Like corporate giants, small to medium-sized property owners and facility teams are racing to remain competitive and profitable. As energy costs rise and sustainability measures tighten, many turn to small or mid-sized renovation projects to stay compliant while improving property efficiency. These projects typically include LED lighting upgrades or adding occupancy sensors to reduce energy usage month after month. Digital transformation, which uses technology to fundamentally change how a business operates, creates products and services, and improves customer experiences throughout the customer journey, has changed how property owners and facility teams look at data cabling systems. Many are abandoning the traditional cable trays in favor of a raised access flooring system to maximize the ROI of small—and medium-sized renovation projects.
Thanks to digital transformation, many companies utilize various softwares to deliver goods and services to their customers.
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
- Financial Management
- Fixed Asset Management
- Inventory Control
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Packing and Shipping
Consequently, a flexible and adaptable cable management system should be a priority when building, renovating, or remodeling commercial spaces. With simple access to the data cabling and connection points, property owners and organizations can easily add or upgrade technologies to remain competitive.
How Does Raised Access Flooring Improve the ROI of Renovation Projects?
A raised access floor is an elevated floor constructed within 3” above the existing concrete slab, creating a small void for running audio, video, data, and power cabling throughout the space. As facility teams or contractors need to perform upgrades or reconfigurations, they can begin work after removing a small section of the modular floor finish, typically carpet tiles. This quick and easy access can greatly reduce future construction and maintenance costs and timelines for property owners.
With overhead cable trays, the existing ceiling must be opened from Point A (desk or workstation) to Point B (the server room) to facilitate adding or removing fiber optic and CAT 5, 5e, 6, 6a, 7, and 8 cables. Using traditional construction techniques, this process can be time-consuming and expensive for facility teams, not to mention the problems with dust, noise, and inconvenience to company employees and adjacent offices.
Not all raised access flooring systems are created equal. For example, the award-winning Gridd® Adaptive Cabling Distribution System® is available in two profile heights (1.6 and 2.75”). The minimal impact on headspace means that Gridd works equally well in a historic building or a new construction project.
Most installers can install 1,000 square feet daily because Gridd requires no adhesives, fasteners, or tools. Should a company need to relocate, the entire system can be disassembled, moved to, and quickly installed at another location. Unlike other systems, Gridd is 100% backward compatible with Gridd systems installed 25 years ago.
Lastly, many commercial properties utilize the space above the ceiling as a return air plenum for the HVAC system. As a result, the data cables must be made with fire-retardant materials to meet CMP (Communications Multipurpose Plenum) requirements. Plenum-rated cables typically cost 20-50% more per foot than the standard riser data cables approved for use with a Gridd Raised Access Flooring System.
Additional ROI Factors for Renovation Projects
Shortening project timelines and reducing future maintenance and construction costs will boost the ROI of small—to medium-sized remodeling projects. However, facility teams should consider these additional factors to maximize the ROI.
Does the organization have a strategic IT plan?
While most companies utilize some level of information technology, newer technologies such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), VR (Virtual Reality), and BMS (Building Management Systems) require unprecedented bandwidth to collect and disseminate massive amounts of data points.
If the company plans to integrate these newer technologies now or in the future, the data cabling system must be flexible and adaptable to handle changing demands. Gridd was designed to be infinitely reconfigurable, allowing it to efficiently address future technology upgrades.
What are the project sustainability requirements?
As the construction industry transitions from a linear to a circular economy business model, the demand for more sustainable building materials continues to grow. Over 500 U.S. cities have green building codes that address local environmental issues, such as reducing energy usage, conserving water, and reusing or recycling waste materials.
Gridd’s modular units are made from steel, which provides superior strength and durability throughout the building’s lifespan. They can be reconfigured infinitely. Steel is also one of the most recycled materials on the planet, so Gridd can help property owners address sustainability concerns while improving their LEED scores (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
What is the business case for this project?
According to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA[9] [10] )1, organizations must analyze the projected benefits, costs, and risks of moving to a new system to determine if there is a suitable business case for moving forward. Different organizations will have different needs, but the goal of maximizing the ROI of renovation projects remains the same.
To further assist property owners and stakeholders with this challenge, Gridd offers two upgrades to increase the ROI of your next renovation project.
Gridd Power® replaces outdated power cabling systems by providing a modular power system within the Gridd access flooring system. Available in three different configurations to meet a company’s current needs while incorporating flexibility for future growth and expansion.
Field Wired – home run circuits must still connect to the primary or central panel with this option. However, the MX cabling is now installed within the raised flooring system, not in the walls or attic (plenum) space above the finished ceiling.
Modular Branch Circuit – typically, the power tracks are installed at a maximum of 48’ on center and rely on the (up to) 24′ whip of the power and data enclosures to easily reach the desired service location.
50 Amp Modular Power Distribution—This option provides 50-amp, 3-phase power connectivity throughout the area at 20-25′ intervals. Ideal for large open offices and shared and multi-use spaces, it offers the most significant design flexibility for architects, builders, and property owners.
Gridd® Mobile is an Augmented Reality (AR) technology app that allows you to test, upgrade, isolate, or modify your cable networks to meet the ever-changing needs of property owners and tenants. Gridd Mobile provides a centralized data location for all your cable and power management files. The intuitive interface allows workers, contractors, designers, and engineers to quickly access all the project details using a smartphone or tablet.
A raised access flooring system can dramatically improve the ROI of your next renovation project by relocating the data and power cables to a more accessible location. As data and power needs change, facility teams and contractors can perform their work quickly to reduce maintenance and future renovation costs. Riser cables are substantially less expensive than the plenum-rated cables typically required for cable trays, presenting another opportunity to reduce costs. Gridd’s steel construction provides superior durability over similar systems that use plastic and addresses sustainability issues such as reuse or reconfiguration before recycling. To learn more about how Gridd can increase the ROI of your next small- to medium-sized project, don’t hesitate to contact a Gridd Advisor.
