Raised Floor

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Alwayslearningelec

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Location
NJ
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Estimator
Would you factor down the install time for installing conduit under raised floor(no raised floor installed at time of install) as opposed to installing overhead?

I'd think it would be quicker.
 
Would you factor down the install time for installing conduit under raised floor(no raised floor installed at time of install) as opposed to installing overhead?

I'd think it would be quicker.
You may think it would be quicker, but no one is going to thank you for the opportunity when they have to lie down for an hour after work due to back pain. Also, how can you be coordinating the conduit install with the floor guy if the floor supports aren't in?
 
You may think it would be quicker, but no one is going to thank you for the opportunity when they have to lie down for an hour after work due to back pain. Also, how can you be coordinating the conduit install with the floor guy if the floor supports aren't in?
What do you mean by your last sentence? The pedestals need to be in first? Would we work off corrdination drawings to see where they are located?
 
What do you mean by your last sentence? The pedestals need to be in first?
No they don't but the floor guys marks the pedestal layout on the floor. Usually just a dot of spray paint. The electrician lays out his conduit and boxes based off of the pedestal layout. It is faster to install the conduit on the floor than above the ceiling.
 
No they don't but the floor guys marks the pedestal layout on the floor. Usually just a dot of spray paint. The electrician lays out his conduit and boxes based off of the pedestal layout. It is faster to install the conduit on the floor than above the ceiling.
But, unless the conduit was a significant part of the overall conduit being bid, I wouldn't labor it any different. Just like I don't labor the in wall conduit separately from the overhead conduit.
 
But, unless the conduit was a significant part of the overall conduit being bid, I wouldn't labor it any different. Just like I don't labor the in wall conduit separately from the overhead conduit.
Floor work is faster than racks and ladders in the ceiling. How much is well beyond my pay grade. If you can bid the same that's more profit for you. :cool:
 
Floor work is faster than racks and ladders in the ceiling. How much is well beyond my pay grade. If you can bid the same that's more profit for you. :cool:
What I am saying is, if I were bidding a job that was a buildout of a computer room, then I would cut the labor. If I had a 30,000 building and there was 1000 square foot computer room, I would not cut the labor.
 
Just like infinity said- raised floor jobs are full of tricky windows for all trades. The posts and access panels are all laid out. If its crac units you almost have no choice but in the floor...
 
Good insight guys. I do agree if a small portion of the job I wouldn't facgor it any differently. In my case for this job it's 80% of the conduit.
 
I have seen raised floors used as plenums too.
I was the foreman on the AAA world headquarters in OKC, Oklahoma. The entire 3 story building was 14" raised floor with concrete filled floor tiles 2' square. I can answer the question "is it easier than conduit overhead?" YES! The HVAC was under the floor as well so we had to coordinate with them as well as the floor guys. We ran multi-conductor MC cable and stayed clear of the pedestals and any air chases. We had a sheet metal company build shrouds to go from the panels to the floor and painted them gray to match panel covers to cover all the MC cables coming through the floor. It made wiring the building so much easier. Carefully placed 12" x 12" x 6" screw cover "J" boxes under the floor were great help and limited the number of home runs. That job made some company records for profit margins.
 
It would be easier if the supports were in first. It would save you a lot of layout time, making sure you’re not where they HAVE to be!
You wouldn't want the pedestals in first. a lot of trip hazards everywhere. You just need job coordination within the trades. I popped chalk lines on the slab.
 
It's impracticable to install only the pedestals without the floor tiles (or when used) without the bracing pieces. The pedestals are glued down to the concrete. While the glue is wet the bracing or tiles are installed so that the pedestal can move on the wet glue. This ensures perfect alignment. I've never seen a job where the floor guy didn't do a pedestal layout.
 
We had computer cables to run from one side of the computer room to the other. We opened up the floor tiles along the route, then popped out the cross bars (friction fit). This gave us a 'trench' to drop the cables into. The trench is still there, going on 30 years.
Also under the floor are moisture detection cables around the perimeter and interesting areas; mounted on some of the pedestals are smoke detectors and their cables. Power cables are 'snakes' with twist-lock connectors to the computers that slither amongst all the other wires.
 
It's impracticable to install only the pedestals without the floor tiles (or when used) without the bracing pieces. The pedestals are glued down to the concrete. While the glue is wet the bracing or tiles are installed so that the pedestal can move on the wet glue. This ensures perfect alignment. I've never seen a job where the floor guy didn't do a pedestal layout.
So your saying the pedestals are in BEFORE you install your roughing?
 
So your saying the pedestals are in BEFORE you install your roughing?
Depends if you're the first occupant of the building or not. We were 2nd in our building; we had various sections of the floor open for AC/Power/communication cables. After everyone was through, we had the floor people back to level the floor and eliminate those rocking floor tiles.
 
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