Are Access Floors Suitable for Data Centers? Here’s What You Need to Know

What Is an Access Floor?

An access floor is a raised panel design that is made in modules over a pedestal grid. It creates an underfloor plenum (space) that can be used for cabling services like:

Electrical and data cabling
Cooling air
Fire suppression systems

Why Are They Needed in Sports Flooring?

1. Thermal Movement

Sport halls experience temperature fluctuations (sunlight, HVAC, seasons).
Materials like wood, rubber, and vinyl contract and expand.
Expansion joints enable the floor to move without affecting the surface.

2. Moisture Variability

Wood, for example, is hygroscopic — it absorbs and releases water.
Without joints, there can be warping or cupping due to humidity variation.

3. Substrate Movement

Concrete slabs beneath the floor can settle, crack, or shift over time.
Expansion joints can be utilized to decouple the flooring system from these shifts.

Do All Sports Floors Need Expansion Joints?

Yes, if:

The flooring is large-scale (e.g., entire gymnasium, multi-court facility).
It’s being placed over a pre-existing concrete slab with existing expansion joints.
You’re placing wood or engineered systems.
The location is extreme in temperature difference or humidity.

Perhaps not, if:

It’s a small indoor court with temperature/humidity control.
You’re placing resilient synthetic surfaces (such as polyurethane or rubber) that are installed in place as seamless systems and can dissipate minimal movement.
The subfloor is isolated or already provides for expansion internally.

Where Are Expansion Joints Located?

Where there is a transition from wall to floor
Over structural joints that already exist in the slab
At points that remain static, like columns, doors, or equipment inserts
Between materials of varying types (e.g., wood leading up to concrete)

What If They Are Not Used?

Without expansion joints, you stand to lose:

Buckled or heaving wood floors
Cracking in synthetic or rubber floors
Delaminating glued-down floors
Safety issues like uneven playing surfaces

Design Best Practices

Utilize manufacturer-recommended joint details for the particular system (e.g., floating wood versus synthetic).
Flatten joints and render them safe for athletes (no trip hazards).
Employ flexible fillers or plate coverings to maintain aesthetics and function.
Consult with the structural engineers to coordinate floor joints with building movement joints.

Bottom Line

Yes, expansion joints are required in the vast majority of sports flooring installations, particularly:

Wood or hybrid systems
Large or weather-sensitive areas
Over structural slabs with joints

There is even a need for detailing and perimeter joints with seamless polyurethane systems to ensure long-term performance and player safety.