Between 1995 and 2002, the number of new office buildingswith raised floors that use underfloor air distribution(UFAD) increased approximately 40%.1 This rapid growth can beattributed to four potential benefits UFAD offers over traditionalceiling-based air distribution:

1. Lower churn costs—allows for fastand inexpensive reconfiguration of of-fice space,
2. Improved IAQ—supplies conditionedair directly to the breathing zone,
3. Lower energy costs—reduces fanand refrigeration energy, and
4. Potential to reduce floor-to-ceilingheights—creates cost savings in structuraland façade systems.