RHINO Raised Floor System in Thailand: Panels, Pedestals and Installation

Asia Net Building Services Co., Ltd. (ANBS) has supplied and installed RHINO raised floor systems in Bangkok and across Thailand since 1997, as the RHINO Access Floors representative in Thailand. This page explains how a raised floor system works, what it is made of, which RHINO panel types are available, where each one fits, and how ANBS runs a project from site survey to handover.

How a raised floor system works

A raised floor system lifts the walking surface off the structural slab. The space created, usually called the floor void or plenum, becomes a service zone. Power cables, data cabling, floor boxes and, in many server rooms and data centres, conditioned air all run through it instead of through the ceiling or chased into walls.

Because the floor is modular, it changes as the building changes. When an office is re-planned or a rack row is added, the contractor lifts a few panels, re-routes the cables and drops the panels back in place. There is no slab cutting, no wet trades and very little dust. That is the main reason banks, data centre operators and office tenants in Bangkok have specified raised floors for decades.

A raised floor system is not a single product. It is a set of parts that are designed and tested to work together: panels, pedestals, stringers, a finish and the accessories that connect the floor to the services below. Mixing parts from different systems is one of the most common causes of rocking panels, uneven joints and floors that do not perform as specified.

Components of a raised floor system

Floor panels

RHINO panels are a standard 600 × 600 mm module. The panel core decides how the floor feels underfoot and how much load it carries. RHINO offers two main cores in Thailand: RhinoROC, a steel shell filled with cement, and RhinoEU, a solid high-density calcium sulphate panel. Both are available bare or with a factory-applied finish.

Pedestals

Pedestals are the adjustable steel supports under each panel corner. Each has a base plate fixed to the slab, a threaded stem for height adjustment and a head that locates the panels. Adjusting the stem levels the floor across an uneven slab. RHINO offers a range of pedestal types for different floor heights and loads.

Stringers

Stringers are the horizontal members that link pedestal heads into a rigid grid. A stringer grid gives better lateral stability, keeps panels aligned and allows panels to be lifted and replaced without the neighbouring ones moving. Computer rooms and higher floors commonly use a stringer grid.

Finishes and accessories

The top surface can be anti-static HPL, conductive (ESD) vinyl, vinyl, carpet tiles, woven finishes or porcelain tile, chosen to suit the room. Accessories complete the system: stainless steel floor boxes for power and data outlets, AirSeal® grommets to seal cable cut-outs, airflow panels for cooling, and panel lifters for maintenance access.

RHINO raised floor panel types

RhinoROC is available as Bare, Covered, Stoneline and Airflow panels. RhinoEU is available as Bare, Covered, Encapsulated, Airflow, Stoneline and IFS tongue-and-groove. For projects that specify a German system, ANBS also supplies Lindner NORTEC calcium sulphate floors.

See the product pages for full details: RhinoROC, RhinoEU, Lindner NORTEC and accessories.

More RHINO systems available in Thailand

Alongside RhinoROC, ANBS supplies three more RHINO systems in Thailand for cleanrooms, low ceiling heights and outdoor terraces.

RhinoAlutec® aluminium raised floor

RhinoAlutec is an aluminium raised floor in four versions: Solid, Perforated, Grating and Circular. The Solid panel is designed for areas inside cleanrooms where very heavy equipment is installed; its lattice structure spreads the weight well. The panels are non-ferrous, precision-machined and lightweight, so they are easy to handle and fit tightly and precisely. They resist corrosion and are anti-magnetic. Perforated panels can be topped with anti-static HPL or conductive vinyl, and the Grating and Circular panels have no underside obstructions, so air flows evenly to the racks in data centres and server rooms. More on RhinoAlutec.

RhinoCross® low-profile floor

RhinoCross is a low-profile access floor for buildings that were not designed for a traditional raised floor. RhinoCross Channel is a cement-filled steel floor with interlocking grooved channels that keep high volumes of cabling organised, on zinc-plated, self-locking adjustable pedestals. RhinoCross Unifix is a corner-locked, cement-filled steel panel sized for 500 × 500 mm carpet tiles, with pre-formed outlet holes that save cutting on site. RhinoCross Triangle is a galvanised steel tile that snaps together for voice and data cabling in very low ceiling areas. More on RhinoCross.

iPed® outdoor pedestal system

iPed is RHINO's adjustable outdoor pedestal for raised, ventilated terraces. Each support adjusts in height, so a terrace can be levelled easily. Lifting the surface off the roof or slab stops water lying on the surface and reduces constant humidity, moss, lichen and drainage problems, and the waterproofing layer stays accessible for maintenance. iPed supports stone, concrete or ceramic pavers, timber or WPC decking, and glass or polycarbonate. More on iPed outdoor pedestals.

Tested performance

ANBS only quotes performance that is backed by a test report. Copies of the reports below are available on request.

• Fire resistance (RhinoROC): Intertek report 211221010SHF-001 gives the RhinoROC raised floor system a 130-minute fire-resistance rating under Modified ASTM E119-20, with the fire applied from below the floor, tested over a 100 mm concrete floor.
• Independent testing: RHINO raised floor systems have also been independently tested by Intertek and SGS, including load testing and materials testing.

These are test reports, not product certifications. Ask us for the datasheet and the report that matches your specification.

Where raised floor systems are used in Thailand

Data centres and server rooms

A raised floor system is the traditional base for a data centre: cable trays run below the floor and the void delivers cool air through airflow panels to the cold aisle. ANBS data centre references include the Stock Exchange of Thailand data centre at North Park (RhinoROC throughout, 2017), the PTT data centre (5,000 m²) and the IRPC data centre in Rayong (4,000 m²). Read more in our server room raised floor guide (Thai) and our note on the data centre building category in Thailand.

Offices and bank headquarters

In offices the floor void replaces ceiling cabling, and floor boxes put power and data under every desk. ANBS references include Citibank headquarters (27,000 m²), UOB's two towers (40,300 m²), G Tower (21,000 m², RhinoROC), Standard Chartered Bank's Sathorn headquarters (12,000 m²) and HSBC's headquarters (11,000 m², 1999). See raised floors for offices.

Control rooms and cleanrooms

Control rooms and operations centres need easy access to dense cabling under consoles. Cleanrooms and electronics areas often add an anti-static or conductive finish, and cleanrooms with heavy equipment can use RhinoAlutec aluminium panels. Infrastructure references include the MRT Orange Line (2,200 m²) and an EGAT project with Lindner NORTEC. For finishes, see our anti-static raised floor guide (Thai).

Lecture halls, cinemas and gyms

Raised floors also build stepped and level platforms. ANBS has floored university lecture halls, Major Cineplex cinemas across Thailand (40,000 m²) and Virgin Active fitness clubs, including 1,500 m² in Bangkok.

Detailed write-ups are in our case studies, including Standard Chartered, G Tower and UOB Bangkok.

How to choose a raised floor system

1. Load. List the heaviest items: racks, UPS, battery cabinets, compactus shelving, and how equipment will be moved in. This decides the RhinoROC grade or whether RhinoEU fits.
2. Finished floor height. The void must fit the cable trays, any underfloor air and the bend radius of the largest cable. Pedestal length follows from this height.
3. Panel core. Steel cement-filled RhinoROC for heavy-duty and computer rooms; calcium sulphate RhinoEU where a solid, quiet feel is the priority.
4. Finish. Anti-static HPL or conductive vinyl for electronics, carpet tile or vinyl for offices, porcelain tile for lobbies.
5. Airflow and services. Locate airflow panels, floor boxes and grommets during design, not after the floor is laid.
6. Budget and programme. Cost depends on the grade, finish, height and area. Our raised floor price guide (Thai) explains what drives the price.

Our guide to choosing a raised access floor covers each point in more depth, and the Thai load guide explains load ratings.

Raised floor system installation in Bangkok and Thailand

ANBS supplies and installs. The same team that quotes the raised floor system also sets it out on site, so the drawings and the finished floor match. A typical project runs like this:

1. Site survey and brief. We check the slab, the required finished floor height and the services that will run below the floor.
2. Proposal and layout. We recommend the RHINO panel type, grade and finish, and prepare a layout showing airflow panels, floor boxes and cut-outs.
3. Submittals. Datasheets, samples and the relevant test reports for consultant approval.
4. Installation. Set-out, pedestal fixing and levelling, stringer grid, panels, then cutting around columns, walls and services.
5. Handover and after-sales. Final level check, panel lifters, spare panels where agreed, and support when the space is later re-planned.

We work in Bangkok and nationwide, on new buildings, office fit-outs and live server rooms. Read the Rhino and ANBS story for the company background.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a raised floor system and a raised access floor?

None in practice. Raised floor system, raised access floor, access floor and raise floor system all describe removable panels on adjustable pedestals above the slab. In Thai the usual terms are พื้นยก, พื้นยกระดับ and พื้นยกสำเร็จรูป.

Which RHINO panel is best for a server room or data centre?

Most computer rooms use RhinoROC on a stringer grid, with airflow panels in front of the racks and an anti-static or conductive finish. The grade depends on the rack and UPS loads; send us the equipment list and we will recommend one.

Can a raised floor system be installed in an existing building?

Yes. Because pedestals are adjustable, a raised floor can level an uneven slab in an existing office or plant room. The main limits are the floor-to-ceiling height, door thresholds and ramps or steps at the edges. Where the ceiling height is tight, the low-profile RhinoCross system is designed for exactly this.

Can a raised floor system be used outdoors?

Yes, with the RHINO iPed outdoor pedestal system. It raises pavers, decking or glass above a roof or terrace slab, so water drains away underneath and the waterproofing layer stays accessible. ANBS used iPed for the Chao Phraya riverside deck at Lhong 1919 in Bangkok.

Is the RHINO raised floor system fire tested?

Yes. Intertek report 211221010SHF-001 gives the RhinoROC system a 130-minute fire-resistance rating under Modified ASTM E119-20, with fire from below, over a 100 mm concrete floor. We can send a copy of the report.

Who installs RHINO raised floors in Thailand?

Asia Net Building Services Co., Ltd. (ANBS) in Bangkok, the RHINO Access Floors representative in Thailand since 1997, supplies and installs RHINO raised floor systems nationwide.

How much does a raised floor system cost per square metre?

There is no fixed price. It depends on the panel type and grade, finish, finished floor height, area and site conditions. Send the area and room type for a quotation.

Related pages

• Raised access floor products
• What is a raised floor?
• Raised floor guides
• Case studies
• Full project list