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Modular Access Floors
Deepenings
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Conveying air and liquid in and out of buildings through under-floor
channels is not a new idea.
The most advanced ancient civilisations also used this technique
and designed areas in various points around the building where the
channels could be reached. Movable stone slabs and wooden boards
gave continuity to the flooring and at the same time allowed easy
access to the channels themselves.
The recent history of access flooring, however, started
with the invention of the first computers and with the need to connect machines
with multi-pole power Initial attempts to lay cables under traditional
rigid flooring, and then under raised structures combining fixed
and movable panels were soon overtaken by completely movable systems,
the forerunners to modern access flooring.
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The introduction of
electric and electronic machines into offices marked an upturn in
the quantity and quality of access flooring and signalled a new way
of dealing with the design and construction of commercial buildings..
The appearance and furnishing of offices has changed drastically
in recent years. The advent of computers has revolutionised working
methods and space management. It is significant that we no longer
talk of desks, cupboards, filing cabinets, etc. Today the
design and subdivision of office space revolves around the creation
os work
stations. Nowadays operators receive, process and send information
via keyboards, terminals, video screens, telephone sets and inter
phones. They are connected directly to other operators and to electronic
filing systems or junctions, thus creating a complex data communication
network.Every work station must be supplied with optimum light, temperature
and air humidity to ensure that the operators and machines work as
comfortably and efficiently as possible. Other factors such as noise
levels a d aesthetics are essential when creating the ideal working
atmosphere.
Construction techniques have changed
significantly in recent times to make way for new concepts
of flexibility,
indispensable in the way we manage space nowadays. Work stations
and environment lay-outs are becoming increasingly sophisticated
to keep
pace with both the advanced technology of work and information systems,
and the improved organisation of modern, dynamic companies. The
flexibility provided by access flooring has proved an indispensable asset to
the organisation of modern businesses. The availability of an almost
limitless systems area that, at any given time and in any given position,
allows access to electric power supplies, telephone and data cables,
connections to other machines, air-conditioning, pipes for hot or
cold water, or any other type of fluid, not to mention various security
systems, is indispensable when ensuring that an area is perfectly
served. It can be changed whenever necessary to meet new needs without
any further cost, while leaving aesthetics unaffected and systems
operational.
It is important to stress that the concept of flexible space is by
no means limited to large companies with hundreds or thousands of
operators. Nowadays even small firms with a handful of employees
can no longer do without modern, flexible and efficient organisation
systems. In the past various attempts were made (and some are still
in operation) to avoid the use of access flooring. These involved
various types of flat cables hidden under the layer that covered
the floor. The specific nature of the cables, their cost and limitations
imposed by the useful sections of power supply cables, the difficulty
of connecting cables both to one another and to equipment means this
system pales when compared to the benefits offered by access flooring.
Other attempts have been made using perimeter channels or elements
installed in false ceilings. Forseeably enough these methods were
completely insufficient.
It is easy to understand how the advantages offered by access
flooring to computer centres and offices could be directly transferred to
countless others sectors such as scientific laboratories, medical
research rooms such as TAC, RMS and radiological departments, doctors’ and
dentists’ surgeries in general, control rooms, conference halls,
television studios and cinemas, industrial production departments,
photographic and photocomposition studios, restructuring and conversion
of disused buildings, museums, banks and shops.Wherever work is carried
out using electronic or electric equipment that must be connected
to a power-supply or other systems, access flooring can be used with
undeniable advantages in these fields, too. If this type of work
is prone to change because of developments in technology, access
flooring becomes a necessary and irreplaceable asset.
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With regard to new buildings, a few
fundamental factors must be observed when drawing up plans.
Although in theory access flooring can be used in any environment,
there are some special areas such as bathrooms, landings and stairs
where for obvious reasons, it would be best to use traditional hard
flooring.
The design of the different levels must take into account the fact
that rigid flooring areas are higher than access flooring areas,
and that once the latter has been installed, the two must be joined
without using ramps or steps.
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Obviously the same
must also apply to windows. Plant engineering will be considerably
simplified; planners only have to worry about designing riser areas
for electricity, water, air, gas, etc. The distribution of these
services around the floor is an extremely easy and economical operation
as there are no longer any limitations imposed by detailed plans
of the various building areas.
Laying cables and pipes is simple and does not add to the basic costs
since plant areas will be accessible at any time for modifications,
additions and extensions to systems. This method means there are no
design or installation problems for new systems developed in the foreseeable
future. Experience has proved that it is practically impossible to
predict the systems of the future given the pace of technological development
and work organisation. There is no longer any need to pre-establish
sub-divisions or future purposes of different building areas with all
the planning problems this entails. Experience has proved traditional
planing to be so rigid and inflexible that consequently it is difficult
to implement the changes which inevitably arise between the planning,
completion and installation stages. This invariably means that any
changes or improvements made are often unsatisfactory and unproductive
for the user and are always expensive, both financially and in terms
of time.
Prefabricated partition walls and access flooring are an ideal
combination when considering space management. Architects can therefore design
plans and continue working until building has been completed, without
knowing the interior lay-out of the environment, or if they so choose,
ignoring its future purpose. These are obvious advantages to be gained
from using access flooring for buildings destined for multi-purpose
commercial use.With regard to redeveloping existing buildings, or,
as frequently happens nowadays, when old industrial buildings situated
in urban areas are reconverted, access flooring is an indispensable
asset. Support structures and modular panels can be easily installed
on flooring which is rough, old, unusable, or unsuitable. All the technical
systems that were not available in the old structure and are indispensable
to the new one can be installed in the space underneath the new floor.
Access flooring can also easily reduce the height of old environments,
unsuited to modern space management, or bridge any existing differences
in height. Reconversion will be simple and economic with a considerable
reduction in work times and most importantly, will not limit any future
changes, should the areas have to be used for different purposes. It
is also worth mentioning that during the redevelopment of old buildings
which are of historical or architectural significance, it is often
prohibited to alter the floors and existing building structure. In
these cases only access flooring can make efficient use of the space
available, equipping the environment for its new function. Only the
availability of space under the floor will allow the installation of
the necessary plant and technical services. The existing structure
will not be damaged in any way and can easily be returned to its original
state if necessary. Architects will also be able to create special
aesthetic effects, blending the new structure and colours with any
existing areas still visible.
Why choose Uniflair access flooring rather than a traditional floor?
First and foremost for the amount of time saved: Shorter work time:
when constructing or redeveloping a building, a considerable amount
of time is spent waiting for the concrete to dry. As Uniflair floors
are “prefabricated”, they are installed dry and do not
need special concrete: the flooring is installed with finishes already
in place ;
Shorter installation time: due to the simplicity of the components;
Shorter plant installation time: the area created in the plenum allows
direct connections and instant access to plant, without the building
work this would normally entail; Shorter system maintenance/repair
time: it is well known that norms and technology for technical plant
are forever changing; with access flooring any consequent adjustments
are considerably simplified as total access is given to every system.
Uniflair access flooring has revolutionised construction site economy.
Possibility to split construction over time.
Rapid Amortisation
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