Kingspan Access Floors of the UK has extended its market-leading raised floor ranges with the introduction of two important innovations - the Natural Finishes range for public areas and the Edge-banded series for areas such as computer rooms where static dissipation is a high priority.

Natural finishes
Raised floors are renowned for their practicality, not their beauty. But Kingspan's Natural Finishes portfolio is set to change that view. It brings to the market an unsurpassed choice of aesthetic access floor and overlay systems, which combine the beauty of natural stone and wood with the functionality of raised floors.

The Natural Finish systems are ideal for public areas where first impressions count - typically retail, gallery, banking, reception and lobby space.  With some 50 types of marble, granite, limestone and timber options available, the systems provide stylish interior solutions for a design-conscious clientele.

All-in-one systems
The range includes all-in-one systems in both stone and timber where the finish is an integral part of the raised floor panel.  The panel types differ in construction but both types are gravity-laid onto a standard pedestal understructure, allowing easy installation and access to void space services for maintenance, upgrade or re-routing.

All-in-one systems in stone and timber combine opulence with practicality. Polished marble, granite or limestone, selected for aesthetic appeal, quality and colour consistency is laminated to an inert inner core within a steel tray to produce a slim (30 mm) gravity-laid raised floor tile.

The timber-raised floor panels are available in a choice of woods and designs - including strip finish, classic look, inlay and coloured or whitened options. The structure comprises a 3.5 to 5 mm finish, bonded to a chipboard or inert core within a steel tray, and has full-depth edge-banding in black or colour-matching ABS for added protection and easy handling.

Decorative overlays

Decorative overlay systems are available in 30 marble, granite or limestone varieties and are designed for installation on-grid over an existing raised floor.

They comprise a 13 to 18 mm thick section of stone, bonded into a zinc-plated steel tray which incorporates anti-slip pads to prevent movement when the system is overlaid onto a suitable surface.

The decorative overlay systems are ideally suited for areas where floor void access is occasionally required, such as lobbies, but where instant access is not a prime requirement. At 18 mm maximum depth, their slim profile makes them ideal for refurbishment applications, and in new-build projects - where the raised floor is normally a construction platform for other trades - late-stage fitting of decorative overlays can avoid the need for a temporary 'slave floor'.

Edge-banded series

The new Edge-banded series, which also features a laminated surface, is designed for areas not normally open to public view - such as computer, communications and equipment rooms, where high concentrations of electrical equipment make static dissipation a priority requirement. They comprise a surface of vinyl, high-pressure-laminate or rubber, laminated to a Kingspan RG series panel, and finished with a protective edge-band trim.

The eb series includes grades from light to heavy  (RLG600eb, RMG600eb and DRF600eb) and harnesses the robust properties of Kingspan's RG steel-encapsulated woodcore system, thereby meeting all likely performance specifications.  All are designed to fit standard Kingspan pedestals and are for gravity-lay installation, making it a simple matter to lift and replace panels whenever access to the underfloor services is needed.

Precise panel dimensions and positive location design make for accurate gridding and the system's acoustic performance is a further bonus.  The eb range is produced at Kingspan's state-of-the-art UK factory where the benefits of ongoing investment into automated manufacture are now being demonstrated in the auto-production of laminated products.