Transport terminals — airports, railway stations, ports and metro stations — share one characteristic that sets them apart from virtually any other building type: they never close. Activity is continuous, the flow of people is constant, and any intervention in the building’s technical infrastructure must be carried out without interrupting the service.

In that context, raised access flooring is not simply another building component. It is an infrastructure decision that conditions the operational performance of the building for decades.

An environment of extreme demand

Transport terminals concentrate an extraordinary density of technical infrastructure within a single space — high-capacity HVAC systems, data and communications networks, high-capacity electrical installations, security and control systems, and passenger management and signage equipment. Everything must operate in a coordinated, uninterrupted way and be capable of being updated without stopping the service.

Added to this are load demands: high-traffic areas with thousands of passengers per day, rolling luggage, service trolleys and in some cases electric maintenance vehicles. The raised access floor system must be dimensioned to support all of this simultaneously and continuously, without deformation or loss of levelling over time.

UFAD: efficient climate control at large scale

Large transport terminals face a unique climate control challenge — large-volume spaces, high ceilings and variable, unpredictable occupancy throughout the day. UFAD (Under Floor Air Distribution) technology offers a technically and energetically efficient response to this challenge.

By distributing conditioned air from the plenum directly into the occupied zone, UFAD allows temperature to be managed with precision in large-volume spaces, reducing energy consumption compared to conventional overhead systems and improving passenger comfort regardless of occupancy levels.

GAMAFLOR systems, with their controlled-aperture G perforated panels — G-25, G-42 and G-58 — allow airflow to be adjusted in each zone of the terminal, optimising flow distribution according to the real needs of each space.

Accessibility without interruptions

In a continuously operating transport terminal, any intervention in the underfloor installations — from an electrical fault to a data systems upgrade — must be resolved in the shortest possible time and without affecting the service.

The GAMAFLOR raised access floor system responds to this requirement with independently removable panels that can be extracted in seconds, without special tools and without affecting adjacent panels. In an environment where every minute of interruption carries an operational and reputational cost, this capability is not an advantage — it is a requirement.

Finishes for the most demanding traffic

The circulation areas of a transport terminal are among the most heavily used surfaces in any building. Thousands of passengers per day, wheeled luggage, intensive cleaning with chemical agents — the floor finish must withstand all of this for decades without losing its appearance or performance.

GAMAFLOR finishes for transport terminals include:

• Porcelain and ceramic — the most widely specified solution in high-density circulation areas for their exceptional abrasion resistance and ease of cleaning.
• HPV Lider — antistatic surface, resistant to intensive traffic and easy to maintain, ideal for technical and service areas.
• Carpet — for waiting areas and VIP lounges where acoustic comfort and passenger experience are priorities.

Reference projects in the sector

Polygroup has a proven track record in transport infrastructure projects internationally. Among the most notable, the installation of the GAMAFLOR system at SNCF’s new building at Marseille Saint-Charles station — one of the most important railway hubs in southern France — and projects at airport terminals across multiple countries.

These projects demonstrate the capability of GAMAFLOR systems to meet the technical, aesthetic and operational demands of the world’s most demanding transport infrastructure.

A decision made at design stage

As with any building of intensive use and continuous operation, the specification of raised access flooring in a transport terminal must be made at the design stage — not on site. Plenum height, UFAD coordination, finish selection by zone and the definition of the maintenance strategy are variables that must be defined before construction begins.

At Polygroup, we work alongside architects, engineers and project managers in the transport sector from the earliest stages of each project, ensuring that the floor solution is technically and operationally optimised before the first panel is installed.

Working on a transport terminal or mobility infrastructure project? Our technical team can support you from the very first sketch. Contact us.