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High-tech Innovative Raised Floor System Manufacturer
High-tech Innovative Raised Floor System Manufacturer
How Sealing Measures Protect Cooling Efficiency, Equipment Safety, and Long-Term Operation
In mission-critical environments such as cloud computing centers, AFC access rooms, te
lecommunication hubs, and signal processing rooms, the demand for thermal stability and energy efficiency has never been more stringent. One of the most overlooked, yet vital, components in achieving these goals lies beneath the surface: the raised access floor.
When the underfloor void is repurposed as a static pressure plenum for precision air conditioning, the
design and installation of the raised floor must meet one non-negotiable requirement: airtightness. Without airtight sealing, the entire cooling system becomes compromised — not only in energy usage but in the reliability and longevity of the equipment it is meant to protect.
This article explains the principle, technical reasoning, and manufacturing best practices for airtight raised flooring, offering both theoretical understanding and real-world application. These insights are based on over 15 years of industry experience, on-site installations, failure analyses, and collaboration with certified engineers in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
In modern data centers, space below the raised access floor is frequently used as a static pressure box — a plenum chamber that distributes treated cold air from the precision air conditioning system.
The plenum is not merely a passive cavity. It plays a critical role in:
Reducing dynamic airflow turbulence from high-speed fans.
Converting airflow into evenly distributed static pressure.
Delivering stable, uniform cold air via ventilation panels to the IT equipment zone above the floor.
To function effectively, this plenum must be airtight. If cold air escapes through panel gaps, support joints, or unsealed cable holes, the static pressure cannot be maintained. This results in an inconsistent cooling distribution, reduced efficiency, and increased operational costs.
When air leaks from gaps in the floor system, the static pressure in the plenum drops. To compensate, the HVAC system increases fan speed, which leads to higher energy consumption and increased wear on mechanical components. Studies have shown that even minor plenum leakage can lead to up to 18% additional energy usage in fan operation alone (Source: ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.9).
Moreover, the leaked air does not contribute to the intended cooling effect, which forces the cooling units to work harder to achieve the desired temperature in the server area — a hidden, continuous energy drain.
When static pressure is unstable, cold air is not evenly supplied. Areas closer to air conditioning outlets receive excessive cooling, while distant zones suffer from heat buildup — often forming dangerous hot spots that threaten hardware stability and performance.
This uneven airflow is frequently misinterpreted as a capacity issue in the cooling equipment itself, when in reality, it is the result of poor air management due to an improperly sealed raised floor system.
In data halls, airflow is designed to follow a specific route: from the underfloor plenum, through the equipment via perforated tiles, and back to the CRAC unit. If floor gaps exist, cold air can bypass this route entirely, leaking through joints or cable ports directly into return paths — a phenomenon known as air short-circuiting. This reduces effective cooling while creating erratic thermal zones.
Dust management in IT rooms is critical. The underfloor area often harbors dormant dust particles from construction, human activity, or cable movement. Under positive pressure, any unsealed gap becomes a passageway for these particles to be blown into the equipment area.
Once dust settles on server fans, power supplies, or heat sinks, cooling efficiency is degraded, and the risk of failure increases. In high-density zones, this may lead to hardware throttling or shutdowns. It is not uncommon for major outages to be traced back to long-term dust accumulation caused by improper airflow control.
Airtight raised floors form a barrier between the dust-prone underfloor and the clean upper zone — a necessary measure in maintaining ISO-class cleanliness levels in data environments.
Data center airflow is carefully designed — often using hot aisle/cold aisle containment strategies or in-row cooling setups. If raised floor gaps are left unsealed:
Cold air may be released in undesired directions.
Return air may re-enter the plenum prematurely.
Hot and cold air may mix, defeating thermal zoning efforts.
This disrupts the integrity of the airflow model and renders predictive cooling calculations inaccurate. The outcome is not just higher energy use, but potentially failing to meet Tier-level reliability or ASHRAE-recommended thermal conditions.
Precision cooling does more than lower temperature — it also controls humidity. A leaky floor undermines this balance. Dry air may escape or humid air may enter through floor gaps, creating unstable humidity zones.
Excessive moisture can lead to corrosion of server components and conductive dust formation. Conversely, overly dry air can increase the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Both conditions are harmful in high-density electronic environments.
Raised floor manufacturers that understand data center performance requirements do not leave airtightness to chance. Instead, they build it into the system from design to installation.
Key sealing measures typically include:
Panel edges are CNC-machined to exacting tolerances to minimize assembly gaps. Flatness and squareness are strictly controlled, with tolerances often under ±0.2 mm.
Sealing gaskets made from conductive EPDM or rubber are applied between panel joints. This ensures no air escape while preserving the ESD dissipation path.
Brackets and pedestals, especially where they meet the floor panels, are sealed using foam pads or site-applied adhesives. This prevents leakage from pressure points.
Special dust-tight covers or flame-retardant putties (e.g. firestop compound) are used to close unused cable holes or fill the gaps around penetrations.
Peripheral panels near fixed structures or walls are sealed with flexible tapes or silicone to prevent air escape along the boundaries.
Calcium sulfate or full-steel cement-filled panels are typically preferred for better dimensional stability and tighter joints compared to woodcore or hollow aluminum.
Project Background:
A hyperscale data center in Abu Dhabi was experiencing airflow imbalances and unexplained hot spots within six months of commissioning. The facility utilized a traditional anti-static raised floor, but no specific sealing treatment had been applied during installation.
Findings from Site Inspection:
Over 200 cable holes lacked sealing.
Panel-to-panel gaps exceeded 1 mm in several zones.
Underfloor plenum pressure was inconsistent — ranging from 15 Pa to 38 Pa.
Solution Implemented by Abeite:
Conductive gaskets were retrofitted between all panel joints.
Firestop mud and aluminum-lined covers were installed at every cable penetration point.
Pedestal bases were treated with EPDM foam sealing pads.
Overall plenum pressure stabilized to a uniform 43 Pa.
Energy consumption by CRAC units reduced by 12% over the following quarter.
Client Testimonial:
"Your sealing system didn’t just fix the airflow — it brought our operating cost down. That was a win we could measure in dollars." — Project Director, GCC Data Infrastructure Group.
Q: Is sealing always necessary for raised floors in offices or telecom spaces?
A: No. Airtightness becomes essential only when the underfloor void is used as a static pressure plenum for HVAC air supply, which is typical in data centers and telecom exchange rooms.
Q: Will sealing affect the anti-static function of the floor?
A: Not if conductive sealing materials are used. Specialized conductive gaskets ensure both airtightness and uninterrupted ESD pathways.
Q: Can older floors be retrofitted with sealing systems?
A: Yes. With professional assessment, retro-sealing can be done using gaskets, sealants, and customized covers for penetrations.
Q: How can airtightness be measured on-site?
A: Plenum pressure can be tested using differential pressure sensors, and air leakage can be assessed through thermal imaging or airflow smoke tests.
In the high-stakes world of digital infrastructure, raised access flooring is more than just a platform — it is an active part of the environmental control system. When the floor is used as a static pressure plenum, airtightness must be engineered, verified, and maintained.
Proper sealing not only ensures uniform cooling, but it also lowers energy costs, prevents equipment contamination, supports reliable operations, and protects capital investment.
At Abeite, our solutions are developed from years of hands-on field experience, backed by performance data and driven by precision design. When the environment below the floor matters as much as what’s above it — sealing becomes strategy, not detail.
If you are interested in our products and want to know more details,please leave a message here,we will reply you as soon as we can.
Tel: 0086-519-86056270
WhatsApp: +86-18261186876
Email: info@abeiteraisedfloor.com
Chaoyang Village, Hengshanqiao Town, Wujin District, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
We have a proven raised floor system (include calcium sulfate raised floor, wood core raised floor, steel raised floor,800*800 special size raised floor, glass panel, etc.) and continue to enrich and improve the Abeite's range to meet the needs of today's and tomorrow's comprehensive high-performance buildings.
