Benefits of Installing an Access Floor in your Workplace

Many businesses and public institutions have gained a variety of benefits by installing raised access flooring. Workplaces with access floor systems include offices, computer rooms, data centers, studios, schools and call centers. This type of flooring improves safety, reduces maintenance costs and enhances the appearance of a room.

What is it?

Raised access floors consist of removable tiles that can be installed over a building’s existing floors. They create a space between the original floor and a raised surface. The height of this hidden space may only measure a few inches. On the other hand, it can also be several feet tall. Buildings may utilize this space in several different ways.

Purposes

Most access floors have electrical wires and communications cables in them. Depending upon the needs of a specific workplace, the floor might contain plumbing, telephone cords or network cables. Cooling and heating systems may be installed within a raised floor as well. Floor-based cooling helps to prevent large machines from overheating.

Connectivity

Access floor systems allow workers to place equipment in any portion of a large room. Electrical outlets, phone jacks and network ports can be installed in the floor, so there’s no need to keep all of the equipment near walls. It eliminates unsightly and potentially dangerous extension cords from the workplace as well.

Appearance

Thanks to the absence of long cables on the floors and walls, rooms with raised access floors usually look more professional. They also contain fewer tripping hazards. Raised floors are available in styles to match almost any workplace, including most industrial and commercial buildings. They can be made out of steel, combination of steel/wood, or combination of steel/cement-filled.

Maintenance

Another advantage of raised access flooring is that it reduces the difficulty of maintaining and upgrading cables. Some access floors even feature built-in lighting for the benefit of maintenance personnel. Cleaning also becomes easier when the janitor can use floor outlets to power a vacuum cleaner in any part of the room.

Implementation

The large office building is one type of workplace that often benefits from raised flooring. For example, perhaps an office room contains 40 cubicles that have been arranged in rows of eight. With the help of an access floor, phone jacks and electrical outlets can be installed in the 18 cubicles that aren’t positioned next to walls.

The bottom line is that easier maintenance and better electrical safety will result in lower operating costs. Furthermore, a professional-looking workplace inspires greater confidence among clients and staff. Raised access flooring also serves as a sound investment that increases the value of a building for decades to come.

Stephen Craig is a part of an elite team of writers who regularly contribute to hundreds of news sites and blogs. Follow him @SCraigSEO.