Types of Raised Floor Panels Explained: Cement, Wood, Calcium Sulphate & Perforated
Choosing the right raised floor panel is the single most important decision in any access flooring project. The core material determines load capacity, fire resistance, acoustic performance, and total lifecycle cost. This guide breaks down the four main panel types used across Saudi Arabia — and how to choose between them.
Raised Floor Panel Construction Basics
Every raised floor panel is built around three layers: a core material that determines structural strength, a bottom sheet (steel or aluminum foil) for stability and moisture protection, and a top finish for aesthetics and electrostatic discharge (ESD) control. Standard panel size across the industry is 600×600mm, with thickness ranging from 30mm to 40mm depending on the core type and load class.
The core material is what fundamentally separates one panel type from another — and it's the first specification decision that should be made for any project. AVAYO manufactures all four major panel types locally in Saudi Arabia, supporting load capacities from 2.5kN to 11kN.
If you need maximum load capacity → choose cement core. If you need cost-efficiency for offices → choose wood core. If you need fire resistance and acoustic performance for a data center → choose calcium sulphate. If you need cooling airflow → choose perforated panels.
1. Cement / Steel-Cementitious Panels
Cement core panels — also called steel-cementitious panels — represent the gold standard in raised flooring. Construction consists of a fully welded steel shell (top and bottom sheets) filled with lightweight cementitious material, creating a panel that is solid, dense, and exceptionally quiet underfoot.
Construction Details
- Top and bottom steel sheets fully welded into a single shell
- Internal fill of lightweight cement composite
- All steel surfaces coated with conductive epoxy resin for corrosion resistance and dust-proofing
- Standard size: 600×600mm, thickness 32–40mm
Where It's Used
Cement core panels are specified wherever maximum load capacity and dimensional stability are non-negotiable: data centers, server rooms, control rooms, broadcast facilities, and heavy equipment areas. Their high mass also gives them the best acoustic and vibration-dampening performance of any panel type.
Need a heavy-duty raised floor for your data center?
AVAYO manufactures cement core and calcium sulphate raised floor panels locally in Saudi Arabia — Aramco and SEC approved.
2. Wood Core Panels
Wood core panels use a high-density chipboard or HDF (high-density fiberboard) core, bonded to a galvanized steel or aluminum foil bottom sheet. They are antistatic by design and offer excellent rolling load and acoustic performance — making them a popular, cost-effective choice for offices and commercial fit-outs.
Construction Details
- High-density chipboard or HDF core, 600×600mm
- Bottom bonded to galvanized steel sheet or aluminum foil
- Edges protected with conductive PVC coating against moisture and impact damage
- Top finish options: HPL, PVC/vinyl, or aluminum foil
- Significantly lighter than cement core — easier to handle and faster to install
Where It's Used
Wood core is the most common choice for general offices, training rooms, retail interiors, and large-scale commercial fit-outs across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Its reduced weight lowers structural loading on the building slab and reduces installation labor — a meaningful cost saving on large floor areas.
For large open-plan offices with standard load requirements (2.5–4.5kN), wood core panels typically offer the best balance of performance and cost per square meter.
3. Calcium Sulphate Panels
Calcium sulphate panels (also known as fiber-reinforced or synthetic anhydrite panels) consist of a heavy-duty calcium sulphate core glued to a galvanized steel bottom sheet, with an antistatic finish on top. Bottom steel thickness ranges from 0.6mm to 1.0mm depending on the required load class.
Construction Details
- High-density calcium sulphate core — naturally moisture-free and emission-free
- Galvanized steel bottom sheet (0.6mm–1.0mm based on load class)
- Conductive PVC edge protection against moisture ingress
- Excellent fire resistance and acoustic insulation properties
- Load capacity up to 8.5kN
Where It's Used
Because calcium sulphate panels are moisture-free, soundproof, and emission-free, they are highly recommended for data center applications where humidity control, fire safety, and acoustic performance are critical. They're also widely used in clean rooms, hospitals, and any environment with strict indoor air quality requirements.
AVAYO Calcium Sulphate Raised Floor Panel
Fire-resistant, moisture-free, and acoustically superior — built for data centers and control rooms.
4. Perforated Airflow Panels
Perforated panels are precision-engineered with calibrated holes that allow controlled airflow from the under-floor plenum into the room above. Made from steel or aluminum, they are a critical component of any data center cooling strategy using a raised floor as a cold-air supply plenum.
Construction Details
- Steel or aluminum construction
- Available open-area percentages: 20%, 30%, 40%, 56%, 65%, and 70%
- Compatible with standard pedestal grid spacing (600×600mm)
- Often paired with adjustable dampers for airflow tuning
Where It's Used
Perforated panels are placed strategically in front of server racks (the "cold aisle") to deliver targeted cooling exactly where heat is generated. Choosing the right open-area percentage is an airflow engineering exercise — too low restricts cooling capacity, too high can cause pressure loss across the plenum. AVAYO offers the full range of open-area percentages to match any CFD (computational fluid dynamics) cooling design.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Panel Type | Core Material | Max Load | Best For | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement / Steel-Cementitious | Welded steel shell + cement fill | 11 kN | Data centers, control rooms | Heavy Duty |
| Wood Core | High-density chipboard / HDF | 4.5 kN | Offices, commercial spaces | Standard |
| Calcium Sulphate | Calcium sulphate + steel bottom | 8.5 kN | Data centers, clean rooms | Heavy Duty |
| Perforated | Steel or aluminum (perforated) | 6 kN | Server room airflow / cooling | Airflow |
Top Finish Options for Raised Floor Panels
Regardless of core type, raised floor panels can be supplied with a range of factory-bonded top finishes to suit the application:
- ✓Antistatic Vinyl/PVC (2–3mm): Available in dissipative and conductive grades, often SOLAS-certified — the standard choice for IT environments.
- ✓Antistatic HPL (1.2–3mm): NEMA-certified high-pressure laminate, durable and available in a wide range of finishes for offices.
- ✓Carpet Tile: Factory-bonded carpet finish, design and brand selectable by the end user — common in corporate offices.
- ✓Linoleum: A natural, eco-friendly finish option for sustainable building projects.
- ✓Aluminum Foil / Bare: Used where a separate access flooring finish (e.g., raised tile carpet system) will be installed on top.
How to Choose the Right Panel for Your Project
Use this quick decision framework when specifying raised floor panels for a project in Saudi Arabia:
- Identify the application: Data center, office, control room, or hybrid space?
- Calculate the maximum load: Include equipment weight, future upgrades, and a safety margin — then match to a panel's rated capacity.
- Consider acoustic and fire requirements: Calcium sulphate and cement core panels offer the best fire ratings (ASTM E84, BS 476) and sound insulation.
- Plan your airflow strategy: If under-floor cooling is part of the design, calculate the required perforated panel percentage and placement with your mechanical engineer.
- Select the top finish: Match to the interior design and ESD requirements of the space.
- Verify local manufacturing: Locally manufactured panels (like AVAYO's raised floor systems) avoid import delays and simplify technical submittals for Saudi Aramco and SEC-approved projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common raised floor panel size?
The industry-standard raised floor panel size is 600×600mm, used globally across cement, wood, calcium sulphate, and perforated panel types. Some projects specify 500×500mm panels, but 600×600mm remains the dominant standard.
Which raised floor panel is best for a data center?
Calcium sulphate and cement core (steel-cementitious) panels are the top choices for data centers. Calcium sulphate offers superior fire resistance, acoustic insulation, and moisture-free performance, while cement core delivers the highest load capacity (up to 11kN) for the heaviest equipment.
Can wood core panels be used in data centers?
Wood core panels are generally not recommended for data centers due to lower load capacity (up to 4.5kN) and lower fire resistance compared to cement or calcium sulphate cores. They are best suited for offices and commercial spaces with standard load requirements.
What open-area percentage should perforated panels have?
Open-area percentages range from 20% to 70%. The right percentage depends on the airflow volume required, rack density, and overall plenum pressure — this should be calculated as part of the data center's cooling (CFD) design, ideally in consultation with the raised floor manufacturer.
Are AVAYO raised floor panels manufactured in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. AVAYO operates a dedicated manufacturing facility in Riyadh with independent production lines for wood core, cement core, and calcium sulphate panels — enabling fast local delivery and simplified technical documentation for KSA project approvals.