How do floor-to-floor heights in buildings with UFAD compare to those in buildings with ceiling-based distribution?
Underfloor plenums accommodating an UFAD system are often deeper than those employed solely for cable management purposes. Yet, by placing the air distribution system in the underfloor zone and reducing the need for deep ceiling ductwork associated with conventional ceiling-based systems, new build projects can achieve a 5-10% reduction in floor-to-floor heights compared to projects with ceiling-based air distribution. Further height reduction can be achieved by changing from standard steel beam construction to a concrete (flat slab) structural approach.
