x600mm  or 609*6 x 609.6mm for the correct support of the tiles. Increase the stability and resistance of the system.

3. When is a technical floor used?

The raised technical floor systems are used in a wide variety of areas where there is a significant amount of facilities to be channeled. Some examples are:

·Offices of financial, insurance, governmental, corporate, administrative types that have a high level of computer equipment and / or telecommunications.

·Call Centers Spaces of large offices that require a large number of jobs for the performance of computer and telecom functions.

·Data Processing Centers. Storage and data processing rooms, have a large number of facilities including air conditioners that are channeled under the raised floor.

·Educational and Cultural Centers. The raised technical floor systems are used in this type of specific areas for cultural development and learning.

4. What kind of facilities are possible to channel under the technical floor?

In the plenum created in a recordable raised pavement system it is possible to channel the following facilities and services: electric power, data network, telecommunications network, air conditioning, fire detection and extinction, safety net, water network and drains.
Using a raised floor system will allow quick and easy access to these services for maintenance reasons, without the need for annoying and expensive works.

5. What alternatives existed before to the raised technical pavement?

·False ceilings: Hidden trays in the false ceiling that descend with the installations through poles. The transfers, maintenance, changes of space, etc. were very expensive causing alterations in the normal work of the area.

·Prefabricated channels: Used more than 40 years ago, channels are created in structural concrete creating fixed jobs. This does not allow the modification of a space and an eventual maintenance of the facilities becomes an expensive work.

·Metal trays seen: placed in the face of the room around the perimeter, supposed an absence of aesthetics and difficulty when carrying connections to jobs that are not near the wall.

·Furniture: technical furniture that incorporates canalization systems, but they represent a very high cost for the project as well as its maintenance.

6. What types of flooring panels are most common in the market?

·Steel Cement Panel: formed by two steel plates that are electro welded and then injected with lightened cement. It obtains the maximum level of resistance to loads, fire and humidity as well as the maximum level of acoustic absorption. Steel Cement Access Floor

·Woodcore Panel: formed by high density chipboard that is finished on the bottom with a steel tray. The top is normally finished with steel sheet, HPL Sheet, PVC Sheet and others. The edge is covered by PVC trims. The panel has excellent resistance to loads, fire and moisture and acoustic insulation. Woodcore Panel

·Calcium Sulphate Panel: formed by high density calcium sulphate core that is finished on the bottom with a steel tray. The top is normally finished with steel sheet, HPL Sheet, PVC Sheet and others. The edge is covered by PVC trims. The panel has excellent resistance to loads, fire and moisture. Calcium Sulphate Floor

·Diecast- Aluminum Panel: formed by melted aluminum alloy with mould-injection machines. With different panel bottom designs, it offers high loading performances. The panel is normally used in places like clean-rooms. Aluminum Floor

·7. What technical points are the most remarkable when selecting a raised floor system?

· Resistance to loads

· Classification by fire

· Resistance to humidity

8. Differences between using steel and aluminum as the fundamental basis of the products?

·The use of a steel tray in the lower part of the panel significantly increases the load resistance. Steel is an elastic material that has a high level of resistance to breakage, it deforms but does not break. The placement of aluminum in the lower part of the panel leads to an easy breaking of the panel decreasing its resistance to loads.

·The steel obtains a fire resistance level much higher than aluminum obtaining better classifications according to the UNE-EN 13501 standard.

·The steel protects the panel better against external aggressions such as humidity, misuse or dirt. Aluminum is easily broken, leaving the system at the mercy of external elements.

9. When is a stringer necessary in a MAXGRID Raised Floor?

The stringer is a steel profile that joins the pedestals horizontally, creating a grid for the total support of the tiles.

In our system  Anti Static Concrete Core Steel Panels   The use of the stringer is recommended for final heights over 300mm.

The system  Woodcore or Calcium Sulphate Panel  uses the stringer when the system is coated from the factory in all its heights. In case the panel comes uncoated (bare) the panel is screwed to the head of the pedestal and the crossbar is used for final heights greater than 300mm.

10. What final heights are possible with the MAXGRID recordable floor systems?

Normally, our pedestal is from FFH70mm to 1500mm.  It is possible to develop special structures for heights greater than 1500mm. The height will depend on the number of facilities that will be placed under the technical floor, level equalization of the surface and other factors developed in the project. Pedestals

11. Are there special structures for markets where seismic movements exist?

Yes, there are structures developed to protect the system from seismic movements that are bolted to the base slab for greater safety.

12. How is the pedestal fixed to the base plate?

The steel pedestal is fixed to the base slab using polyurethane adhesive, remaining integral with the existing slab. The pedestals have incorporated threads in certain points for the possibility of screwing the pedestal to the existing hearth if required.

13. What kind of finishes can be used in raised floor systems?

There is a great variety of finishes that are assembled in the production centers on the raised pavement panels.

The Normal Finishes  such as vinyl, laminate, linoleum, rubber, carpet and  Innovative Finishes  such as granite, ceramics, natural wood.

Other possible finishes such as stainless steel or glass are also used in our systems.

There is the possibility of studying any new finish you want and see its compatibility with the system.

14. Are there rules that govern the use of raised technical floors?

Normally, there are 2 main rules in this industry.

·CISCA, used in the North American markets.

·CBSEN 12825, used in the British market.