Method and apparatus for improved activation of services in an office building floor

An activation assembly for use with service distribution systems including high tension and low tension conductors carried in separate conduit located in a space below an office building floor having a corrugated metal deck sheet and an overlying layer of concrete defining an upper floor surface, the activation assembly comprising:

• a void-forming box adapted to be positioned on the corrugated metal deck sheet having a continuous side wall with an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edge adapted to conform to the corrugated metal deck sheet and defining a bottom opening adapted to circumscribe a void bounding region on the corrugated metal deck sheet;
• a top overlying the upper edge of the side wall and defining an activation opening sized to allow mounting hardware and connectors to be positioned in and secured to the void-forming box;
• a pair of mounting plates removably mounted in the void forming box and dividing the box into first and second sections, each of the mounting plates being configured to position electrical connectors within the void forming box;
• an extension box adapted to be positioned below the metal deck sheet and overlay the void bounding region, the extension box having a side adapted to extend away from the metal deck sheet, a bottom closure removably connectable to the side, and a partition dividing the extension box into first and second sections, the extension box being adapted to connect to the conduit of the below floor distribution system to permit conductors to be routed from the conduit and into the first and second sections of the extension box;
• connector means defining first and second conductor passages extending respectively between the first and second sections in the void forming box and the first and second sections in the extension box.

An activation assembly in combination with a corrugated metal sheet, the combination being adapted for use with a service distribution system of the type including conduit for carrying conductors in a space below an office building floor, the floor including a layer of concrete overlying the metal deck sheet and defining an upper floor surface, the combination comprising:

• a corrugated metal deck sheet having an activation opening;
• a void-forming box positioned on the corrugated metal deck sheet having a continuous side wall with an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edge conforming to the corrugated metal deck sheet and defining a bottom opening circumscribing a void bounding region on the corrugated metal deck sheet overlaying the activation opening;
• a top overlying the upper edge of the side wall and defining an activation opening sized to allow mounting hardware and connectors to be positioned in and secured to the void-forming box;
• a removable closure member overlying the activation opening;
• the corrugated deck sheet, sides, ends, top, and closure member defining an interior volume and preventing concrete from entering the interior volume during pouring and setting of the concrete floor;
• the interior volume sized to receive connectors and mounting hardware for connectors for one or more service and shields for separating the services;
• a box adapter positioned on the metal deck sheet in the void-forming box and extending through the activation opening in the metal deck sheet into the space below the floor, the box adapter having a conductor passage communicating with the interior volume of the void-forming box and extending through the box adapter to an opening at an end of the box adapter in the space below the metal deck sheet;
• and
• an extension box secured to the box adapter in the space below the floor, the extension box having a top, sides and a bottom, the top defining an opening communicating with the opening at the end of the box adapter, the sides adapted to be connected to conduit and circumscribing the boundary of the top and extending from the top away from the deck sheet to lower edges, the bottom being securable to the lower edges of the sides;
• and
• the top, sides, and bottom of the extension box defining a box interior that communicates with the interior of the void-forming box through the conductor passage in the box adapter, whereby conduit of the distribution systems is connected to the sides of the extension box and conductors are routed into the void-forming box through the conduit, extension box, and conductor passage of the box adapter.