Flexible thinking

At a time of economic uncertainty you’d be forgiven for expecting market sectors linked to any kind of property scheme to stagnate. While certain sectors are undoubtedly feeling the pinch, demand for commercial space is keeping all those in the electrical industry on their toes.

The reason for this is that demand has grown significantly for flexible office space, while the push towards sustainability is also at the fore. As a result, the electrical industry finds itself at something of a crossroads.

The issue is: how to deliver products and systems that meet these changing and greener demands, while still remaining competitive.

At present, the commercial market is awash with property and what developers need now, more than ever, is to be able to offer something extra in order to entice businesses – and flexibility of space is the something extra many are turning to.

The reason behind this is that simply offering a set floorplan that very much dictates the use of the space is no longer viewed as enough. Today’s firms want more. They want space they can then use in their own way and, if needed, turn around, replan and restructure to accommodate business changes such as expansion.

On the flip side, many businesses now operate on short-term leases, and so forward-thinking property owners view it as imperative that they can easily return their property to its original state to let to new clients.

Mirroring these changes has been the growing importance of sustainability, both from the end-user and manufacturer point of view.

When it comes to product development, the pressure is on the manufacturer to deliver products that use environmentally friendly materials, have longer projected life spans and can be safely disposed of when no longer needed.

Historically, office space would have had a central spine of flush-floor trunking and maybe a perimeter system. This kind of distribution is starting to strain at the seams, especially with the demands of today’s power and data infrastructures, and renovation of these offices is proving to be one of the biggest challenges facing developers today.

To increase capacity, what choice do they have other than to chase out more floor and install more trunking runs? As you can imagine, this is not a simple task, and the restriction of fixed-floor outlet positions still remains.

How much time can be saved installing a raised-floor cable management system that requires no nuts or bolts, and can be completely installed by one contractor?

What all of this has meant is that we have had to rethink and redevelop the products and systems we manufacture and sell for use in commercial properties. In fact, it’s fair to say that the electrical backbone of a commercial property installation is undergoing a process of reinvention.

One of the key developments in this process to date has been the introduction of ultra-low, raised-floor cable management systems, such as Legrand’s Soluflex range. These have delivered a degree of flexibility that would never previously have been deemed possible.

And, as with many of the finest developments, it really is a simple concept: the creation of an easy-to-install raised-floor system that allows cables, connectors and power points to be run under it and configured and reconfigured where and when they are needed.

Add to that the fact that these systems do away with the need for nuts, bolts and other fixtures and fittings, and can be manufactured entirely from recyclable materials, and it’s fair to say we have a development that answers all the new demands.

With so much delivered in such a short space of time, you’d think we’d deserve the chance to sit back and rest on our laurels. But this isn’t the case.

The job now is to ensure such systems actually make it into the buildings they’ve been developed for, and some contractors and specifiers need to be convinced to change their ways.

Yes, older products can be cheaper. Yes, the bottom line on buying and installing such products may well appear better. But the whole-life cost needs to be considered and, in the long run, the benefits of adopting a more forward-thinking approach are there for all to see.

Just how much time can be saved installing a raised-floor cable management system that requires no nuts or bolts, and can be completely installed – cables and all – by one contractor?

Additionally, how much more business will a contractor attract if they offer something a little different from everyone else?