2025/04/14

Cost Reduction with Raised Access Floors: 3 Key Points Explained

Raised Access Floor

previous column3 Benefits of Reassessing the Height of a Raised Access Floor", we briefly touched on cost reduction, but this time we would like to explain in more detail three key factors behind cost reduction that are attracting a lot of attention.

[Three points]

1. Low unit cost & third-party certified
2. No need for dustproof coating, reducing costs
3. No self-leveling required, reducing costs

1. Low unit cost and third-party certification (comparison between network floor and adjustable support products)

When I show people around the network floor, they sometimes say, "It looks kind of expensive."
This is just my imagination, but I think that the fact that it has a different structure from the familiar, pillar-adjustable Raised Access Floor that is common in society gives it a sense of being a special or exclusive product.

It is true that Network Floors have a different structure than adjustable-post Raised Access Floors, but is their price really higher?
Below is a summary of cost information and certification status.

* As of 2025 year	H=100 Quadfix 600	H=40 Network Floor 40
Design price (materials and construction)	¥20,700/m2	¥18,700/m2
Border processing fee	¥2,500/m	¥1,500/m
Third-party certification	Public Buildings Association quality performance evaluation product 3000N	Public Buildings Association quality performance evaluation product 3000N/5000N

As this table shows, the cost of the unit itself is actually lower than that of the adjustable support product (Quadfix 600).
There are many reasons for this, but one major one is the material that the Raised Access Floor is made of.
The most common materials used for Raised Access Floors are steel, concrete, resin, and wood.
Of these, iron is the most expensive, and the amount of iron used has a significant impact on product costs.
When comparing our adjustable support products with network floors, network floors, which are primarily made of concrete, can be offered at a lower cost.
Additionally, the construction costs tend to be relatively low as the construction effort is minimal.
All of our products have been evaluated for quality and performance by the Public Buildings Association, and their performance has been checked by a third party, so you can use them with confidence in any project.
The Network Floor is a single product that meets both the 3000N and 5000N standards, making it even more affordable.

② No need for dustproof coating, reducing costs (comparison between network floor and adjustable support products)

In many cases, it is anticipated that dustproof coating will be required in the area where the Raised Access Floor will be installed.
Without dust-proof coating, concrete powder and dust may adhere to the installed wiring, which may contaminate the finished surface when the wiring is routed.
However, this only applies to products with an exposed slab surface, such as the column-adjustable Raised Access Floor.
Network Floor's structure and construction procedures make it possible to minimize exposure of the slab surface.

The work required for applying and drying the dustproof coating can also be reduced, and as a secondary effect of adopting a network floor, costs can be reduced and construction time can be shortened.

3) No self-leveling required, reducing costs (comparison between network floor and lay-on products)

In many cases, it is anticipated that "self-leveling will be necessary in the area where the laid-type Raised Access Floor will be installed."
The accuracy of floor finishing using laid-type products depends on the accuracy of the floor surface of the slab, so it is true that if the slab surface is not smooth, there is a risk of rattling and noise.
However, this does not necessarily mean that costly self-leveling is necessary.
For network floors, the catalog states the following:

As you can see, self-leveling is not a required feature.
This is possible because the Network Floor has an "unevenness-following structure" that allows it to flexibly follow the unevenness of the floor substrate.

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If the floor precision is the same as that of direct floor areas such as corridors where a Raised Access Floor is not installed, it is possible to create a stable floor without incurring additional costs.

[If you are unsure whether this is really okay, please feel free to contact us.]

Although network floors may seem like a rather expensive product, they actually have the potential to reduce costs.
Our services (such as wiring simulation) can help you determine in advance whether changing the height will result in a shortage of wiring storage capacity.
Please take advantage of our services and consider introducing a network floor.