GENERALS
- What is a Raised Floor?
- Which are the advantages of a Raised Floor?
- Which are the elements of a Raised Floor?
- What does "Top Finish" mean?
- What does "Panel or Core of the Panel" mean ?
- What does "Bottom Finish" mean ?
- What does "Edge Trim" mean ?
- What does "Bearing Structure" mean?
- What does "Pedestal" mean?
- What does "Pedestal's Head" mean?
- What does "Pedestal's rod" mean?
- What does "Pedestal's Base" mean?
- What does "Stringer" mean?

STRUCTURE
- Which are the possible pedestal height adjustment ranges?
- How many types of structure are available?
- Is there a specific structure for outdoor raised floors?
- What does modular panel mean?
- Which size is the standard modular panel?

MONOINTEC
- What is "MONOINTEC"?
- Which advantages does MONOINTEC offer?
- Which kind of top finishes can be applied to MONOINTEC?
- Can we clean MONOINTEC by using water?

FINISHES
- What is laminate?
- What is PVC?
- What is linoleum?
- What is rubber?
- Which is the most suitable type of moquette for the application to raised floors?
- Which precautions have to be taken to apply parquet to raised floors?
- What is porcelain tile?
- How are Marbles and Granites applied to raised floors?
- What does "Recomposed Marbles and Granites" mean ?

NORMS AND SECURITY
- Is there a norm to which raised floors have to conform to?
- Which performance features do UNI norms require for raised floors?
- What does mechanical resistance mean and according to which criteria can be classified?
- How are duty loads classified ?
- What does safety mean in case of fire ?
- Which tests is a raised floor subjected to with reference to fire rating ?
- Which characteristics a raised floor must have in order to safeguard the environment and occupants' hygiene and health ?
- In which cases an antistatic raised floor is advisable ?
- In which cases a conductive raised floor is advisable ?
- What does soundproofing mean with reference to a raised floor performance ?

STORAGE AND INSTALLATION
- Which precautions have to be taken for raised floors storage and installation ?
- How long does it take to install a raised floor ?
- Which accessories allow a more functional use and installation of raised floors ?
- Which are the most important advice on raised floors use and maintenance ?
- Which are the most important advice on raised floors cleaning ?

Q: What is a Raised Floor ?
A:It is a flooring system composed of modular elements (panels) placed without anchorage on a bearing structure that raise them at a certain height from the slab, in order to create under the floor surface a free space (plenum) to house service ducts and terminals. Intec produces a very wide range of raised floors and also two exclusive systems, one for interiors, MONOINTEC“, and one for outdoor, GRINTEC“.
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Q: Which are the advantages of a Raised Floor?
A:The raised floor is the best solution to improve space flexibility and to simplify services distribution and changeability. In fact, being the panels removable, cables and service can be easily inspected any time and everywhere is required and maintenance operations or changes concerning new final use or space distribution become very ease . Besides, the raised floor allows eventually to locate in the plenum the air conditioning installation supplying the rooms with air through grills assembled to the panels. Nor should other advantages be ignored, such as the fact that it is faster to install and make ready to use a raised floor than a traditional one, the consequent reduction of costs for construction and maintenance, the possibility to complete these operations in different times, even when people is already staying in the rooms and the very wide range of top finishes . Last, but not the least, is the chance to replace a panel damaged or worn with a spare one or one of the corner zones (less worn) with the result that the floor lasts longer.
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Q: Which are the elements of a Raised Floor?
A: It can be said that the raised floor is a system compound of the following elements:
Top finish
Core or Panel
Bottom Finish
Edge Trim
Bearing Structure (which is composed of pedestals with or without stringers)
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Q: What does "Top Finish" mean?
A: The top finish layer has the function both to complete the panel from the aesthetic point of view, for what the customer's requirements are concerned or according to the final use, and to achieve particular mechanical, chemical, physical, healthy or security characteristics.Intec offers a wide range of top finishes, such as: HPL laminate, PVC, rubber, linoleum, carpet, porcelain stoneware tiles, natural or recomposed marbles and granites.
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Q: What does "Panel or Core of the Panel" mean ?
A: A combination of materials generally arranged below the surface finish, with the function of supporting the panel loads. Intec offers the following panels typologies for interior:
PT: panel made of high density chipboards and resins. Thickness: 30 mm and 38 mm.
PS: inert panel made of sulphate calcium concrete with anhydrous gypsum and vegetable organic fibres. Thickness: 30 mm and 34 mm. Also available, only for stoneware top finishes, thickness 12 and 18 mm.
MONOINTEC: panel made of composite material with inert granulometric particles and organic polymers. Thickness: 23, 25 and 30 mm including the porcelain or stoneware tiles top finish.
Only for loose-laying finishes, Intec offers two specific types of panels:
ACCIAIO: Steel panel filled with cement-base inert material and lower and manufactured by a process that gets in the lower side 64 hollows which work as a ribbing. Thickness: 33 mm.
INCAPSULATO: Panel composed of a core made of chipboard and resins enclosed in a galvanized steel sheet "capsule". Thickness: 30 mm.
Last, but not least, Intec offers a specific panel for outdoors, GRINTEC, made of composite material with inner steel reinforcement and maximum thickness 20 mm, included the porcelain tile top finish.
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Q: What does "Bottom Finish" mean ?
A: Functional sheet which is the bottom surface of the panel. Its function is to improve the panel's physical (i.e. mechanical resistance) and chemical (i.e. protection from moisture). It can be made of laminate balancing sheet - aluminium sheet 0,05 mm - melamine sheet - galvanized steel plate 0,5 mm - galvanized steel tray 0,5 mm.
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Q: What does "Edge Trim" mean ?^
A: Profile or strip normally applied with glue or anchored mechanically on the edge/surface defining the thickness of the panel as a finishing element, waterproofing the system and protecting the panel surface.
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Q: What does "Bearing Stucture" mean ?
A: Combination of horizontal(stringers) and vertical components(pedestals) of the modular raised floor that distribute the mechanical stress borne by the panel to the slab.
Intec offers five types of structure according to different loads requirements.
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Q: What does "Pedestal" mean?
A: Element with adjustable height that supports the panels and stringers, if prescribed, and distributes loads to the slab. Intec offers a brand new exclusive pedestal made of galvanized steel which guarantees more stability and reliability for the whole raised floor system.
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Q: What does "Pedestal's Head" mean?
A: The upper element of the pedestal shaped specifically to support the panels and stringers, if prescribed. Intec pedestal's head is the result of an innovative design according to which is manifactured as a monolithic element with four spokes for the fastening of the stringers.
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Q: What does "Pedestal's rod" mean?
A: Element of the pedestal that may be solid with the head or the base of the pedestal which it is a part of; can be adjusted in height to compensate for an uneven slab.
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Q: What does "Pedestal's Base" mean?
A: Lower element of the pedestal that rests on the slab. Intec pedestal's base consists of a reinforced steel plate1,8 mm thick with a diam.. of 90 mm.
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Q: What does "Stringer" mean?
A: Horizontal component that may or may not be present, linking the pedestals, used to improve stability, the rigidity of the structure, the load bearing capacity and sealing of the system. Intec stringers are made of galvanized steel with open or closed section and are provided with gaskets made of soundproofing and air-dust sealing polythene.
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Q: Which are the possible pedestal height adjustment ranges?
A: Intec structures have height adjustment range from a minimum of 3,5 cm up to over 100 cm, thanks to a regulating device which allows to fix height at a lot of different levels.
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Q: How many types of structure are available?
A: Intec offers five types of structure according to different loads requirements: SAS-STS-STO-STR - STC:
SAS : structure composed only of pedestals, made of pressed galvanized steel. It is advisable to fix it to the slab by gluing.. Without stringers: maximum space
STS: structure with pedestals as for SAS and connecting stringers made of galvanized 1 mm thick steel with reinforced "U" section/profile 25x15 mm. For mediun duty, with safety flap (law 626/494).
STR: structure with pedestals as for SAS and bearing stringers made of galvanized 1 mm thick steel with reinforced "U" section/profile 21x33 mm. For mediun heavy duty, with safety flap (law 626/494).
STO: structure with pedestals as for SAS and bearing stringers made of galvanized 1 mm thick steel with square section/profile 22x22 mm. For heavy duty, with safety flap (law 626/494).
STC: structure composed of specific pedestals and passing-through galvanized 1,5 mm thick steel stringers with box-shaped profile/section 50x25 mm. For extra heavy duty.
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Q: Is there a specific structure for outdoor raised floors?
A: For the raised floor system for terraces, Grintec“, Intec offer a specific structure, made of polypropylene, a kind of material which can last by any climatic condition. The Grintec“supports allow the panels installation on every planar surface and guarantee a better loads distribution on the underlaying slab thanks to their base wider than the head. They can be fix or adjustable and, being incompressible, they can bear heavy and concentrated loads.
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Q: What does modular panel mean?
A: Reference size chosen in the project as representative of the extension of a panel, to be used for the marketing description.
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Q: Which size is the standard modular panel?
A: Generally 600x600mm
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Q: What is MONOINTEC®?
A: MONOINTEC“ is the system that has revolutionised the raised floor.Unlike the conventional panel, on which a top finish is glued, Monointec“ introduces the concept of the "reinforced minislab", where the finish adheres itself to the composite material of the support with an aggressive, impermeable bond. And all without glue. The result is a single monolithic block with outstanding chemical and physical characteristics. The position of the inner reinforcement net guarantees tensile strength under load, while the finish resists crushing.Excellent performance is guaranteed by the use of raw materials specifically designed for Intec and the latest generation composite technologies. Including minimal thicknesses.
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Q: Which advantages does MONOINTEC^® offer?
A: Non-absorbency of water and damp Excellent resistance to acids and bases. Heavy duty resistance. Dimensional stability.Excellent soundproofing . Minimal thickness. No glue. Outstanding appearance. Cleaning and maintenance like a traditional floor
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Q: Which kind of top finishes can be applied to MONOINTEC®?
A: MONOINTEC^® has been specifically engineered for use with marble or granite and porcelain stoneware in the 60 x 60 cm and 30 x 30 cm sizes. By the porcelain stoneware 30 x 30 cm size, the support composite also forms the central joints, incorporating the finish
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Q: Can we clean MONOINTEC^® by using water?
A: MONOINTEC^® can be washed with water and liquid detergent as per a normal floor. It is also OK to use wet cleaning machine.
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Q: What is laminate?
A: It consists of sheets made of a bearing layer composed of:
• various Kraft-paper sheets impregnated with phenol resins • decorative paper sheet impregnated with melamine resins • real cellulose Overlay sheet impregnated with melamine resins.
PERFORMANCE FEATURES: ease maintenance and cleaning.
APPLICATIONS:Data Processing Departments, computer rooms, laboratories and any working environments with heavy-duty traffic.
DISADVANTAGES: low soundproofing.
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Q: What is PVC?
A: It is composed of polyvinyl cloride (P.V.C.) joined with plasticizers, stabilizers, inert charges and dyes. It is usually employed in and has a good acid resistance and cleanability. It can be supplied as antistatic or conductive.
PERFORMANCE FEATURES: cleaneability and good acid resistance.
APPLICATIONS: medium-traffic offices.
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Q: What is linoleum?
A: Made of natural raw materials such as linseed-oil, trees resins, wood powders, calcareous powders, dyes, cork, cork powders and rolled on a jute base. The oxydation process must be considered in order to point out the natural features of linoleum, as follows: during the drying-up time, the linoleum changes its colour temporarily. Basically, all types of linoleum have, first, the typical yellow shades, which are mostly noticeable in the light colours. This yellowing does not last long and disappears by the exposure to the light. By exposure to sunlight they disappear faster.
In order to have a better idea about this phenomenon, expose half of a piece of linoleum sample-piece to the daylight and keep the other half covered. You will immediately notice that the yellowing disappears and that the resulting colour remains permanent.
PERFORMANCE FEATURES: is an ecological product, wholly biodegradable and naturally antistatic; it is friction and cigarette resistant and it is unreactive to greases and oils..
APPLICATIONS: offices and light-medium traffic rooms
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Q: What is rubber?
A: This flooring is composed of two sheets of natural and synthetic rubber, mineral batches and stainers.
PERFORMANCE FEATURES: Good hygienic characteristics, ease maintenance and durability.
APPLICATIONS: heavy-traffic zones
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Q: Which is the most suitable type of moquette for the application to raised floors?
A: It is composed of synthetic fibres with different diameters, coupled with a basic coat (70% polyamide and 30% polyester).The most popular types are the needlefelts, which seem to be more "technical" than the “bouclé” types. Among the various carpet types, the loose-laying ones are the most convenient, especially for a replacement.
PERFORMANCE FEATURES: excellent soundproofing,
APPLICATIONS: offices
DISADVANTAGES: cleaning difficulty
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Q: Which precautions have to be taken to apply parquet to raised floors?
A: In order to make it usable for raised flooring application, parquet is bonded to chipboard or calcium-sulphate panels. Wood, being an organic fibrous material, is more subject to dimensional and colour variations according to changes in environment conditions. Therefore it is important to maintain a humidity rate between 40% and 60%, otherwise it can be subjected to deformation.
PERFORMANCE FEATURES: On all prefinished parquets the walking surface is coated at the plant with special wear-resistant transparent varnishes.A wide variety of wood species and finishes are available.
APPLICATIONS: executive environments where traffic is limited.
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Q: What is porcelain tile?
A: A technologically advanced material, porcelain tiles are composed of ultra-purified, highly ground clays with silica and feldspar additives. The surface is not glazed, but as the homogeneous batch is heated to extremely high temperatures, vitrification occurs which results in a surface of greater hardness than granite or marble. It is Since the colour of porcelain tile is inherent in the particular mixture of the batch itself, normal wear and abrasion over time do not expose any variation in tint. In fact, even if daily use removes the surface layer, an identical lower layer will emerge. Surfaces are available in “matte”, “semi-matte”, "bright" or “polished” for creating special aesthetic effects, with relief sculpturing, or the "slate" surface which has the appearance of natural stone . For raised floor application, tiles are produced in either 60x60 cm or 30x30 cm size.
PERFORMANCE FEATURES: hardness, deep abrasion resistance, shock resistance, acid resistance, frost proofing and very low water absorption rate. It shows a great resistance to any staining : every kind of dirtiness can be very easily and rapidly cleaned.
APPLICATIONS: offices and environments with heavy traffic or open to public.
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Q: How are Marbles and Granites applied to raised floors?
A: Employed in polished and calibrated tiles, with standard sizes of 60 x 60 cm for the top finishes of modular raised floors panels. Since they are natural products, extracted in blocks from quarries and then submitted to mechanical cutting and trimming, the standard tolerances for colour variation and inclusions are similar to those which apply to traditional flooring. These tolerances are even more emphasized in the 60 x 60 cm sizes than in the 30 x 30 ones. Hard and solid stones such as granites are to be preferred; less suitable are marbles and softer stones.
PERFORMANCE FEATURES: high aesthetic quality, hardness, durability.
APPLICATIONS: executive environments or medium-heavy traffic offices
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Q: What does "Recomposed Marbles and Granites" mean ?
A: These stoneware products are industrially composed of natural marble and granite fragments, bound with 6-7% polyester resins. Vacuum pressing combined with a catalytic curing process result in a compact and homogeneous top finish product .
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Q: Is there a norm to which raised floors have to conform to?
A: The norms - Modular Raised Floors - now in force were published by UNI (Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione) in May 1995; they consist of standards valid for Italy and divided into the following chapters:
UNI 10465: Technical terminology
UNI 10466: Prerequisites
UNI 10467: Tests methods for performance assessment..
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Q: Which performance features do UNI norms require for raised floors?
A: The performance features that a raised floor must have with reference to Uni norms no. 10466, are the following:
• Mechanical resistance and stability
• Safety in case of fire: fire rating
• Hygiene, health and environment
• Soundproofing
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Q: What does mechanical resistance mean and according to which criteria can be classified ?
A: A raised floor must be planned, produced and installed in a way that, when in use, it does not collapse or it is not subjected to deformations more significant than the allowable ones and it can guarantee the whole system stability. The mechanical characteristics are expressed according to two parameters:
• Concentrated load strength resistance
• Equally distributed load strength resistance
The values expressed indicate the concentrated force required to produced the maximum allowable deflection of 2,5 mm
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Q: How are duty loads classified ?
A: Classification of the duty loads according to UNI standards.

The raised floor must bear the loads as per the above mentioned scheme without deflecting more than 2,5 cm.
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Q: What does safety mean in case of fire ?
A: With reference to Uni norm no. 10466: “Because of its removability, the Raised Floor is not a permanent barrier which can protect the space above from fire. Raised Floors must be planned, produced and installed in a way that, in case fire:
- the load bearing of the Raised Floor panels is preserved long enough to enable people to abandon the rooms safely;
- the spreading of the fire and the smoke are limited, according to the valid norms”.
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Q: Which tests is a raised floor subjected to with reference to fire rating ?
A: The tests to which a Raised Floor is subject are two:
• FIRE RESISTANCE
• FIRE REACTION.
FIRE RESISTANCE:
It is effected by simulating a fire in an oven under the raised floors. It is expressed according to three parameters:
• mechanical stability (R)
• flame resistance (E)
• heat proofing (I)
The tests show how long these three factors endure (according with the Ministry Protocol nr 91 - September 1961).
Fire resistance is expressed in minutes: REI 30, REI 45, REI 60.
According to UNI norms, “If required, the standard fire resistance is to be REI 30”.
FIRE REACTION
The sample is subject to a flame spreading from outside. According to the spreading of the flame over time, the material is classified under the Norm CSE/RFI.
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Q: Which characteristics a raised floor must have in order to safeguard the environment and occupants' hygiene and health ?
A: The raised floor must be guaranteed not to emit substances harmful to people (or at any rate be below the levels set by law for each harmful substance) and must not accumulate electrostatic charges harmful to occupants.
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Q: In which cases an antistatic raised floor is advisable ?
A: When, because of computers or other electronic equipment, there are electrostatic charges that can produce light electric charges on people. Antistaticity is the capacity to avoid these effects. It must be said that most of the finishes available on the market allow to obtain a floor antistatic enough..
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Q: In which cases a conductive raised floor is advisable ?
A: When, because of heavy-duty and high-tech electronic equipment, it is necessary a proper grounding to earth, namely the conductivity of the whole system, in order to guarantee protection from the charges of the equipment itself. If this is the case, not only the finish but also the panel must guarantee the same value of conductivity in a direction transverse to its thickness in a way that the static energy can flow downwards.
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Q: What does soundproofing mean with reference to a raised floor performance ?
A: A raised floor must not cause unpleasant noise when in use. The top finish is the most important element with reference to sound level in a room; another factor is the height of the structure. On the other hand, the more the panel is thick and dense, the more the soundproofing improves. Therefore, the sound level varies according to three factors:
• Panel density
• Type of top finish
• Height of the structure
The ISO Norm No. 140 expresses, by testing at 500 Hz, the resulting dB values.
Any estimate of the soundproofing level of a raised floor must refer to test data relating to the same height of structure with the same top finish.
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Q: Which precautions have to be taken for raised floors storage and installation ?
A: A) STORAGE
• The rooms where Raised Floors will be stored and/or installed, must be dry, waterproof with effective weather seals at windows and doors.
• The temperature level of the rooms must be between 5° and 35°C (40°-95°F) and the humidity rate between 40% and 75% (not necessary for Monointec).
• In case storage by the job site is not possible directly in the rooms where the Raised Floors are to be installed, it is recommended to store them in the nearest rooms offering temperature and humidity conditions as specified above.
B) INSTALLATION
• The Raised Floors must be installed in dry rooms with a temperature rate between 5° and 35° C (40°-95°C) and a humidity rate between 40% and 75% (not necessary for Monointec).
• If the plan requires the placement of water pipes or heating ducts beneath the floors, it is necessary to insulate them well enough to prevent significant, localized temperature differentials and to provide ventilation of the under-floor spaces to maintain the recommended conditions.
• The walls should be finished at least 60 days before and their decoratings and paintings at least 30 days before.
• The rooms must be provided with properly sealing doors and windows.
• The slab must be dry, smooth and clean. If the slab is not entirely smooth, the installation must be preceeded by an inspection in order to check its practicability.
• In case an antidust sealing product is required on the slab, it must be compatible with the glue used, if needed, for the pedestals.
• For proper installation, the room must be clean and empty of objects whicht might interfere with the work. Likewise, the presence of other workers not associated with the raised floor installation should be avoided.
• Placement of plugs, pipes and ducting systems must be planned carefully to accoomodate the regular spacing of pedestals and stringers.
• Finished floor height must be clearly indicated in every room where Raised Floors are supposed to be installed.
• Normally, the installation of Raised Floors is made when all systems and indoor finishs are fully completed: an exception is the installation of cladding and mobile walls , which are to be installed on the Raised Floors. If this is not possible, a work schedule must be planned to avoid conflicts with others trades.
• No one but the installation workers should walk on the Raised Floor during the installation.In order to allow full curing of the glue used for the pedestals, foot traffic should be avoided for 48 hours after the installation is completed.
• The access to the job site where Raised Floors are being installed, must be kept free from obstacles, so that the unloading of the material can be easily done through the access areas by means of pallet trolleys or other transport devices.
• The access to the rooms and to the lifts (elevators) must also be kept free from obstacles, in order to allow the use of forklifts.
• The rooms where Raised Floors are supposed to be installed, must be provided with clear pathways for pallet trolleys or other wheeled devices.
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Q: How long does it take to install a raised floor ?
A: There are various factors which affect the time needed to install a Raised Floor: sizes, shapes and the accessibility of the rooms, the type of panel, top finish and structure chosen. Generally speaking, two workers can install a minimum 30 sqm per day in small rooms, up to 90 sqm per day in case of medium-large rooms, depending on the factors mentioned above as well as the degree of difficulty encountered in cutting and laying the perimeter panels.
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Q: Which accessories allow a more functional use and installation of raised floors ?
A: Intec offers a wide range of tools: the lifters, even after the installation has been made, are always useful tools, which should be kept to lift panels anytime the space under the panels has to be inspected or some repairs, modifications or replacement have to be made.
Steps and ramps can solve problems given by differences in level, while laminate panels can be used to form the sides of free-standing raised floor system (where walls are absent)..
Finally, some equipments such as air-flow grills, electrical inspection shafts and electrical and telephone standing turrets can be provided in order to better exploit the space and to distribute more efficiently lighting, phones, computer cables etc. and to guarantee better flexibility in case of subsequent modifications.
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Q: Which are the most important advice on raised floors use and maintenance ?
A: The Raised Floor is composed of many removable elements. The panels, which form the walking surface are laid one beside the other; consequently, the stability of the system must be guaranteed by following some simple maintenance guidelines:
• When using lifting trucks to move heavy loads, lay some stiff material such as plywood on top of the panels to help distribute the loads.
• If you have to remove some panels, it is better to avoid the formation of "isles" or "long channels", by removing only the minimum number necessary to reach the objective. Re-install the panels one-by-one in the reverse order in which they were removed.
• Be careful not to damage or to move the seals of the pedestals and of the stringers. Replace any damaged seals.
• The removal and replacement of the panels must only be done by utilizing the appropriate lifting tools.
• Take particular care, in moving panels containing accessories (grids, electric systems, etc.) in order not to damage the connections.
• When replacing partial panels, such as those at perimeter locations, it is necessary to be careful to place them again in their original position.
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Q: Which are the most important advice on raised floors cleaning ?
A: Regular and proper cleaning is very important for the maintenance of the of the access flooring; the following precautions must be observed:
• Do not use water or liquid detergents directly on the access flooring: use a damp and well squeezed floor-cloth and be particularly careful near electric and telephone services; do not use water for cleaning under the flooring.
• Do not use alkaline detergents, soda, soaps and solvents. Do not use pumice-stone, sand-paper, steel wool or other abrasives.
• Before using any floor-polish or other protective treatments on the whole surface, it is advisable to test the product on a limited area of the raised floor. If the flooring requires particular electrical characteristics, remember that most synthetic polishes are, normally, electrically isolating.
For more specific details concerning the cleaning of the different types of panels, we suggest to look up Intecnico.