Project A: hung from the slab
The lobby had a structural slab above, so the frame was anchored to the soffit with eight M12 chemical anchors. Clean look, no legs on the floor, and the wall appears to float. The catch is access: to reach the top row, the technician needs a mobile scaffold, and the lobby has a 3.2 m ceiling with a chandelier in the way.
Project B: floor-standing frame
A steel base frame with levelling feet, bolted to the floor, with the panels on a front-service hinge. No drilling into the slab. Access to any panel takes four minutes. The base occupies 40 mm of floor depth and needs a skirting detail to look finished.
The five-year comparison
| Item | Hung | Floor-standing |
|---|---|---|
| Structure cost | Higher (anchors, slab survey) | Lower |
| First install time | 2 days | 3 days |
| Routine panel access | Scaffold, 1 hour | Hinge, 4 minutes |
| Five-year service hours | 38 | 6 |
| Floor detail | None | Skirting required |
When hanging is the right answer
When floor space is at a premium, when the wall sits above a doorway or a reception desk, or when the building is a heritage interior where you cannot add a visible base. Also when the slab is exposed and drilling is straightforward.
When floor-standing wins
Almost any wall where the bottom edge is below 1.2 m and the room is in daily use. The service access advantage compounds: a panel that takes an hour to reach gets replaced a year later than one that takes four minutes.
The detail people forget
A floor-standing frame must be restrained at the top as well, especially in a seismic zone or a room with a lot of foot traffic. A tall frame bolted only at the base is a lever. Ask for the top restraint detail in the drawing.