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What Lies Beneath The raised access flooring sector breaks new ground by Robin Brunet E ven though raised access flooring goes back to Roman times, its modern evolution is relatively brief. First came its use in computer rooms, IT data centres and command facilities as a way to route mechanical services and cables. After that it became a mainstay in commercial buildings, and today it's rapidly becoming the preferred way to cool buildings, with the void between the raised floor and substrate acting as a plenum chamber to distribute conditioned air. Jim Mathis, VP marketing and product management for Camino Modular Systems Inc., says raised access flooring is effective as an air distribution system. "The Europeans and Japanese started the trend, but now more and more developers – especially those trying to build sustainable, high-performance buildings – are realizing it's the most efficient way to provide clean air." Mathis mentions Hines as one developer that appreciates the benefits and incorporates raised access flooring into most of its new buildings. Mathis adds that while raised access floor air distribution is ideal for offices, "it's not so great for venues such as hospitals where HVAC is strictly controlled for patients, and access floors in general aren't suitable for any kind of area that is wet-mopped." Mathis cites Stantec as an example of how raised access flooring is becoming an option for different types of construction. "Stantec recently installed a raised floor in an old warehouse it was renovating to accommodate its Toronto operations," he says. "This directly addresses the main challenge facing the access floor market in the future, that of being a viable option in renovation projects. Stantec and other companies are proving that with a little care and planning, it can be [viable]." Tate Access Floors Inc. is continually Raised Access Flooring developing new accessory products to be used in conjunction with its raised access floor systems in order to improve performance, installation time and ease of maintenance. This year Tate is expanding its product portfolio to include higher-end finishes, such as a porcelain tile with a PVC edge that gives the impression of grouting and enhances floor lines. The intention of these products is to make it easier for developers to incorporate raised access floors in building designs. "With the higher-end finishes, raised access floors can now be installed in lobby areas, where high ceilings are ideal for underfloor air distribution as opposed to the overhead air distribution that these areas normally receive," says Scott Alwine, Tate marketing manager. Cementitious Infill Steel Access Floor. Photos courtesy Jindao Floors. "The Europeans and Japanese started the trend, but now more and more developers – especially those trying to build sustainable, high-performance buildings – are realizing it's the most efficient way to provide clean air." – Jim Mathis, VP marketing and product management, Camino Modular Systems Inc. Another innovative Tate product is its PosiTile carpet. Each PosiTile carpet module is engineered to match one-toone with a Tate ConCore access floor panel. The combination of carpet and panel preserves the flexibility of the underfloor service distribution system and allows for the reuse of carpet tiles during layout changes. Four ultrasonically-welded buttons on the underside of the tile provide precise indexed alignment with four matching holes in the ConCore panel; this enables anyone to rearrange the work area quickly and easily. Raised access flooring can contribute significantly to the overall ambiance of any facility, and companies such as Haworth Inc. have combined esthetics with superior durability to deliver a product that is suitable not just for computer rooms but also schools, libraries, offices – even museums and casinos. Haworth's TecCrete is a concrete and steel composite ideal for learning environments due to the material's ability to dampen the sound of footfalls. Its use in data centres is desirable because it is available in a full range of static dissipative and conductive finish options. With available heights of three to 68 inches, TecCrete is arguably suitable for almost any application. For pure visual appeal, Tecnika is Haworth's showcase raised access floor. It's a real cement Terrazzo available in 21 different standard colours, three different finishes (polished, matte and brushed) Tecnika, a Terrazzo raised access floor from Haworth. october 2013    /31 13-08-23 12:21 PM p30-35Raised floors_lighting.indd 31 13-09-13 3:39 PM

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