Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/734400
OCTOBER 2016 | 55 Raised Access Floors Raised access floors perfectly combine function and form by ROBIN BRUNET R aised access floors have emerged from their origins as a data centre solution to become the backbone of office and commercial buildings, thanks to their ability to house the many components associated with modern technology – as well as standard services. Moreover, manufacturers across North America and Europe have evolved these floors into a design feature in their own right; and as any developer eager to gather LEED points can attest, their delivery of efficient heating and cooling, if properly designed, is second to none. But even though raised access flooring as a building component is hardly new, additional benefits continue to be discovered by developers, case in point: it has been demonstrated that different sized modular raised floor panels with less ped- estals in data centre facilities allow for less congestion under the floor, providing easier airflow, energy consumption and enabling the placement of more equipment in the same room – which in turn enables building owners to generate more revenue. Innovations inspired by access floors also abound, such as the provision of in- floor active chilled beams, facilitated by companies like Sterling Cooper NDY and promoted heavily by firms like Tate Access Floors Inc. In-floor active chilled beams operate differently than their overhead counterparts because they catch cold air as it falls, heats it and supplies it back to the space; in cooling mode, the beams use only preconditioned air supplied from the pressurized underfloor plenum through an automatic damper. This results in significant reductions in energy and mainte- nance costs; plus, the systems require little or no ductwork. The innovations continue in 2016 via companies such as FreeAxez, a leading pro- vider of whole building adaptive cabling distribution systems. Recently, FreeAxez launched the latest versions of its Gridd and Gridd Power cable management sys- tems. Gridd is a UL-listed, modular, all-steel, adaptive cabling distribution system that safely distributes cables throughout a building directly beneath the finished floor. Gridd Power is a 50 amp electrical bus track system that allows devices and furniture to easily connect to electricity in the Gridd system. Earl Geertgens, CEO of FreeAxez, explains the significance of these systems by stating, "Whole building cabling distribution systems are the future of commer- cial and high-tech environments; Gridd is a catalyst for adaptive and collaborative space as it allows for commercial layouts to be reconfigured easily, quickly and at a significant cost savings compared to traditional raised flooring systems and other wiring methods." Installation with Gridd takes less than half the time of a post and panel raised floor, which means significant labour cost savings. The system can be repositioned, redeployed, reused, or recycled, in any building. It's no surprise that as large regions of Canada experience a surge of new build- ing construction, raised flooring manufacturers and distributors find themselves busier than usual in 2016. Julie Smith, communications manager, and Laura Stadler, associate product manager flooring and technology for Haworth Inc., report two digit growth rate for their company, which recently renovated its showrooms in North America and Asia, and received tremendous feedback for its all-important downtown Calgary facility. Canada is Haworth's third largest market and Alberta is a mecca for new construction and renovation projects that benefit from the com- pany's services. As with the other showrooms, Calgary is intended as a model for building own- ers and an inspiration for architects and engineers: located on the ground floor of a 35-storey skyscraper, the space was previously occupied by a restaurant with sig- nificantly uneven flooring – which of course Haworth's TecCrete access floor ren- dered a thing of the past. Stadler notes that the TecCrete system is ideal for challenging renovation proj- ects because it's easy to level uneven floors and creates a truly flexible workplace. Moves, add-ons and changes are simple, allowing customization and speed toward occupancy, which are especially important for leased buildings with new tenants. TecCrete's concrete raised floors are usually covered by carpet, but they can also be left bare for a minimalist appearance; they flex 50 percent less than steel access floors, which makes them ideal for developers who want a solid feel under their tenants' feet. Haworth also offers a wide range of finish options and endless opportunities for customization via TecCrete covered panels and bare panels, and Stadler points to this year's release of a new wood finish system that attaches. "Typical flooring is 24-by-24 inches, but these panels give the appearance of being seven-feet long, which opens up a wide range of design possibilities," she says. "We're currently look- ing into more finishes for release in the foreseeable future." As with any manufacturing sector faced with growing market opportunities, acquisitions and partnerships are one way to deliver enhanced services and prod- ucts to customers. Earlier this year, Camino Modular Systems Inc., manufacturer of the Raised Access Flooring (RAF), Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD) and Plug and Play Modular Power Distribution (MPD) Systems, partnered with Versaflex Systems as its exclusive distributor in Canada, Bermuda, and the Countries and Territories of the Caribbean. This gives the Toronto-based company a tremendous opportunity to expand its sales network as well as fortify its product offerings. Versaflex's patented dry fit click tile system with ceramic (gres porcellanato) top surface facilitates Elevated Style TecCrete access flooring system from Haworth Inc.; Gridd adaptive cabling distribution system from FreeAxez. TECCRETE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED WHITE/COURTESY HAWORTH INC.