Underfloor air distribution and access floor systems can provide energy savings, improved indoor air quality, and a technology ready environment for today's commercial buildings.

Underfloor air distribution and access floor systems provide numerous advantages to commercial building owners and occupants compared to traditional overhead air distribution systems with "pipe and wire" data, telecommunications, and electrical distribution systems. Underfloor air systems can provide energy savings while improving comfort and indoor air quality in many applications. The additional costs of the access floor system are partially offset by savings in wiring and HVAC installation costs. In buildings where frequent remodeling is required, savings in remodeling costs alone can easily pay for the system. Improvements in occupant health and comfort due to improved indoor air quality can increase employee productivity and company profitability.This design brief is an introduction to underfloor air and access floor systems, and addresses the following topics:

• Displacement ventilation and hybrid underfloor systems.
• Energy savings and indoor air quality improvement.
• Access floor system design and construction.
• Economics of combined underfloor air and access floor systems.
• Comfort and productivity issues. Applications of underfloor air and access floor systems.