What is a Data Center Raised Floor and How Do They Work?

Data center infrastructure is crucial for ensuring reliability and operational efficiency since such facilities are responsible for data processing, transfer, and storage. Here, the issue of effectively utilizing space, managing equipment, and ensuring security is of vital importance.

In this regard, a raised floor comes as one of the solutions for optimizing these processes, improving ventilation, cable management, and providing flexibility within the data center infrastructure. Below, we’re going to discuss why raised floor in server room is so popular and highlight its features.

What is Data Center Raised Access Floor?

In the context of a data center, a raised access floor is a specially installed flooring system with an empty space underneath. This space is used for laying cables, ventilation, and other engineering systems. Their main benefits are:

1. Efficient space management. Cables, wires, and technical connections are organized and layered there, saving room space and ensuring its neat, ergonomic organization.
2. Effective cooling. Air circulation systems can be installed to organize cooling inside a room.
3. Lower risks of accidental damage. Since all wires, cords, and engineering systems are layered underfloor, the risk of rapture and other damage is minimized.
4. Extra storage space. It’s possible to arrange storage boxes for engineering tools.

The raised floor elevates panels, creating accessible space for all necessary systems without interfering with equipment operation. Thus, the raised floor data center design allows for optimizing an indoor space and creating a neat DC infrastructure, eliminating the risk of accidental raptures and other problems.

Types of Data Center Raised Floor System

Various types of premises require different solutions. Thus, several models of flooring exist on the market. Raised floor for DCs falls into two main types, namely:

1. Traditional solutions — a higher system with space under the floor. Standard panels are used for mounting flooring. This solution is suitable for data centers that require heavy load capacity and ample space for cables, cooling, and ventilation. Due to the specifics of mounting, such systems are ideal for large and scalable data centers.
2. Low-profile solutions — a more compact version with a lower profile. Due to this feature, it is suitable for smaller setups where floor height is limited. That is, such solutions are well-suited for modern data centers with limited space, providing efficient management of communication systems despite the height restriction.

The availability of two computer room raised floor systems allows the technical staff to select a suitable option for any type of premises and their sizes. That is, small and limited-space rooms use low-profile solutions, while traditional options are preferable for big DCs and large-scale infrastructures.

Raised Floor System Details

Now, let’s move on to raised floor system details and consider what components it consists of. The mentioned details are found in all models, regardless of their types:

1. Panels. It is the main part of the system. They can be made from various materials (e.g., metal, composite, or wood). Panels can be standard or low-profile, depending on the needs.
2. Frame. It is a metal or plastic structure, on which panels are mounted. The frame is used to support panels, distribute the load, and carry the entire system.
3. Support stands. These are adjustable-height stands that provide stability and strength to the entire system.
4. Pads for equipment installation. These are elements that can hold servers and other components. They distribute weight evenly and minimize vibrations to prevent increased floor wear and avoid the creation of points of increased tension.

These are standard raised access flooring details found in any system. Still, additionally to them, raised floor systems can include various coverings and materials. They are added to achieve higher construction strength, stability, soundproofing, or thermal insulation. These may include anti-slip coatings or fire-resistant materials, depending on the type of data center and its specific needs. This is why it’s important to define room requirements at the stage of planning a DC facility and preparing premises.

Why Raised Floor in Server Room

Nowadays, such systems come as the most popular solution for DC infrastructures. The technical staff always recommends such flooring and gives preference to them when settling and finishing premises for DC infrastructures. The main reasons for choosing raised flooring for server room include:

1. Improved cable management. Such solutions enhance the convenience of cable and network connection routing, improving space organization. All the necessary cables can be routed under the floor without interfering with server operation or causing overheating.
2. Increased flexibility. Raised options allow for easy modification or addition of communication systems, enabling quick responses to infrastructure changes. This also reduces the time needed for installation or upgrades.
3. Easier maintenance and upgrades. Such solutions simplify maintenance and system updates since all components, including cables, are easily accessible and can be replaced without causing significant disruptions. It’s possible to remove each panel easily, providing instant access to cables and other communications for maintenance, repair, or upgrades without interrupting the operation of other systems.
4. Improved ventilation and cooling. These options help improve ventilation and cooling of server equipment rack, which is critical for maintaining optimal temperature in the data center. The space beneath the data center raised access floor allows for efficient distribution of cooled air, preventing equipment overheating. The raised floor allows for the organization of a cold air supply system beneath the server racks, where it flows through perforated panels, effectively cooling the equipment. This helps create «cold» and «hot» aisles, significantly increasing the energy efficiency of air conditioning systems.

In today’s DC industry, the data center raised floor system is the most common solution for flooring. They are an essential part of DC infrastructure that helps ensure efficient space management, improved cooling, and easier maintenance. The installation of such solutions allows for solving a list of tasks and simplifying DC infrastructure settling and maintenance. Raised floors are installed in data centers to conceal the routing of large amounts of cables and communications, efficiently organize cooling and ventilation systems, and create an antistatic environment. They provide easy access to utility systems for maintenance and upgrades without the need to dismantle heavy equipment. A properly chosen raised floor system will enhance flexibility, durability, and overall efficiency of the data center, making it more adaptable to changes in requirements and technologies. Thus, it’s important to approach the issue of choosing flooring thoroughly.