Access floors are used in buildings where provision is made for services to be installed and to be accessible under the floor. In the absence of a comprehensive Australian Standard, a British Specification - MOB 08-801 Performance Specification Platform Floors (Raised Access Floors) produced by the Property Services Agency (PSA) is widely used as a standard in Australia.

It is recommended that MR and flooring types of Particleboard be used for the floor panels. These products will provide protection from accidental wetting that may occur during and after installation particularly from sprinkler malfunction or testing.

The PSA specification classified four structural grades and the table below gives examples of each grade and the panels capable of achieving the load/deflection criteria for each.

The table below gives the panels capabilities; realisation of these capabilities will depend upon two important factors:

Pedestal Support System: the above gradings were established from tests and indicate panel capabilities when supported on all four sides by a rigid support system. Performance in practice depends on the pedestal/stringer supports as well as the panel itself. With rating dependent on deflection under load, the total system determines the rating.

Gluing of Steel Faces: Steel facings provide a very high stiffness capability to the composite panel, but realisation of this capability depends on how well the steel and the Particleboard act together Reactive bonding, involving polyurethane or acrylic adhesive may be required to achieve high rated performance.

Balanced construction of the panel is also required to avoid bowing of panels in service. So called "sealants" may resist liquid water but are rarely effective against water vapour; they are not a satisfactory alternative to a balanced panel.

Particleboard-based access floors have the benefits of economy, flexibility of design, on-site modification, and provide good thermal insulation and comfort.

PSA Grade Specification - Access Floors