What is a Raised Access Floor? A thorough explanation of the types, selection methods, and cost-saving tips
What is a Raised Access Floor(OA Floor)? A thorough explanation of types, selection methods, and cost reduction tips
Raised Access Floor basics that you may not be able to ask about nowIntroducing key points for product selection
Raised access floors began to be introduced in the 1960s, and their adoption in newly constructed office buildings became standard around 1990. However, because raised access floors are hidden under tile carpets and are rarely seen by users, there are probably few opportunities to take an interest in the structure, materials, and performance of raised access floors.
Because end users walk on raised access floors every day, it is one of the building materials that requires many important selection points, such as safety and a comfortable walking experience, in addition to functionality related to wiring. Here, we will introduce basic knowledge and selection points for such "raised access floors."
A Raised Access Floor(OA Floor) is a double-layered office floor with space underneath to store cables, power outlets, etc. "Floor" literally means floor, and "OA" stands for Office Automation, which means using machines to automate and streamline clerical work that was previously done by hand.
With the spread of the Internet, office automation has progressed, and a large amount of wiring has appeared in offices. This has resulted in exposed wiring on the floor, as well as wiring moulds that cover exposed wiring with protective material, causing many problems such as tripping, wire breakage, and the hassle of changing the layout. To eliminate these dangers and inconveniences, raised access floors, which have the function of storing wiring within the floor, have become popular.
Cabling via Raised Access Floor
Wiring from the Raised Access Floor
Benefits of Raised Access Floor
Wiring is stored in the floor, and can be removed or relocated to the required location.
Prevents exposed wiring caused by people or carts moving around, and prevents wire breakage, falls, and injuries caused by tripping over moldings
Eliminating unevenness on the floor caused by exposed wiring and wiring moulds makes cleaning easier and maintains a beautiful appearance.
What is the difference between a "Raised Access Floor" and a "Free Access Floor"?
"Raised Access Floor" and "Free Access Floor" are both commonly used terms, but generally, "Free Access Floor" is a general term for a double-layered structure in which various cables, outlets, etc. are contained within the floor and space is provided underneath to allow wiring to be freely extracted above the floor.
"Raised Access Floor" refers to a type of free access floor that is used specifically in offices and other work spaces. However, there is no difference in performance or functionality between the two.
2. With construction costs soaring, now is the time to reduce costs by reconsidering the Raised Access Floor
With construction costs continuing to rise, cost optimization from the design stage onwards is more important than ever.
Raised access floors are used extensively in office buildings in particular, so reducing costs can be very effective.
Specifically, the following effects can be expected by (1) reviewing the height of the raised access floor and lowering it, and (2) selecting highly durable, long-life products. ・Reducing total construction costs by reducing floor height
・Reduced cost of the Raised Access Floor itself (low-floor products are generally cheaper)
・Cost reduction due to no need for dustproof coating *Limited to some floor-mounted products
・Reduction of LCC (life cycle cost) by reducing the frequency of renewal
Raised Access Floors are now attracting renewed attention as an effective countermeasure to rising construction costs from the standpoints of design rationality and construction efficiency.
The specific concept and cost-saving effects are explained in detail in the article below.
3. Raised Access Floor Type and Material
Raised Access Floors are broadly divided into three types, and the main materials used are concrete, plastic, and steel. Their features are as follows:
Made of concreteA・Laying mat type
Concrete is... Although it is somewhat heavy, it is durable, easy to wire, and provides the same comfortable walking feel as a normal floor.
Made of plasticB. Laying type
Plastic ones... It is lightweight and puts little strain on the building, but it has the unreliable feel that is characteristic of plastic, and it has some shortcomings in terms of durability and fire resistance.
Made of steelC・Height adjustable pedestal type
Steel is... The level can be adjusted and there is a lot of space for wiring, but there are some issues with a hollow popping sound and future rattles.
4. Evaluation and Certification System for Raised Access Floor Selection
When selecting a product, it is important to check the structure, materials, and performance of the product from various perspectives. Raised Access Floors come in a wide variety of structures and materials, and there are many products with different performance and features, so it is necessary to select a product that meets official standards.
There are two types of third-party certification systems that can be used to select a Raised Access Floor. Since a certain performance value must be met to obtain certification, checking whether a product is certified or not in advance will help you select a safe and secure product.
Two third-party certification systems
<<Construction Materials, Equipment, etc. Quality Performance Evaluation Project (Public Buildings Association Quality Performance Evaluation Products)>>
This is a certification system run by the Public Buildings Association (a non-profit organization) that proves that a product complies with the standard specifications for public building construction. To receive this evaluation, not only is the product's performance evaluated, but also factors such as a manufacturing and sales track record of more than three years, appropriate quality control, and after-sales service system are also evaluated.
■The following eight items are used to evaluate the performance of office floors, and all evaluation criteria must be met.
《JAFA Performance Evaluation and Certification System》
Operated by the Japan Access Floor Association (JAFA), this system aims to improve the convenience of product selection for users and the reliability of products by clarifying the method of displaying performance. Certification can be obtained if a product meets the performance standards and has a track record of 10 or more cases, making it an easy certification system to obtain even for new products.
5. Selection of suitable finishing materials for raised access floors
In recent years, raised access floors have been adopted for a variety of purposes other than offices, such as leisure facilities, commercial facilities, and sports gyms, making it important to select finishing materials that are appropriate for the intended use.Typically, tile carpets and vinyl floor tiles are used as finishing materials for raised access floors.
<< Tile carpet >>
There are two types of carpet tiles: those with adhesive pre-applied to the backing, and those without adhesive. If the carpet you want to use does not have adhesive pre-applied, you can have the backing glued on-site. (On-site glueing is an original technology from KYODO KY-TEC.) For Raised Access Floor work, where the carpet tiles are removed to change or relocate wiring, adhesive-backed carpet tiles are more efficient and suitable.
Vinyl floor tiles
Vinyl floor tiles are an option if you plan to use them with dirty shoes or if you prioritize the benefit of being able to wipe them off immediately when they get dirty. In recent years, a wide variety of colors and types have been added, including wood grain, stone patterns, and long types that imitate flooring, making them not only functional but also an important item for creating your preferred space.
6. Wiring Device Selection and Raised Access Floor
While it is important to select a raised access floor that is suitable for various environments, such as new construction or renovations, selecting the right wiring devices is also important to make the original purpose of wiring easier to design and manage. There are the following types of wiring devices available.
In-floor outlet
In-floor outlet (Harness type)
In-floor connection/above-floor takeout type Outlet (with cover)
Power Strips and Accessories
<<In-floor connection type outlet>>
It is housed within the OA floor, and the outlet is not visible on the floor at all. You can use an OA power strip or similar to take out the wiring from any position you like. It has a safety lock mechanism (a structure to prevent incorrect power connection).
In-floor outlet (harness type)
This is a type of in-floor outlet that uses a harness to connect the wiring. By using an OA tap specifically designed for harnesses, you can take out the wiring from any position you like.
<<In-floor connection/above-floor outlet (outlet with lid)>>
This is a dual-use type that allows you to take the wiring directly out from the outlet cover, or use an OA tap or similar to take the wiring out onto the floor from any location you like, allowing for in-floor connection and above-floor extraction.
Power Strip Accessories
Convenience can be enhanced by using accessories such as plug-in and locking type office electrical outlets, outlet caps that enhance the design of the wiring outlet location, and markers and pins that allow you to check the outlet location through finishing materials.
KYODO KY-TEC "Outlet Marker"
These small markers are attached to the finish material and are color-coded in three colors: gold, silver, and copper, depending on the type of wiring device (telephone, power, and information). Removing the finish material near the outlet marker makes it easy to find the outlet. We also offer outlet stickers that can be attached to the Raised Access Floor components in the outlet storage area.
Outlet marker sign
Power Strip Start-Up
Other notes
For power lines: The type of Power Strip that can be used depends on the plug shape of the outlet.
For LAN wiring: You will need to prepare a modular jack of a category that can take advantage of the performance of the specified equipment.
7. Selecting a Raised Access Floor to Match Wiring Capacity
When selecting a raised access floor, it is necessary to consider the number of people accommodated and the amount of wiring required. Use the table below as a guide to determine the best raised access floor for a typical office based on the number of people accommodated and the amount of wiring required. Also, when considering a raised access floor, care must be taken as there is a tendency for it to be over-specified.
→ The table can be scrolled to the right
Capacity and conditions
Recommended Raised Access Floor Types
Our Raised Access Floor applicable products
Use: General office
Capacity: 30 people or less
There are few electronic devices
In addition to wiring capacity, other important points to consider when selecting an OA floor include "walking feel," "durability," and "disaster prevention."
We believe it is our responsibility as a manufacturer to deliver safe and reliable products to users who choose KYODO KY-TEC products from among the many Raised Access Floor products available. We aim to create original products with excellent performance so that users can use them with peace of mind for a long time, never forgetting our gratitude to our users.
Product Focus Points
Excellent walking feel equivalent to that of a concrete floor
Highly durable and long-lasting products
Excellent disaster prevention and safety
End-user ease of use
Environmentally Friendly Products
Long-term product warranty system
In addition to this, before selling our products, we conduct our own special tests that are even stricter than those of public testing institutions to confirm safety. Because it is the floor that we walk on every day, we continue to focus on comfort and safety above all else.
KYODO KY-TEC develops Raised Access Floors with a strong focus on the walking feel. Not only can wobbling on a Raised Access Floor create the risk of tripping and falling, but problems caused by abnormal noises (such as rattles and creaks) can disrupt work or school. Choosing Raised Access Floors, which boast a proven track record and excellent walking feel, can help reduce stress and improve productivity.
Reduces maintenance costs
KYODO KY-TEC's Raised Access Floor uses unique technology that eliminates the need for level readjustment every few years due to wobbling or replacement work, preventing the hassle and unnecessary expense that occurs after adoption and reducing costs.
Long-term product warranty system allows you to use it with peace of mind
KYODO KY-TEC offers a long-term product warranty (up to 10 years), which is rare in the industry. This long-term warranty not only helps users avoid risk, but also guarantees the manufacturer's responsibility for supply. This helps avoid problems such as being unable to continue purchasing the product when changing the layout or the scope of the raised access floor.
Improve end-user experience
KYODO KY-TEC aims to develop products that are easy for end users to use. For wiring maintenance work, we not only design removable parts (wiring path covers, panels, etc.) to be lightweight, but also take measures such as increasing the number of positions for removing wiring.
The product's easy-to-use structure reduces hassle and improves the ease of wiring maintenance by users themselves.
High quality service available nationwide
With bases in major cities, we have established a system that allows us to respond quickly to user requests. Although we are a manufacturer, our primary focus is not on selling materials but on selling construction work, which allows us to provide high-quality products, construction, and services anywhere in the country.
We also provide comprehensive support for various construction projects other than the Raised Access Floor.
In addition to Raised Access Floor construction, we also handle various other construction work (finishing, various wiring, fixtures, interior design, etc.) all at once. We provide total support from proposals tailored to your needs to construction through a single point of contact, significantly reducing the burden on users.
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KYODO KY-TEC develops Raised Access Floors with a strong focus on the walking feel. Not only can wobbling on a Raised Access Floor create the risk of tripping and falling, but problems caused by abnormal noises (such as rattles and creaks) can disrupt work or school. Choosing Raised Access Floors, which boast a proven track record and excellent walking feel, can help reduce stress and improve productivity.
KYODO KY-TEC offers a long-term product warranty (up to 10 years), which is rare in the industry. This long-term warranty not only helps users avoid risk, but also guarantees the manufacturer's responsibility for supply. This helps avoid problems such as being unable to continue purchasing the product when changing the layout or the scope of the raised access floor.
KYODO KY-TEC aims to develop products that are easy for end users to use. For wiring maintenance work, we not only design removable parts (wiring path covers, panels, etc.) to be lightweight, but also take measures such as increasing the number of positions for removing wiring.
