Rhino Operation Maintenance
Rhino Operation Maintenance
ANBS
8/5/2013
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
This specification covers the supply and installation of the RHINO raised access floor to
a prescribed height above the sub - floor and to a designated RHINO(EU) specification as
detailed in the load performance table and as called for in the “Bill of Quantities”.
The RHINO (EU) access floor installation consists of 600mm x 600mm modular and
interchangeable steel panels, supported by a steel understructure, in accordance with the
specification and Bill of Quantities.
COMPONENT SPECIFICATION
Under Structure
The understructure system consists of a electro-zinc and factory assembled pedestal base
and head. This assembly is capable of supporting an actual load of 22,2kN.
Stringers consist of electro-zinc steel channel section with a provision for a snap - on
attachment to the pedestal head. A stringer gasket (conductive or non conductive) should
be fitted to the top of the stringer surface.
1.1.1 Finishes
The RHINOEU raised access floor finishes can be fitted as specified in the “Bill of
Quantities”. High pressure laminate (HPL) can be factory bonded to the surface of the
access floor panel and be (either):
Protected on its edge with conductive ABS edge trim with tapered corners which are:
1. Factory bonded to the edge of the panel; or
2. Beveled at the edge; or
3. Of integral trim design.
INSTALLATION GUIDE, MAINTENANCE AND USE
GENERAL
SITE CONDITIONS
Off Loading
Whilst access flooring materials are generally very robust, care should be taken when off-
loading to avoid damage caused by forklift, truck, manual handling or hoist facilities.
Check hoisting facilities before delivery of panels so that correct pallets are used.
Storage
Materials must be stored in areas that are dry, watertight and sufficiently ventilated to
ensure that there are no excessive variations in temperature or humidity. The parameters
for temperature and humidity are 5°C – 30°C and maximum 75% R.H. Materials should
be stacked in such a manner that the structural sub floor is not overloaded or damaged.
Safety
In addition to the statutory and the specific site safety requirements, the appropriate
safety equipment and procedures should always be employed when using installation
equipment, sub-floor sealers, adhesives and power tools. Check for air leakage and
electrical continuity requirements before starting the access floor installation.
SUB-FLOORS
Sub-Floor Conditions
Sub-floors must be free of any dust, debris, oil, grease or other contaminates which may
be detrimental to the pedestal adhesive bond. The overall level of the sub-floor should be
checked to insure that variations are within the adjustment range of the access floor
support pedestals.
Sub-Floor Strength
The strength, composition and general condition of the sub-floor is normally outside the
installation contractor’s control and his responsibility, but should be of such specification
to provide adequate strength.
Sub-Floor Sealing
Sealing of the sub-floor within the underfloor void is normally only required when the
void is to be used as a HVAC PLENUM. When sealing of the sub-floor is
specifically requested, it is essential to insure that the sealant is compatible with the
proposed pedestal adhesive. Existing timber, asphalt or floors with various coverings,
etc., should be evaluated for suitability with access flooring. Pedestal adhesive
compatibility must be considered. The strength of the existing flooring bond must be
strong enough to prevent failure. Mechanical fixing may be required for certain sub-
floors.
TOOLS REQUIRED
Band Saw: A good quality band saw can save a great deal of
time during installation, for cutting panels to
perimeters neatly and accurately.
INSTALLATION TOLERANCES
The following extracts from SABS 1549:1992 and the RHINO Technical Specification
outline the main tolerances applicable to the installation of raised access floors.
FIT
The system shall not rely on perimeter walls, columns etc. for lateral stability. It should
provide a close fit to such interface whilst allowing for possible building movement and
hydrothermal movement in the floor system, but without any detrimental effect on the
floor performance. At perimeters and around columns etc., the maximum allowable gap
shall be 15mm with edge panels being positively located to prevent lateral movement of
the floor assembly. Special consideration should be given to the panel support
arrangements at threshold interfaces, which shall not create a hazard to pedestrians.
OVERALL LEVELS
Before the application of any load, the access floor surface should be level within +-
1,5mm over 3,0m or +- 2,5mm over entire floor. There should be a maximum of 0,5mm
variation in height between adjoining panels.
INSTALLATION OF RHINO ACCESS FLOORING
INSTALLATION
STEP 1
900mm
permissible perimeter gap or can be 3 5 LOCATING THE
cut to accommodate variations in the STARTING POINT
perimeter wall.
1200mm
Setting out the grid
After determining the starting point, set
out from that point line at 900, and do not 1200
STEP 2
300
forming an “L” shape with each leg
Starting point
NOTE: Only pedestals which are loaded on all four quadrants of the pedestal head should
be glued down. If this is not possible the pedestal must be left until such time that it can
be glued and loaded with a panel on all four quadrants.
STEP 3
Starting point
45° DIRECTION
BUILDING THE
FLOOR - "L" SHAPE
• Pedestals
Perimeter cut panels should be installed with an additional perimeter pedestal. Once the
level of the pedestal is determined it should be securely locked in position. It is
imperative that pedestals are installed vertically (plump) otherwise an uneven floor will
result. This is a root cause installation problem. The adjustment recommended by
Solidfeel should never be exceeded. This is to ensure system safety and performance.
• Stringers
These are steel cross braces, which locate from pedestal head to pedestal head to create a
matrix across the floor. Normally supplied in snap-loc or screw-down format, they
provide additional rigidity to the system particularly where high floor levels are involved.
Stringers, where required should be installed in natural sequence with the pedestals and
panels.
Screw-down panels
On no account should panels be installed and the screws left loose to be tightened at a
later stage as this will cause unnecessary stress within the floor. This may result in
screws not seating correctly leading to panels being pulled out of position.
The installation of RHINO access flooring is generally a simple and straight forward
operation. The following points are the most common problems encountered on site and
can be overcome easily providing care is taken and problems are resolved at source.
ROCKING PANELS
A common problem, which can generally be resolved if, dealt with at the point of
installation. It is caused by one pedestal head not being in the same plane of level as the
other three. It can usually be attributed to one or more of the following:
• Pedestals not set perpendicular.
• Dirt or debris on one pedestal head
• If used, a missing head gasket
• Trafficking of the floor prior to the full curing of pedestal adhesive.
LIPPING PANELS
This is the situation where one edge of a panel is significantly higher than that of the
adjacent panel. The specified maximum for this condition is given in the
‘TOLERANCE’ section of the technical specification. It is mainly caused by pedestal
not being fixed perpendicular but can also be caused by dirt on the pedestal heads.
Lipping can also occur where pedestals have been glued down with panel weight on one
side only, causing pedestals to tip slightly.
GRID/MODULE OUT
This can be caused by damaged panels being used, overly loose or tight installation, or
lack of care when positioning panels. This is extremely difficult to rectify if allowed to
progress.
LOSS OF LEVEL
Using different datum points as apposed to a single reference point will cause levels to
change. The other prime causes are non-rectification of rocking or lipping panels at
source.
NOTE: Do not compensate for problems by making adjustments, which will accumulate
as the installation progresses and more problems will be created.
MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE
GENERAL
Care must be taken to ensure that floors are not overloaded or abused when moving other
materials or equipment on site especially when using moving equipment with wheels or
castors as these magnify the load transmitted to the floor.
The access floor is part of the building finish and should be treated accordingly.
Damage, abuse and overloading must be prevented to ensure that the floor system
performs to its design specification.
Floor systems subject to water damage can not be guaranteed in terms of performance
and should be removed and replaced.
Other than vacuum cleaning of the void when required and ensuring that pedestal heads
are clean when replacing panels, cleaning of the system is not normally necessary.
Panels should be removed vertically using the appropriate lifting device. Never remove
panels with screwdrivers, etc. They should be replaced in the same rotation, never drop
or kick panels into position.
When access to the void is necessary, the minimum number of panels should be
removed at any one time. A minimum of two rows of panels should remain intact
between rows of uplifted panels and the creation of “ISLANDS” of panels within the
installation should be avoided at all times.
HPL maintenance
When your floor panels have been cleaned regularly, but they appear yellow, dingy, and
dirty-looking, more than likely residual wax has built up on the surface. This is a
common problem with floor systems. Residual wax rapidly ages a floor system and
should be removed. Careful, though. Commercial wax removers will cause your panels to
delaminate (panel surface becomes detached) and you will end up with a larger problem
than when you started.
Causes:
Cleaning crews using a mop in other areas of a building and using the same mop
on the raised floor
Uneducated workers
Wrong cleaning chemicals
Improper cleaning methods
NEVER use wet mop on HPL surface
Consequences:
Every time we see wax on a raised floor system, it makes us cringe. Wax and access
floors do not mix well. Wax is the most damaging element for a raised floor panel.
Besides making the panels actually "grow" and hard to remove, it makes the edge trim
brittle and easy to break. The way to get rid of an access floor is to wax it regularly...it
will die. The wax, over time, will kill it.
When your floor panels have been waxed, it is extremely important to remove the wax
immediately. This must be done carefully and with the proper product. Some commercial
wax removers also remove the glue that holds the surface covering on to the floor panel.
What can happen is devastating. You try to remove the wax only to remove the surface
covering!!
Causes:
Uneducated maintenance personnel
Lack of user knowledge about high pressure laminate
Consequences:
Eliminates static dissipation properties of high pressure laminate
Glues panels together preventing access to subfloor
Makes edge trim brittle
Creates vertical instability
Rapid aging of floor system
Causes:
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Description
Basic Use - MEIAH laminated flooring products are manufactured specifically for floor
surfacing on access flooring systems. They comply with requirements for low static
generation and retention, coupled with a washable surface requiring no waxing.
Limitations - MEIAH laminated flooring products are not designed for application on
any sub-floor strata other than access floor manufacturer's steel, aluminum, wood, or
particle board floor components. They are not recommended for exterior use.
Standard Grades:
GRADE FL-12
GRADE FL-6
• Nominal thickness - 1/16" (1.6mm)
• Actual Thickness - .062" (1.6mm) +- .005" (.13mm)
Note:
All grades may be purchased in either full size sheets (i.e., 4 ft. x 8 ft.) (121.92 cm x
243.84 cm) or cut-to size.
Proper grade of product needed is dependent on the total flooring system requirements.
When specifying an access floor, we recommend that the floor manufacturer be contacted
for proper specification.
Sizes - General industry requirements are a nominal 24" x 24" (60.96 cm x 60.96 cm),
but other sizes are manufactured to order.
Colors and Patterns - MEIAH flooring products are offered in patterns selected to meet
most design and aesthetic requirements for initial installation and future additions. The
standard patterns are manufactured to comply with light reflectance values as
recommended by leading computer manufacturers. (Other items in the Nevamar
laminates line are available on Laminated Floor Tile on a special order basis.
Finish - Textured (a low sheen, matte finish). Applicable Standards: Material Shall equal
or exceed performance standards set by ANSI (American National Standards
Institute)/NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) Publication LD3-1991
for high-pressure decorative plastic laminate.
INSTALLATION
Fabrication Data - MEIAH laminated flooring products should be bonded to oil free
steel, aluminum, plywood or particle board access floor sections, with a moisture
resistant adhesive in accordance with adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations.
COST
Varies according to grade, quantity and locale.
Maintenance
Note: Never flood the floor with water or cleaning agents! MEIAH laminated flooring
products are easily cleaned in low traffic areas by damp mopping with water and a mild,
multi-purpose ammoniated floor cleaner. Do not seal, wax, or mechanically buff the floor.