Installation Guide
How to store and install your raised flooring system
PURCHASING GUIDE
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Material storage
Immediately after unloading, the materials must be stored in dry premises, protected from the elements, and secured with all doors and windows installed. Preferably, the temperature should range between 5\u00b0C and 35\u00b0C, with relative humidity between 40% and 70%.
Site preparation
In the case of new constructions, the screed must be fully cured (at least 2 months if made with traditional concrete). The screed must also be clean and sufficiently level. It is necessary to treat the screed with a dust-proof primer. Installation of window frames, ceilings, and any related work for technological and electrical systems must be completed beforehand. All masonry work, including plastering and painting, must be finished at least 24 hours prior to installation.
The rooms where the raised flooring will be installed must be completely cleared and made available to the installer. The systems must be definitively completed before installation begins and arranged according to the grid for the placement of the pedestal supports. This grid must be marked in advance with ground paint so that ducting and system lines do not interfere with the raised flooring structure. Rigid conduits on the subfloor should not be laid near the perimeter of the room’s walls or columns.
The grid formation should, where possible, allow for perimeter panel cuts larger than 15/18 cm for obvious aesthetic and stability reasons. It is also recommended to verify with a laser level that the thresholds and any reference planes are at the same elevation.
The installation
After verifying the preparation conditions mentioned above, the subfloor must be cleaned, and a durable dust-proof polyurethane or epoxy-based paint applied. This treatment, while always recommended, is essential if the plenum between the subfloor and the raised floor is used for air conditioning.
It is important to carefully determine the starting point for installation by establishing two orthogonal reference axes, securing two guide strings, and verifying their orthogonality using the Pythagorean theorem (see table). The installation should proceed while checking the floor’s flatness with precision bubble levels or laser devices.
The movement of heavy furniture (such as safes or other items) must be carried out using carts with wheels running on boards or sheets, or with suitable rubber rollers, avoiding dragging any objects on the panels to prevent damage to coverings or cracks in the panel joints.
It is mandatory to secure all pedestals with suitable adhesive, and pedestrian traffic is not allowed before 12 hours have passed. The installation of accessories, particularly recessed outlets, must be carried out according to the client’s layout. The installation must be completed with the placement of all required accessories.
Installation with stringer structure
The structure installation will begin from the starting point as determined above. It will be leveled using a laser or water level with a 15 m tube, or bubble levels with a 3 m stadia. Once the structure is leveled, the panels can be installed, starting with the first row of panels along the two orthogonal axes.
Installation of structure without stringers
In the case of using raised flooring without stringers, it is necessary to fix the pedestals to the floor with adhesive. Pedestals and panels are installed simultaneously and checked with a laser or level each time. Before proceeding with this type of flooring, it is essential to wait 24 hours to allow the adhesive securing the pedestals to dry.
Perimeter cuts at the final stage of installation
It is advisable to avoid having very small panel portions in contact with the perimeter of the room. If the modular layout results in two panel portions at the ends (e.g., one measuring 55 cm and another 15 cm), it is recommended to sum the two measurements and divide them in half (55 + 15 = 70 cm, 70 / 2 = 35 cm).
During the final stage, steps, ramps, vertical closures, and accessories are installed. Once the flooring is installed, it is recommended to protect it with cardboard or polyethylene sheets until the room setup is complete.
Installation time
The time required to install TOPFLOOR raised flooring varies depending on the size, shape, and accessibility of the spaces, as well as the type of panel, covering, and structure chosen. A team of two people can install approximately 30 m² of flooring per day in small spaces, increasing to about 90 m² per day in medium and large spaces, depending on the factors mentioned above and the significant time required for trimming and installing perimeter panels.