Client Project 2

Client 2 presented a classic but high-impact cooling constraint: a 9-inch finished floor height (FFH) that was starving the IT equipment of underfloor supply air. With modern heat densities, that limited plenum height made it difficult for the room to deliver the cooling performance the CRAH units were capable of providing.

The Challenge

The facility knew a major change was required, but faced two non-negotiable constraints:

• Avoid major mechanical disruption (they could not feasibly relocate or rework the CRAH infrastructure)
• Maintain continuous uptime—no outages during the upgrade

The core problem was airflow. A 9″ plenum simply couldn’t support the underfloor distribution needed for stable cooling.

The Solution: Increase Plenum Capacity Without Moving the CRAHs

Our approach was to raise the raised access floor from 9″ to 18″ FFH to restore airflow and pressure balance—while keeping the CRAH discharge height where it was. That meant the floor system had to be completely redesigned to integrate:

• New floor height and transitions
• Proper underfloor airflow pathways for free-flowing cold air to live equipment
• ADA compliance, including safe slopes, landings, and accessible pathways

Engineering and Build Considerations

This wasn’t a “swap the floor” project—it required full layout and interface planning:

• Reworked room access with correctly placed ramps, rails, and stairs
• Adjusted elevations and transitions to preserve usability and compliance
• Ensured the new 18″ plenum supported stable, low-restriction airflow to critical racks without compromising safety or operations

Result: Better Cooling, Safer Access, Zero Downtime

The end state delivered exactly what the customer needed:

• 18″ raised access floor height enabling improved airflow distribution
• Fully integrated ramps, railings, and stairs designed for safe access and ADA considerations
• Free-flowing cold air delivered to live equipment as intended
• No outages and no disruption to normal operations