Knowledge Base

Raised Access Flooring

What Is a Raised Access Floor?

Modern buildings demand far more than simply a level floor. They require the flexibility to accommodate constantly evolving technologies, services and workplace layouts without costly structural alterations. Raised access flooring provides exactly that solution.

A raised access floor creates a structural platform above the building's concrete slab using a grid of adjustable steel pedestals that support removable floor panels. This creates a concealed service void beneath the finished floor where electrical cables, data networks, telecommunications, plumbing, ventilation systems and other building services can be installed, protected and easily accessed whenever required.

Unlike traditional solid floors, individual panels can be lifted and replaced in minutes, allowing maintenance, repairs or modifications to be carried out with minimal disruption to the building's occupants.

A Brief History

The first apperance of a raised access floor was approximately 2,100 years ago (80 BC) and in the form of a roman hypocaust however in its current guise raised access flooring first appeared during the 1950s and 1960s alongside the rapid growth of large computer installations. Early mainframe computers required vast numbers of power and communication cables together with sophisticated cooling systems. Running these services beneath a removable floor proved far more practical than embedding them within the building structure.

As computers became smaller and office technology evolved, raised access flooring quickly became standard throughout commercial office buildings.

Today, raised access flooring is used in a wide range of applications including:

Commercial offices
Data centres
Control rooms
Hospitals
Laboratories
Educational facilities
Financial institutions
Government buildings
Broadcast facilities
Retail and public buildings

Its flexibility allows buildings to adapt to changing technology throughout their lifetime, significantly reducing refurbishment costs and extending the usable life of the property.

Meeting the Demands of Modern Buildings

Today's buildings face challenges that simply did not exist when raised access flooring was first introduced.

Modern construction places increasing emphasis on:

Sustainability
Indoor air quality
Environmental responsibility
Low VOC materials
Occupational health and safety
Faster installation
Long-term durability
Green building certification

These demands have driven significant advances in every aspect of raised access flooring technology, from panel design through to the adhesives, coatings and sealers used during installation.

The Next Generation of Installation Technology

At Star Uretech, we believe that innovation should improve both performance and safety. Our StarFix-ZERO range has been developed specifically to address the changing requirements of modern construction by replacing traditional adhesive technologies with cleaner, safer and more environmentally responsible alternatives.

The StarFix-ZERO range offers:

Zero VOC formulations for exceptional indoor air quality.
Indoor Air Comfort Gold (IAC Gold) certified, independently verifying ultra-low VOC emissions.
Support for LEED and BREEAM projects, helping specifiers meet sustainability objectives.
Hazard-free formulations, eliminating many of the hazardous solvents and substances associated with conventional products.
Outstanding bond strength and durability, ensuring long-term structural performance.
Cleaner, safer installation, improving working conditions for installers while reducing environmental impact.

Supporting the Future of Flexible Buildings

As buildings become smarter, more connected and increasingly focused on sustainability, the performance expectations placed upon raised access flooring systems continue to grow.

While the steel pedestals and floor panels remain the visible elements of the system, the products used to install, protect and maintain them are equally important in delivering long-term performance.

From high-performance pedestal adhesives and waterproof tanking membranes to dustproof sealers and specialist maintenance products, the StarFix-ZERO range has been engineered to help raised access flooring systems meet the demands of modern construction—combining exceptional performance with independently verified environmental credentials and industry-leading installation technology.

Whether you're specifying a new commercial development, refurbishing an existing office, or constructing a mission-critical data centre, StarFix-ZERO provides the advanced adhesive and coating solutions needed to build raised access flooring systems that are ready for the future.