Raised access flooring
Raised access flooring
(OP)
I am conducting several tests for a 40,000 sq.ft medical facility with a raised floor.
While I was not on site every day, I did observe all trades take particular care with sealing all below floor cavities with sealant, including electrical conduit which passes through the floor.
I do expect some leakage.
I have measured approximately .005 thru .015 'wc in a numnber of areas. Does this suggest good sealing in some areas but not others.
I am measuring airflows this week so will be able to compare sum of diffusres to air measured at the air handler.
Is there a standard test for these floors?
thank you,
Tom
While I was not on site every day, I did observe all trades take particular care with sealing all below floor cavities with sealant, including electrical conduit which passes through the floor.
I do expect some leakage.
I have measured approximately .005 thru .015 'wc in a numnber of areas. Does this suggest good sealing in some areas but not others.
I am measuring airflows this week so will be able to compare sum of diffusres to air measured at the air handler.
Is there a standard test for these floors?
thank you,
Tom





RE: Raised access flooring
RE: Raised access flooring
Most of the leakage I've encountered, after a sealed floor plenum is done, are the field-cut floor panels around columns and other places like full height acoustic walls and firewalls - those will be a hard thing to get done right.
Depending on the floor tile manufacturer, the panel to panel sealing can be an issue - I've seen some folks use duct tape to seal the panel to panel edges before the finished flooring material goes down. But then that sort of reduces the whole "accessible floor" service access doesn't it?
Locally, the feedback I've had from operators of general office buildings where the UFAD raised access floors have been used is that they are so tight and jammed with ducts, pipes, and cable trays, that the IT and Comms people hate them because the access and ease of dealing with services churn rate is worse than the usual dropped ceiling plenum. Trying to run new services in the raised floor while dealing with support posts every 24" on centre can be a pain.
RE: Raised access flooring
I am finding the hard to fit interfaces is where UFAD leaks the most.
It was a bit of a chore policing the work, but it did get done reasonably well.
I was actually surprised when the engineer was very non-chalant about the sealing...maybe his fan is too large.
I will know by the end of the week and send more info..
Tom
RE: Raised access flooring
However air tightness of the floor plenum on the remaining five sides which may border non conditioned spaces is very critical.Any penetrations,crevices etc on these sides would need rigourous treatment.