Are raised floor systems capable of supporting the typical loading of an office; will concentrated loads pose a problem?
The majority of access floor systems currently on the market are engineered to meet the concentrated, uniform and rolling loads experienced in a typical workplace environment. For example, galvanized steel-encased lightweight concrete panels combine the tensile strength of steel with the compressive strength of concrete to offer a high degree of rigidity. The lower self weight of both lightweight concrete, or steel-encased high density particle board panels, reduces deflection even further and makes removing the panels an easier process than that for equivalent standard concrete filled panels. High quality manufacturing processes enable panels made to very low dimensional tolerances such as 3.8 mm (0.15 in.). Together with a uniform panel thickness, good edge sealing, and flush-mounted floor diffusers it is possible to achieve a homogeneous floor surface over which loads can be distributed. Of course any systems is only as strong as its weakest link so attention must be paid to the ped
