which is configured according to the requirements of the particular application and may have a carpeted surface or a tile surface alternatively the top layer may be formed using chemically resistive materials for use in a lab or other caustic environments the top layer 300 and a bottom layer 306 are designed to provide structural stiffness to the panel 108 and are configured according to the structural and weight bearing requirements of the particular application fire retardant layers 304 are composed of fire resistant materials such as gypsum or other appropriate material and serve to inhibit the passage of fire from one side of the panel 108 to the other an insulation layer 302 provides thermal and acoustic insulation as well as additional stiffness it will be understood that the composition of the removable floor panels will vary according to the requirements of a particular application and will in part be dictated by the anticipated environment the required load carrying capacity the desired appearance the anticipated degree of noise control local building and fire codes and other factors although the removable floor panels 108 bear against the structural support grid 106 panel fasteners 310 may be used to positively attach the panels 108 to the structural support grid 106 in the embodiment shown in fig3 the panel fasteners 310 comprise threaded fasteners that pass from a lower surface of the structural support grid 106.