Wherever there is a situation where more than one computer is needed in a room then there will be a need to pass the cabling through a hidden area. Even though the latest trend has been to do this through suspended ceilings and concealed behind dry walling, the best and wisest choice for a computer room is usually still the computer floor.
Computer flooring is elevated above the concrete slab and is the hidden area or passage for the wiring, cables, mechanical services, and the electric supply. It provides easy access for technicians who can crawl and in some cases even walk through.
The heights of such flooring installations can vary from 2 inches to 4 feet and also may support the lighting of the area.
Specialized areas such as command centers, IT data centers and computer rooms are the best examples of where you find computer flooring, but it’s becoming common in most newly designed offices because the void below the raised floor is used a lot throughout the U.S. for under-floor air distribution for air conditioning.
There are more advantages to creating a raised floor than any of the other methods and in this article; we will look at them analytically.
- Grounding and static dissipation
Firstly, since computer rooms have static concerns, raised floors make it easy to tie them into the building ground and they offer protection against static dissipation. High-pressure laminate flooring tiles are popular because they effectively dissipate static into the floor system.
- Easy service outlet installation for upgrade and reorganization
Once an office is set up with wall outlets it is difficult to add more locations at a later stage without undertaking costly alterations. Computer flooring offers flexibility for any future upgrades and reorganization of the space since it is easy to lift, even just a few panels, and extra service outlets can be installed anywhere and at any time.
- Updates in technology are effortless
If a technology update is required, computer flooring allows ease of access while it also allows for the easy installation of floor diffusers for better air quality within the space. Raised floor tiles are also easy to change if any are damaged or if a new look is required.
- Airflow and your equipment
There are different ways to manage the airflow of sensitive computer equipment, but access floors are still one of the best. Partitions for hot-and cold-aisle containment can be added easily to sections in access flooring since it can be raised and the cabling is directly underneath. Modification with the use of added grates or perforated raised floor tiles is also easier to do with flooring as opposed to ceilings or walls. During computer use, there is the creation of heating from high-density loads and in order to ensure that there is efficient cooling of the equipment by routing the air to it correctly.
Overhead air distribution reduces air quality because it carries pollutants upward and also makes temperature control difficult since the air mix might be too cold or too warm. It is not energy efficient to run overhead air distribution because warm air rises and more energy is needed to push cold air down.
- Cable Management becomes easier
Computer equipment uses an extensive network of cables. These are safer when tucked away somewhere and your office area will look better when it is concealed. Computer flooring allows for cables to be:
- Tucked away out of sight making for and a neat looking office area.
- Tripping accidents are prevented.
- Cabling is not lying around exposed which deteriorates its insulation and renders it vulnerable to heat damage.
- Weight distribution
Finally, server cabinets and computer equipment have generally become heavier and can damage any surface where they are placed on. Raised computer floor systems are designed to ensure the even distribution of the load over the entire floor plan. The design of the floor will depend on the type of load and for very heavy loads an all steel floor filled with concrete could be suggested. The computer floor will then offer greater rolling load and stationary equipment protection. Very heavy loads will also need the grid under the floor to be bolter. Individual floor tiles can still be removed even if a rigid grid has been created and the stringers or cross-pieces are bolted to the pedestal or floor jacks.
