2026/05/15

A trump card for increasing ceiling height!? A case study showcasing a 50mm increase in ceiling height achieved through Raised Access Floor renovation.

Raised Access Floor

Construction costs have risen by approximately 30% over the past decade, and have been increasing particularly sharply in recent years.
Furthermore, in recent years, consideration for the global environment, including the circular economy, has become an important theme for the entire construction industry.
Amidst the need to balance cost and environmental considerations, the option of "renovation," which enhances the value of existing buildings while making the most of them, rather than rebuilding based on the premise of "scrap and build," is gaining attention as a realistic decision.
The example we're introducing today is a renovation project of an existing building where the ceiling height was increased by approximately 50mm by reconsidering the raised access floor, thereby enhancing the sense of openness and effectiveness of the space.

The raised access floor was updated in conjunction with the restoration work.

In typical restoration work, raised access floors are often simply repaired.
However, in this case, we took advantage of the timing of the restoration work to replace the raised access floor itself.
This renovation goes beyond simply replacing existing fixtures with identical ones; it involves revising the raised access floor height to a sufficiently high level, thereby securing ceiling height and enhancing the value of the space.
Specifically, we upgraded from the existing H=100mm Raised Access Floor to a H=40mm "Network Floor 40," achieving an increase of approximately 50mm in ceiling height within the private area.

Will it fit properly if the height is changed? → It can be handled with a downward ramp.

When you hear "lower the height of the raised access floor," many people probably wonder, "What about the step at the entrance?"
In this case, a raised access floor with a height of 100mm was installed from the time the building was newly constructed, resulting in a flat, step-free finish at the boundary between the common areas and the private areas, via a threshold.
By reducing the height of the raised access floor in the private area, a step is created at the threshold. Therefore, this time, we created an interference space (H=100mm) within the private area that is level with the common area, approximately the width of one foot plus a little extra, and installed a "downward ramp" from there.
Some people may find the term "downhill ramp" strange, but if the outward journey is an uphill ramp, the return journey will always be a downhill ramp.
In this case, the practical impediments were minimal, and the fit was deemed perfectly acceptable.

Is the wiring capacity sufficient? → We have secured more than enough capacity.

Another question frequently asked when lowering the height of a raised access floor is, "Is the wiring capacity sufficient?"
The network floor system adopted this time has been used in various buildings since the early Heisei era when wired connections were the norm, and as of 2026, it is estimated to cover 1,600 million square meters.²We have a track record of delivering more than [number] deliveries.
In addition, due to changes in the office environment from the Heisei to the Reiwa era, such as the spread of wireless LANs and the decline in landline telephones, the amount of wiring in offices is on a downward trend.
Based on the above, it is believed that concerns about wiring capacity when considering network floor layouts can be resolved in most modern projects.
Furthermore, we can also create "wiring simulation diagrams" tailored to the specific requirements of each project.
We intentionally set generous margins when considering the expected number of employees and the amount of spare wiring needed for the future. We also conduct interviews with electrical equipment managers to provide materials that make them feel confident and secure.
Please contact us for details.

Ceiling height, rather than floor height, is what determines the value of an office.

In modern offices, where the amount of wiring has decreased, the height of the raised access floor itself is not as important as it once was.
Rather, in recent years,
Well-being
Wellness
• Biophilic design
The perspective of "how to make working people feel comfortable" is considered very important.
In spaces with low ceilings, people are more likely to feel cramped or confined, and it has been pointed out that prolonged stays in such spaces can become an unconscious source of stress, potentially leading to decreased concentration and increased fatigue.
If sufficient wiring capacity is known, reducing the height of the raised access floor and increasing ceiling height could be a rational option to improve the office environment and enhance its value.
If you are considering lowering the height of your raised access floor, please contact us.