AIR LEAKAGE CONTROL

Technical Bulletin #216

Controlling Air Leakage from Raised Access Floor Cavities

AIR LEAKAGE DEFINITION AND the Field”, provides procedures for installing a floor
SIGNIFICANCE that is square, level and sufficiently tight.

Air leakage is passage of pressurized air from an And keep in mind that it is essential to hold other
underfloor air supply cavity through elements other trade people working in the floor cavity responsible
than the air diffusers. As test reports herein show, for maintaining the floor in its original condition
the volume of air that leaks between the panels in a during and after the installation.
bare raised floor will be reduced to exceptionally low
levels by the application of overlapping carpet tiles Sealing of Construction Seams and
or by the use of stringers lined with air-seal gaskets. Penetrations
Sealing of the perimeter where the access floor
The cavity can leak air also at the access floor connects with walls and columns is crucial. The
perimeter where walls and columns extend from the perimeter of a carpeted access floor can be sealed
floor slab; and through wall and slab penetrations with snug-fitting perimeter panels, carpet extending
created for ducts, conduits and pipes. By utilizing completely to the wall, and wall base firmly pressed
the sealing methods detailed in this bulletin, leakage against the carpet. The perimeter of a floor without
in these areas can be reduced to levels that will not carpet can be caulked, gasketed or taped at the wall
affect temperature control or air distribution prior to installing wall base. All walls passing
performance. through the access floor must have drywall
extending completely to the slab and be sealed at
the slab line.
ELEMENTS OF AIR LEAKAGE CONTROL
All utility penetrations through walls and slabs for
Floor Panel Integrity plumbing, electricity and voice/data cabling must be
Floor panels need to be consistent in size and have sealed. This sealing work should be performed by
straight edges to minimize panel seam leakage, and those who make the penetrations and inspected
should therefore be the steel die-cut type. A system prior to installation of the access floor. Penetrations
that relies upon heavy applications of carpet made after access floor installation must be sealed
adhesive to fill large panel seams is not and inspected. For specifications and drawings on
recommended, since this impedes panel removal sealing of construction seams and penetrations, see
and replacement. pages 3-15.

Quality of Installation Sealing of the Panel Seams

The manufacturer’s installation procedures must be The seams between floor panels in a PosiLock or
followed to form the properly sized panel seams and stringer system will automatically be sealed against
thereby lessen leakage through the panel seams. leakage if overlapping carpet tiles are applied. In
Part 3 of Tate’s Installation Manual: “Installation of the case of a floor that will not be carpeted, a
stringer system with air-seal gaskets applied to the
stringers will seal the panel seams.

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LABORATORY TESTS

Leakage through Panel Seams

The data in Table 1 was derived from laboratory tests with access floor mockups constructed to simulate normal
field conditions with typical sized seams between panels. Leakage occurring at the perimeters of the mockups
was measured and subtracted from the panel seam numbers. Slight variations in leak rates are possible when
compared to actual installations due to variations of installation tightness.

TABLE 1: PANEL SEAM AIR LEAKAGE TESTS

PosiLock™-Cornerlock Bolted Stringer Understructure

Understructure System System with Stringer Gaskets
(CFM/ Sq. Ft.) (CFM/ Sq. Ft.)

18-Inch
Static Pressure PosiTile Carpet Bare Panels Bare Panels
Bare Panels Glue-Down
(in. w.g.) Tiles2 Gravity-Held Cornerlock3
Carpet Tiles1

0.05 0.44 0.0 0.31 0.07 0.0

0.10 0.61 0.01 ----- 0.11 0.0

Test Number 03-40-0357A 03-40-0357A 02-0010 05-40-0032A 03-40-0357B

Notes:
1. 18-inch carpet tiles overlapped floor panels to cover the seams and were adhered with a light application
of releasable adhesive.
2. PosiTile carpet tiles are 24-inch tiles applied without adhesive and do not overlap the panel seams, but
precisely match the floor panels.
3. The combination bolted stringer & cornerlocked panel system was utilized.
4. Laboratory test reports are available through your distributor or by calling Tate's Technical Hotline @
1-800-231-7788.

Air Leakage through a Power, Voice & Data (PVD) Distribution Box Installed in a Panel
A test was conducted to determine the volume of air that would pass through a high capacity PVD box installed in
a 10.5 inch-square cutout in a ConCore panel. The test panel was covered with a 24-inch commercial carpet tile
having a cutout matching the panel cutout. The PVD receptacle plate was fitted with two duplexes; the voice/data
plate was fitted with three steel interface plates each of which was fitted with two RJ-45 connectors. With the
PVD installed in the test panel, all other seams in the mockup were sealed so that leakage would be confined to
the area of the cutout and PVD assembly. The results are as follows:

Static Pressure Leakage (CFM)

• 0.05 in. w.g. : 5.9
• 0.10 in. w.g. : 7.65

Laboratory test report is available through your distributor or by calling Tate's Technical Hotline @ 1-800-231-7788.

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METHOD OF COMMISSIONING TEST

The data derived in this test is used to calculate the maximum construction leakage and determines how much air
is lost to leakage by the duct and air supply cavity. A good system will leak no more than 10-15% of the total
volume of air forced into the cavity, while a marginal system may leak up to 20-25%. If leakage is beyond 25%,
the cavity should be repaired to yield leakage of no more than 25%.

The floor cavity should be tested in its completed condition after all perimeter seams and penetrations in the
access floor, subfloor and walls have been sealed. If the floor is slated to have a carpet covering, it should be
installed in the intended manner of application. All diffusers should be covered and sealed with self-adhesive
protective sheets (or blank panels temporarily installed in their place). All panels and closures must be in place.
Check all duct access doors for tight fit and closure.

With the diffusers sealed, the system shall be brought to normal working pressure -- typically .05 to .10 inches
w.g. in the plenum. The airflow of the supply fan system is measured by the air balance personnel and compared
to maximum delivery volumes. The test volumes are recorded in the commissioning report. Any systems that
demonstrate leakage/uncontrolled flow in excess of 25% design maximum should be corrected and retested.

FLOOR CAVITY SEALING SPECIFICATIONS AND DRAWINGS

To ensure that the cavity construction seams and penetrations are properly sealed (before, during and after
access floor construction) the initial contract documents should include specifications and details clearly indicating
sealing requirements and areas of responsibility. We offer the following construction specifications and
associated drawing details for your reference (see pages 5-15 for drawings).

See page 5 for a quick-reference diagram of common floor cavity sealing locations.

DRAWING
SPECIFICATION
DETAIL

Before the start of access floor construction, all slab-to-ceiling walls shall be sufficiently sealed
at the floor slab-line as described below to maintain air tightness. All air duct, conduit, cabling
and piping penetrations in the access floor cavity shall be sufficiently sealed as described See Below
below. The general contractor shall have the overall responsibility for meeting these
requirements.

Where applicable, the carpet installer shall comply with the carpet installation requirements
See Below
described below (carpet installer requirements are in italics).

Access floor seal at fascia/exposed edge: Precisely cut the fascia plate to meet the top
edge of access floor, leaving no gaps. Apply metal tape over joint prior to application of Detail A
carpet and angle trim. Secure fascia to access floor edge with angle trim.

Perimeter seal at smooth walls and columns: Cut perimeter panels to fit within 1/16 inch or
less of walls and columns. Carpet installer must ensure that carpet tiles fit snugly against all
vertical surfaces. Finish all joints with wall base firmly pressed against carpet and access Detail B
floor. For floors that will not be carpeted, follow specifications under “Perimeter seal at non-
smooth walls and columns” and Detail C.

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Perimeter seal at non-smooth walls and columns: Where wavy/rugged surfaces prohibit
perimeter panels from fitting uniformly close to the surface or where carpet will not be applied:
Option 1: attach self-stick foam/rubber gasket to wall flush with surface of floor and press
Detail C
panels into gasket material.
Option 2: install perimeter panels and fill joint with caulk/sealant prior to installation of carpet or
wall base.

Access floor seal at fire barrier below door threshold: Cut panels to fit within 1/16 inch of
barrier. Options to seal joints:
Option 1: cover joints between access floor panels and barrier by attaching threshold plate with
gasket affixed to underside.
Detail D
Option 2: attach gasket to vertical surface of barrier flush with edge of floor and press panels
into gasket material.
Option 3: install panels and fill joint between floor panels and barrier with fire-rated
caulk/sealant.

Fire wall seal at access floor: Cut perimeter panels to fit within 1/16 inch of walls. Carpet
installer must ensure that carpet tiles fit snugly against all vertical surfaces. Finish joint with
Detail E
wall base firmly pressed against carpet and access floor. For floors that will not be carpeted,
follow specifications under “Perimeter seal at non-smooth walls and columns” and Detail C.

Fire-wall seal at sub floor: Before the start of access floor construction, seal fire-wall along
Detail E
slab-line with fire-rated caulk/sealant that has rating equal to that of the wall assembly.

Access floor seal at curb joint where floor covering is continuous from access floor to
curb: Cut panels to fit within 1/16 inch (or less) of curb. If gap will be larger than 1/16 inch
Detail F
attach self-stick foam/rubber gasket to curb and press panels into gasket material. Overlap
carpet or other tiles from access floor to curb.

Access floor seal at curb joint where floor covering is not continuous from access floor
to curb: Cut panels to fit within 1/16 inch (or less) of curb. If gap will be larger than 1/16 inch
Detail G
attach self-stick foam/rubber gasket to curb and press panels into gasket material. Bridge
joint with transition strip or threshold.

Cable cutout seal: Install manufacturer’s trim for rectangular cable cutouts into panel cable
Detail H
openings and cut foam section to fit snugly into opening and support ledge.

Fire wall seal at air duct, piping, conduit and cable penetrations: Cut openings into wall
assemblies approximately equal to diameters of ducts, pipes or conduit / cable bundles
passing through. Fill excess voids with firestop system materials to prevent passage of air. All Details I, J, K
excess voids must be sealed and inspected prior to installation of access floor whenever
possible.

Plenum divider seal at air duct, piping, conduit and cable penetrations: Cut openings into
divider approximately equal to diameters of ducts, pipes or conduit / cable bundles passing
through. Seal excess opening areas with duct or metal tape, caulk or sealant to prevent Details I, J, K
passage of air. All excess openings must be sealed and inspected prior to installation of
access floor whenever possible.

Access floor seal at piping penetrations: Cut openings into access floor approximately
equal to diameters of pipes. Seal excess opening areas around piping passing through
Detail L
access floor surface with caulk or sealant to prevent passage of air. All excess openings must
be sealed and inspected prior to installation of access floor whenever possible.

Sub floor seal at piping penetrations: Fill excess voids or cavities around piping passing
through sub floor with firestop system materials to prevent passage of air. All excess voids Detail L
must be sealed and inspected prior to installation of access floor whenever possible.

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