Raised Floor for the Office: Convenience & Practicality

A raised floor is a demountable floor lifted above a solid base. Between the main floor and this covering, a free space is created in which engineering services can be conveniently hidden. For an office this is one of the best solutions: it addresses the cabling problem, layout flexibility and the aesthetics of the space all at once.

One of the typical challenges in organising an office is how to hide the mass of wires and cables that power the equipment. A technical floor solves this elegantly: all the services run beneath it, while the surface stays clean and tidy. In this guide we look at how a raised floor is built, what its advantages are, and what is taken into account during installation.

What a raised floor is and how it is built

Structurally, a raised floor is a set of removable panels on adjustable pedestals, lifted above the rough base. The space beneath them is what makes the system so convenient: the height of the free space is adjusted to your needs, and the panels themselves can be lifted and rearranged easily when required.

Such a construction is universal — it mounts onto a base of practically any type. A raised floor is also quick to install: unlike self-levelling floors, for example, there is no need to wait after mounting — the room is ready to use straight away.

Hidden services in the office

The main value of a raised floor is the space for engineering networks. Beneath the panels, office cabling and services sit freely:

• air ducts of the air-conditioning system;
• power cables;
• heating and sewerage systems;
• low-voltage network wires.

At the wire exit points, special distribution hatches are arranged, through which office equipment is connected. If needed, such a panel-hatch can be moved to the required spot and the furniture rearranged. When a new renovation is carried out, the mobile hatches are simply moved, and the panels with network sockets are shifted to the equipment installation points — leaving only cosmetic updating to do.

Flexibility and mobility of layout

It is mobility that makes a raised floor indispensable for offices that change configuration often. A room can be planned independently of where the electrical networks and engineering services run — sockets and outlets are formed wherever they are needed now.

If a company grows or changes its structure, re-planning doesn’t turn into a major renovation: the panels with sockets and hatches are reinstalled in a convenient spot, and the space gets a new configuration without dismantling the floor. This kind of flexibility is best planned at the design stage.

Finish coverings and aesthetics

Another plus is the range of finish coverings. There are practically no limits for the finish:

• carpet;
• ceramic or PVC tile;
• laminate;
• linoleum;
• parquet board.

The covering is chosen to match the overall interior, colour palette and style of the space, taking operating conditions and the client’s wishes into account. So the technical advantage of a raised floor doesn’t force you to sacrifice appearance — the office looks exactly as intended in the design.

Advantages of a raised floor in the office

A raised floor combines advantages that no other flooring option offers:

• freedom of layout — independent of where the electrical networks and services run;
• free space not occupied by wires;
• mobility — panels with sockets and hatches are easy to move when re-planning;
• choice of covering — practically any material, with no limits on style or colour;
• universality — mounts onto a base of any type;
• adjustable height of the space beneath the floor;
• speed of installation — the room can be used immediately;
• comfort for staff and visitors;
• savings on climate control — the layer between the base and the panels helps save on heating and cooling.

A raised floor is also economical: the construction is mounted once, and service outlets can then be formed at any required points. Such systems are non-flammable and environmentally safe. It is no accident that the presence of raised floors is a mandatory condition for assigning a certain category to business centres.

Raised floor installation in the office

When carrying out an office renovation with a raised floor, we take into account the operating conditions, the humidity of the space and all the client’s wishes. The work is done in the shortest possible time, and its cost is affordable for the vast majority of clients.

Since electrics, ventilation, sewerage and low-voltage networks run beneath a raised floor, it makes sense to install it as part of a single complex of works. Partner Create delivers the full cycle — from design to completion — under general contracting. Examples of completed offices are in the office spaces portfolio.

Raised floor in the office in brief

• A raised floor is a demountable floor on pedestals that hides engineering services beneath it.
• Beneath the panels sit air ducts, power cables, heating, sewerage and low-voltage wiring.
• Distribution hatches let you connect equipment at the required points and change the layout easily.
• The finish covering can be anything: carpet, tile, laminate, linoleum, parquet board.
• Advantages: flexibility, mobility, fast installation, savings on climate control, non-flammability.
• A raised floor is a mandatory condition for a certain category of business centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

Order a raised floor for your office from Partner Create

A raised floor means hidden services, a flexible layout and aesthetics with no compromise. Partner Create will design and install the technical floor alongside the other engineering networks and take responsibility for the result.

Explore our work in the portfolio, read useful materials on the blog, or get in touch to discuss your project. Call +38 050 388 24 49.

We also recommend Construction Works in the Office: Types & Stages and Ventilation or Air Conditioning: What to Choose — these are the systems most often hidden under a raised floor.