Restraint system for elevated flooring tiles
A restraint system for an elevated building surface assembly including restraint members that are receivable in gaps adjacent outer edge segments of flooring units to secure the flooring units to an underlying support structure. The restraint members may be readily manipulated to allow for the selective removal of one or more of the flooring units for replacement thereof, access to the support structure, and/or the like.
1. A method of constructing an elevated building surface, comprising:
locating a plurality of support apparatuses upon a fixed surface;
placing a plurality of flooring units over upper surfaces of the support apparatuses, wherein each flooring unit includes a gap along an outer edge thereof;
positioning each of a plural of restraint apparatuses between adjacent pairs of the flooring units, wherein the positioning includes:
sliding base members of the restraint members into the gaps of the adjacent pairs of the flooring units; and
simultaneously sliding spacer members of the restraint members between the building surface components of the adjacent pairs of flooring units, wherein the spacer members are attached to and extend away from the base members; and
securing the restraint apparatuses to the upper surfaces of the support apparatuses, wherein the securing includes clamping portions of the adjacent pairs of flooring units between the restraint apparatuses and the upper surfaces of support apparatuses.
2. The method of claim 1 , further including:
moving at least one of the adjacent pairs of flooring units towards the spacer members of the restraint apparatuses.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning includes:
grasping handle members of the restraint apparatuses, wherein the handle members are attached to and extend away from the base members; and
using the handle members to urge the restraint apparatuses between the adjacent pairs of the flooring units.
4. The method of claim 3 , further including after the positioning:
removing the handle members from the base members.
5. The method of claim 4 , further including after the positioning:
pushing an end of the handle members towards the base members to position the handle members between the building surface components of the adjacent pairs of flooring units.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the pushing includes fracturing the handle members.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the securing includes inserting a fastener through the base members of the restraint apparatuses and into the upper surfaces of the support apparatuses.
8. The method of claim 1 , further including:
releasing a first of the restraint apparatuses from the upper surface of a first of the support apparatuses;
sliding the first restraint apparatus out of the gaps of the adjacent pair of flooring units; and
removing at least one of the adjacent pair of flooring units from the first support apparatus.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the releasing includes:
unscrewing a fastener extending through the base member of the first restraint apparatus and into the upper surface of the first support apparatus.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sliding includes:
inserting a tool between the building surface components of the adjacent pairs of flooring units;
pressing the tool against the spacer of the first restraint apparatus to move the first restraint apparatus out of the gaps of the adjacent pair of flooring units.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sliding includes:
sliding the first restraint member between an adjacent pair of adjacent flooring units.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein each gap is formed between an attachment member and a lower surface of a building surface component of the flooring unit.