Global IFS is a leading manufacturer of raised access flooring systems. Intertech is the exclusive Global IFS dealer from Waco to the southern tip of Texas, which gives our clients direct access to Global's engineering team for load calculations, system design, and technical support on complex projects.

RAISED ACCESS FLOORING

Raised Access Flooring Installation Across Texas

Q: How tall can raised access flooring pedestals be?

Pedestal heights range from a few inches to several feet, depending on the application. Taller installations, typically 36 inches or higher, are common in data centers that use underfloor air distribution systems. The taller the pedestal, the more important lateral bracing becomes to prevent sway and maintain structural stability.

From data centers and server rooms to corporate offices and industrial facilities, Intertech brings more than three decades of raised access flooring expertise to every project. As the exclusive Global IFS dealer from Waco to the southern tip of Texas, we combine objective advice with precise installation, so your floor system performs exactly as designed.

What Is Raised Access Flooring?

A raised access floor (RAF) is a modular flooring system elevated above a building's structural slab on adjustable pedestals. This creates an accessible space, called a plenum, beneath the walking surface where electrical wiring, data cables, plumbing, and HVAC distribution can be routed, accessed, and reconfigured without disrupting the space above.

Each panel in the system is typically 2 feet by 2 feet and sits on pedestals at its corners. Panels can be individually lifted and replaced, giving facility teams direct access to the infrastructure below whenever maintenance, upgrades, or reconfigurations are needed.

Raised access flooring is engineered to meet specific load requirements. Panels are available in different thicknesses and capacities, and the system can be reinforced with stringers, additional pedestals, or lateral bracing to support heavy equipment. Every system is rated for concentrated loads (weight at a single point), rolling loads (equipment on casters), and uniform loads (distributed weight across the full panel).

Industries and Facilities That Rely on Raised Access Flooring

Data Centers and Server Rooms

Data centers are the most common application for raised access flooring, and it's where Intertech has seen the most significant growth in recent years. Central Texas has become one of the country's most active regions for data center construction, and these facilities depend on RAF systems for underfloor air distribution, cable management, and the ability to reconfigure server layouts as technology evolves.

The challenge in data centers isn't just the initial installation. As server technology advances, equipment becomes denser and heavier. A floor system designed for one generation of hardware may not support the next without reinforcement. Intertech works directly with manufacturers' engineering teams to calculate point loads, assess existing system capacity, and plan reinforcement before new equipment arrives, not after panels start showing stress.

Corporate Offices and Commercial Spaces

Modern office environments increasingly rely on raised access flooring to manage power, data, and HVAC distribution, especially in open-plan layouts where flexibility is essential. RAF systems allow facility teams to reconfigure workstation power and data connections without tearing up floors or running new conduit through walls.

For corporate tenants inheriting space with existing raised access flooring, Intertech can assess the condition and capacity of the system and recommend any upgrades needed to support your intended use.

Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities

Healthcare and Education Facilities

Electrical Substations and Utility Plants

Why Intertech for Raised Access Flooring

Exclusive Global IFS Dealer
from Central and South Texas

Intertech is the exclusive dealer for Global IFS raised access flooring products from Waco to the southernmost tip of Texas. That partnership means we work directly with Global's engineering team to calculate loads, determine the right system configuration, and ensure every installation meets specifications. When complex load calculations or reinforcement designs are needed, we have a direct line to the engineers who designed the products.

More Than 30 Years of RAF Experience

We've been installing raised access flooring systems for more than three decades. That depth of experience means we've encountered and solved the full range of challenges that come with RAF projects: uneven substrates, extreme load requirements, tight construction timelines, and the coordination required when RAF installation intersects with mechanical, electrical, and IT trades on the same project.

Objective Advice, Not a Sales Pitch

Intertech is a commercial flooring installation company, not a manufacturer. We're not locked into selling one product line for every situation. When you work with us, you get straightforward recommendations based on what your facility actually needs: the right panel thickness, the right pedestal height, the right reinforcement approach. Not what generates the highest margin.

Installation Expertise That Protects Your Investment

How a raised access floor is installed directly affects its performance, load capacity, and warranty. Pedestal placement, adhesive application, panel alignment, and stringer connections all need to be executed precisely. Our installation teams are trained specifically in RAF systems and understand the tolerances and procedures that keep your floor performing to spec and your warranty intact.

Raised Access Flooring Services

New RAF Installation

Complete raised access flooring system installation for new construction and major renovations. We coordinate with your general contractor, architect, and engineering team from pre-construction planning through final commissioning.
System Assessment and Load Analysis

For facilities with existing raised access floors, we evaluate your current system's condition and capacity, working with manufacturer engineers to calculate whether it can support planned equipment upgrades or layout changes.

Reinforcement and Upgrades

When your existing floor needs to handle more weight, taller pedestals, or new equipment configurations, we design and install reinforcement solutions including thicker panels, stringers, additional pedestals, and lateral bracing.
Finish Flooring on RAF Panels

Raised access floor panels can be finished with carpet tile, luxury vinyl tile, rubber flooring, or other commercial flooring products. Intertech handles both the RAF system and the finish flooring, giving you a single point of accountability.

Pre-Construction Consulting

If you're in the planning stages and trying to decide whether raised access flooring is the right approach for your facility, we'll give you an honest assessment. Sometimes RAF is the best solution. Sometimes it isn't. We'll help you make that decision based on your actual needs, not assumptions.

Photo: Raised Access Flooring Installation, phase 1, at the Samsung Facility in Taylor Texas

Brazos Electric Coop - Raised Flooring HVAC Access

Brazos Electric Coop - Access Flooring vents

Brazos Electric Coop - Access Flooring ventes

Brazos Electric Coop - Access Flooring HVAC

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Photo: Raised Access Flooring Installation at the Samsung Facility in Taylor Texas

Raised Access Flooring: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard size of a raised access floor panel?

The standard panel size is 2 feet by 2 feet (24" x 24"). Panels sit on adjustable pedestals positioned at each corner, creating a grid system across the floor area. This standardized sizing allows individual panels to be lifted and replaced for access to the plenum space below.

How much weight can a raised access floor panel support?

That depends on the panel thickness and the system configuration. A standard 1.125-inch thick panel has a concentrated load capacity of 1,250 pounds. A thicker 1.5-inch panel supports up to 2,000 pounds. Adding stringers (steel supports connecting pedestals) or additional center pedestals can increase capacity further. The key factor is point load, meaning the weight concentrated at any single contact point, not just the total weight of the equipment.

What's the difference between concentrated load, rolling load, and uniform load?

Concentrated load is the weight applied at a single point, like an equipment leg resting on the panel. Rolling load is the stress created by equipment on casters moving across the floor. This is typically more severe than a static load of the same weight because of the dynamic forces involved. Uniform load is weight distributed evenly across the entire panel surface. Each load type has a separate rating, and your system needs to be engineered for whichever type of load your facility will experience.

How tall can raised access flooring pedestals be?

Can you install carpet, tile, or other finish flooring on raised access floor panels?

Yes. Raised access floor panels can be finished with most commercial flooring products including carpet tile, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), rubber flooring, and even ceramic tile in some applications. The finish flooring is adhered directly to the panel surface. Intertech installs both the RAF system and the finish flooring, so you have one contractor accountable for the complete floor assembly.

How do I know if my existing raised access floor needs reinforcement?

There are some clear warning signs: panels that feel bouncy or springy when you walk on them, visible flex when equipment is in place, creaking or popping sounds, panels that have become unlevel, or gaps appearing at panel corners. Beyond physical symptoms, any time you're planning to bring in equipment that's heavier than what the floor was originally designed to support, you should have the system assessed before the equipment arrives.

What is the correct way to remove raised access floor panels for maintenance?

Always remove panels in a single straight row, never in a square or block pattern. Removing multiple panels in a square exposes center pedestals that aren't attached to anything, and even bumping one a fraction of an inch will cause the floor to rock when panels are reinstalled. If your team needs more working space than a single row provides, contact your raised access flooring contractor to handle the removal and reinstallation to protect your floor's alignment and warranty.

What is Global IFS?

What are CISCA standards for raised access flooring?

CISCA, the Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association, publishes the industry's widely recognized testing standards for access floor systems. These standards cover concentrated load testing, ultimate load testing, rolling load testing, stringer load testing, pedestal axial load testing, drop impact testing, fire performance, air leakage, and sound transmission. When a raised access floor system is rated to CISCA standards, it means the panels, pedestals, and stringers have been tested by independent laboratories following standardized procedures. Intertech ensures that all installations and reinforcement work meet or exceed applicable CISCA standards.

Does Intertech provide raised access flooring maintenance?

It depends on what kind of maintenance you're talking about. If you need routine cleaning of your raised access floor surfaces or subfloor vacuuming, that's not what we do. But if the structure of your RAF system needs attention, that's exactly what we do. Assessing system condition, replacing damaged panels or pedestals, reinforcing for heavier loads, upgrading components, realigning sections that have shifted, adding bracing to tall installations. If it involves the structural integrity or performance of your raised access floor system, Intertech is the right call.

What areas of Texas does Intertech serve for RAF projects?

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RAISED ACCESS FLOORING

Raised Access Flooring Installation Across Texas

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