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Computer floor, system floor, raised access floor: the terms are often used interchangeably. Yet there is an important difference in construction, and it determines which floor suits your space.
A computer floor is a raised floor made of removable panels, usually 600x600 mm, resting directly on adjustable steel pedestals. Beneath the floor is a void, the plenum, for data cabling, power and, where needed, air cooling. Every panel can be lifted, so services always remain accessible.
Computer floors are widely used in offices, server rooms, control rooms, laboratories and cleanrooms. Read more about computer floors.
In a system floor, the panels do not just rest on pedestals but on a steel support structure of pedestals and stringers in a fixed grid, for example 600x600 mm or 600x1200 mm. The stringers link the pedestals together, spreading the weight better and making the floor stiffer and more stable.
A system floor is also known as an installation floor or structural floor. It is found mainly in plant rooms, control stations, industry and data centres with heavy equipment. Read more about system floors.
| Computer floor | System floor | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Panels on freestanding, adjustable pedestals | Panels on a steel frame of pedestals and stringers |
| Point load | Up to 20 kN per point | Up to 20 kN per point |
| Distributed load | Up to 35 kN | Up to 50 kN |
| Floor height | 25 to 2,000 mm, adjustable per pedestal | Flexible, depending on the installations |
| Stability at height | Good up to approx. 500 mm, above that with stringers | Stiff and stable, even at great heights |
| Grid | 600 x 600 mm | 600 x 600 mm or 600 x 1200 mm |
| Reinforcement | Possible with steel stringers | Reinforced as standard by the stringers |
| Flexibility | Every panel freely removable | Panels removable, stringers stay in place |
| Cost | More economical | Generally more expensive, due to more steel and installation work |
| Typical application | Offices, server rooms, control rooms, cleanrooms | Plant rooms, UPS rooms, control stations, industry |
For offices and most server rooms, a computer floor is a good and economical choice. If heavy installations will stand on the floor, the floor is high or there is a lot of vibration, a system floor is the wiser option. A combination is often possible too: a computer floor in the work area and a system floor under the heavy equipment.
A computer floor can also be reinforced. In that case we fit steel stringers between the pedestals. They link the pedestals together and spread the weight over more support points, making the floor stiffer and able to carry heavier loads. So a complete system floor is not always necessary, even with an existing floor.
Not sure? We assess the load, the height and the installations and advise which construction suits best.
Yes. Thanks to its steel stringers, a system floor spreads the weight better. A computer floor carries a distributed load of up to 35 kN, a system floor up to 50 kN.
Yes. Steel stringers between the pedestals spread the weight over more support points and make the floor stiffer. So a complete system floor is not always necessary.
A computer floor is generally more economical, as it involves less steel and less installation work. Read more about computer floor costs.
Yes. Often there is a computer floor in the work area and a system floor under the heavy equipment. We make sure both floors connect seamlessly at the same height.