A raised floor is a type of construction model in which an elevated floor is built above a building's original concrete slab surface, thereby creating a hidden void between the two floors that is used for the passage of mechanical and electrical services. This type of floor is also known as raised flooring, access flooring, or raised access computer flooring. Other names for this type of floor include raised access flooring and raised access computer flooring. Let's take a look at the different types of raised floors and the applications that are best suited for each one.

A traditional type of steel access floor that is used for air distribution under the floor.

The traditional post and panel raised access flooring system was first introduced in the 1960s with the primary purpose of providing cooling and air flow to large computer mainframes of that era, which ran exceptionally hot. This was necessary because the mainframes of those computers ran at extremely high temperatures.

A plenum is the name given to the air space that is created by a traditional access floor, which is positioned between the raised access floor and the subfloor. Underfloor air distribution (also known as UFAD) is accommodated and contained within the plenum. These floors can be installed at any height between 6 inches (152 mm) and 4 feet (1.3 m), or even higher in some cases.

The volume of cables and other services that are to be stored beneath the steel rasied floor determines the height of the posts; the typical height is somewhere between 24 inches (610 mm) and 48 inches (1219 mm).

Traditional post and panel manufacturers have made efforts to reduce the height of their raised floors to as little as four inches in certain cases in order to cater to the needs of industries that require low profile systems. However, even at that height, post and panel flooring does not offer the same amount of usable space or flexibility as low profile systems do by default.

The following is a list of the essential elements that make up the conventional post and panel flooring system:

Post (pedestal): This is a vertical support that can be adjusted to provide support for the floor panels that were discussed earlier. At each corner, a steel post serves as the point of attachment for the panel, which has a total of four posts. Typically, an adhesive made of epoxy resin is used to bond the posts to the subfloor. However, mechanical fasteners may also be used if necessary.

A stringer is a piece of horizontal hardware that connects to the post head and, if necessary, provides additional lateral floor support.

When a floor is raised high enough for a person to crawl through or even walk through, there is typically a need for additional structural support as well as lighting.

Fire suppression systems and cable tray systems are two examples of potential additional requirements.

After the floor panels have been installed, they can be covered with a wide variety of flooring finishes, including carpet tiles, vinyl files, linoleum, high pressure laminate, rubber tiles, wood, marble, and stone and ceramic tiles. Other options include high pressure laminate, rubber tiles, and high pressure linoleum.

It will be necessary to have a specialized tool and a worker who has been trained in order to make any adjustments or repairs to the services that are located beneath the floor. The floor-puller, also known as a tile lifter or suction lifter, is a device that features a curved handle that sits atop a large suction cup. The suction lifter is first attached to a single tile, and then the tile is lifted using brute force. This is done in order to open the floor. In most cases, a hook and loop lifter is what's required to lift carpet tiles.

When utilizing a conventional raised access flooring system, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration.

Problems with the structure, such as rocking panels or gaps between the panels, can cause significant damage to the equipment and even lead to injuries to the personnel working with the equipment. It is of the utmost importance to keep an eye out for issues such as these by performing routine inspections to check on the structural integrity of the flooring system. This practice will assist in identifying and mitigating any problems that may arise before any harm is caused to any individuals or property.

If the process of installation is performed properly in the first place, then issues of this nature can be reduced or eliminated entirely. During the installation process, it is imperative that careful consideration be given to the state of the subfloor. The subfloor ought to be free of any and all debris, and it ought to be as level as is practicable. In addition to this, the walls that surround the steel access floor must be as square as is humanly possible. This will reduce the amount of panel cutting that needs to be done, which will, in turn, reduce the amount of panel rocking and gaps.

Another thing you want to steer clear of is flooring that is inadequate for the load requirements of the working space. There is a wide range of load ratings, from 1,000 to 25,000 pounds. It is possible to combine the panels by installing those with a lower weight in the areas of the building with a lighter load and those with a higher weight in the areas of the room with a heavier load.

In conclusion, conventional post and panel raised access flooring systems are an excellent solution for situations in which heavy-duty systems such as air distribution are required. To service these floors, either independent contractors from the outside or highly trained employees from within will be required.

This flooring system does not make it simple to get to the pipes, wires, and other components that are located below the floor. To gain access to the plenum, you will need to use a specialized tool because the individual panels are quite heavy. Additionally, it is not recommended to pull too many floor panels at the same time because doing so can cause the entire floor to lose its stability. This can be a significant issue if you are several feet off the ground.

In addition to the conventional post and panel design for raised flooring, there are a few other models of raised flooring systems that can be purchased. These models are somewhat distinct from one another. Applications in telecommunications and data centers are where these are most useful.