sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Raised Floor & Lifts

Like many, I've worked in server rooms with raised floors. However, this potential job has a raised floor throughout a warehouse-type space (200'x100' estimate). I need to get a lift on to the floor to access the ceiling (about 32'). The tiles are concrete backed. Question is: Can the floor support the weight of the lift? What are my alternatives if not?

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AT&T wants 200' of EMT run with 1-1/4" innderduct inside for their fiber pull underneath this floor. How do I support the EMT? on the floor supports?

You're going to need to check what the floor will support then check the weight of the particular lift you want and factor in the weight of the technicians and material you'll be carrying on the lift.

An alternative might be rolling scaffolding.

Usually kindorf (Channel Iron) is bolted to the slab and the EMT fastened to that with the appropriate straps.

Sam

If this is a warehouse-type space, as you say, are they using any forklifts in the space? Not sure if a forklift weighs more than a man lift? I would think so.

Jim

No forklift. It's not really a warehouse but that's the easiest way to describe this space. On the raised floor, plenum by the way, there are freestanding enclosed office spaces and voice/data hookups all over the floors for the cubicles that used to be there. The tenant just leased the place and is trying to get the plans from property management so I should have a better idea of the specs. Thanks for the input Sam. I was trying to avoid drilling or shooting into concrete but that may be the fastest way to secure the EMT.

Shawn

If the cube farm is still intact a scissor lift will have problems turning around the corners.

What should work is a pusharound lift. They are small and lite enough to sit on the tiles as the outriggers will transfer some of the weight to the adjacent stringers. Only disadvantage is they only take one tech at a time in the basket.

Here are some examples of pusharound lifts from United Rentals site:
https://www.ur.com/index.php/equipm...ial+Lifts&additional=pusharound+lifg

If the cube farm will be gone then the rolling scaffolding like Sam suggested will work fine.

if the whole floor is raised, then why do you need to get to the ceiling? just curious. The main purpose of a raised floor is to allow cable access underneath of it.

If his site is like one of our new backup data center the raised floor is for air cooling and fire suppression piping only. All the wiring is on suspended cable trays hung from the ceiling.

With proper wire management systems it does not look that bad.

Our older main data center has so much wire under the floor it is now restricting the air flow in the server farm. It was designed back in the big iron mainframe days where everything was under the floor.