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Everything about Raised Floor Air Distribution

Everything about Raised Floor Air Distribution

June 16, 2021
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What Is Raised Floor Air Distribution System?

The Raised Floor Air Distribution, or as many refer to it as the Under Floor Air Distribution (UFAD), is an innovative strategy for providing ventilation and space conditioning in apartments or houses as a part of an HVAC system.

The Raised Floor method has turned out to be a popular alternative for ceiling-based traditional air ducts. The open space between the Raised Floor system and the structural concrete slab is used for the UFAD for it helps to carry conditioned air into the zone of the building directly.

 

Why Does One Need Raised Floor Air Distribution System?

Since the past twenty or thirty years from when architects began incorporating RAF (Raised Access Flooring) into the design of the buildings, the occupants of these buildings have been able to experience a more significant number of benefits.

Internal air quality, temperature, and humidity can be maintained in a building by introducing a combination of fresh air inside and extracting the stale air of the building through filtration. And nowadays, the HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system designs are devised to evenly supply air in buildings through either conventional air ducts or Raised Floor design.

One of the other reasons why buildings need to have Raised Floor Distribution System is because the RAF design has benefited occupants of the space by providing a cavity formed by the Raised Floor Panels. The cavity formed between the resultant floor level and the bottom slab works as an underfloor pathway.

The space changes in the underfloor of a building can be easily accomplished by relocating floor panels by adding or deleting some modular sections of cables. Not only that, but the UFAD system also lowers a building's energy bills by reducing about 30% of the energy required and increasing the effectiveness of ventilation by 20%, as it results in a dramatic enhancement of indoor air quality and thermal comfort to occupants.

Where To Use Raised Floor Air Distribution System?

Even though the Raised Floor Air Distribution Systems are not suitable for every type of buildings, but it is evident that they have a higher potential for saving energy and providing improved comfort to the occupant.

The Raised Access Flooring design is an excellent option for expanding or planning offices to expand their operations. These buildings often find the factors like lack of communication connectivity or available power sources as hindrances in their workflow. Therefore, during the up-gradation of infrastructure, the officials prefer using the RAF design that provides a better underfloor pathway and is benefitted from the Raised Floor Air Distribution feature.

 

What Are The Advantages Of Raised Floor Air Distribution?

The Raised Floor Air Distribution Systems provide numerous energy-saving beneficial opportunities over the conventional overhead Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. Among the advantages of using Raised Floor Air Distribution, a few significant ones are:

  • Raised Floor Air Distributionhelps in lowering ductwork pressure and hence results in reducing the supply fan horsepower.
  • The floor plenum used for air distribution creates a thermal storage effect on the building's structure because the Raised Floor Air Distribution system allows satisfaction of peak loads to be with the cooling generated during the off-peak hours.
  • The Raised Floor Air Distributionresults in the utilization of outdoor air for cooling during the higher supply-air temperatures for extended periods.
  • Due to the increase of supply and return air temperatures, the possibility for higher chiller operational efficiencies.
  • Raised Flooring in buildings compared to the conventional HVAC systems not only supply air at higher temperatures but also allows the return of air at higher temperatures.

 

How To Use Raised Floor Air Distribution System?

The Raised Floor Air Distribution Systems are essentially utilized for maintaining the internal air quality, temperature, and humidity of a building. However, the Raised Flooring also creates a vacant space between the raised floor and the original floor slab.

This cavity or pathway provides the building with an infrastructure for UFAD, HVAC service, passive or active zone cabling, and modular wiring. The cables for power supply, communication and data are located inside these cavities and routed via the modular connections to outlet boxes of system furniture panel or other modular links.

 

How To Install Raised Floor Air Distribution System?

The Raised Floor Air Distribution System usually consists of a rigid structural grid used to support laying the floor panels. These floor panels are generally constructed of reinforced steel or a concrete type material.

The floors panels create a cavity between the resultant floor level and the original building floor, and that consequent floor is about 12 to 36 inches above the slab. The floor panels used are typically 1 inch to 1.5inches thick.

To install RAF design, professionals like that of Accessfloor Store can be hired. We provide the best quality of Raised Floor Perforated Panels. We also offer services for the complete installation of Raised Floor Systems.

 

Conclusion

It is evident from the discussed material that no doubt the Raised Floor Air Distribution Systems are more beneficial than the conventional top duct ventilation. The vacant area or cavity created by the raised floor design is used for multiple office buildings. And as experienced professionals in this field, we at Accessfloor Store will provide a satisfactory service for the installation of Raised Floor Systems.