BUILDING TECHNOLOGY & MATERIALS III - Term II

PART –II
Furniture & Interior Construction:
3.0 -Suspended Ceiling

Ar. Yogita Nagpure

Assistant Professor

Date – December 14, 2016

 Introduction
Def. - A ceiling which is attached to framework suspended from structural slab and forms
voids between ceiling and main structure.

1. Suspended ceilings are primarily used to

provide an attractive finish to the ceiling-
while at the same time concealing services.

2. Suspended ceilings may also be used in

refurbishment projects to provide a level
ceiling finish to areas of the building that
differ in height.

3. Suspended Ceiling is also convenient access

to services e.g. Ventilation Grilles, Light
Fittings, Fire sprinklers, Detectors (e.g. smoke,
heat), Security Cameras, Movement Sensors
and Alarms.
Source: Barry's Advanced Construction of a Building
 Functional Requirements
1. Concealment of Structure – To hide changes in the
structure, beams, floors and ties, and to provide a
level and attractive ceiling finish.

2. Concealment of Services – To create a clear

cavity for services, hide services such as HVAC
ducts, equipment and cables, and allow easy
access for maintenance.

3. Thermal Insulation – Thermal Insulation mainly

required if the ceiling is adjacent to the roof.

4. Acoustic Control – The two main aspects of

acoustic control are absorption of sound within
enclosed space and the reduction of sound
passing through a material or structure.

5. Fire Control
Source: Barry's Advanced Construction of a Building
 Cost & Maintenance
• Easy to construct, repair, maintain and clean.

• Provide an adequate means of access for maintenance of suspension

system and maintenance of concealed services and light fittings.

• Very basic and economic cost of False Ceiling comes out to Rs. 150 – 200
per sq. ft (square feet) . If you add some creative designs and material
quality cost goes up.

• Careless handling and repositioning within the grid may damage tiles. To
maintain an attractive finish, damaged tiles will need to be replaced. Tiles
may also become dusty and marked through careless handling, thus some
cleaning may be required.

Source: Barry's Advanced Construction of a Building

 Types of Suspended Ceilings
• Exposed Grid Ceiling -It is also
called modular grid system. In
this system grid is visible into
which panels are laid.

• Semi-concealed Grid - A system

where the grid is visible in one
direction only. The exposed grid
sections would generally be a
24mm ‘T’’.

• Concealed Grid - In this system

grid is not visible after installation
of tiles. This system also known as
joint less ceilings.

Source: Barry's Advanced Construction of a Building

 Exposed Grid Ceiling
• A system where the grid is visible and into
which panels are laid. The grid is finished in
colours to harmonise or contrast with the
panels.

• Panels are manufactured from a variety of

materials including mineral/rock fibre, glass
fibre, plasterboard, calcium silicate, glass
reinforced gypsum, wood, steel and aluminium.

• Grid systems has inverted ‘T’ section of width

15mm to 24 mm rolled from galvanised steel
strip with a finished facing of painted steel or
aluminium.

• Exposed grid suspended ceiling systems can

contribute to passive fire protection.

• The system is rapid to install and can provide a

high degree of access to the ceiling void.
 Details

• The various components clip together to form square or rectangular modules to

receive infill panels. The common Panels size - 1200 x 600, 600 x 600 and 500 x 500mm.

• Main runners shall be joined together at each end by means of an independent

aluminum bend-tab splice member.

• Cross members shall attach to main runners and other cross runners by means of an
independent aluminum bend-tab clip which penetrates and slides through slots in main
runners and other cross runners.
 Details

Sizes of members -
 Main tee 30×17×3600/3660mm
 Cross tee 30×17×1200/1220mm
 Cross tee 30×17×600/610mm
 wall Angle
20×20,22×22,24×24mm
Details
 Semi-concealed Grid :
• The exposed sections support the shorter
edges.

• This system is designed to support ‘planks’

– tiles that are 300mm wide and 1200, 1500,
1800 and up to 2500mm long.

• Planks are manufactured from a variety of

material, including mineral/rock wool, glass
fibre, wood, steel and aluminium.

• The short edges are square cut and the

long edges may be kerbed (slotted), back-
cut or tongued and grooved to receive
the ‘Z’ or ‘T’ section.
 Semi-concealed Grid :
• Planks manufactured from steel or aluminium
will, generally, not require the longitudinal
(concealed) components.

• The butting edges of the planks are usually

bevelled to create a ‘V’ joint feature, but may
be square – metal versions may have a
separating foam gasket.

• Semi-concealed systems can offer access to

the void above the ceiling, but, if required on
a regular basis, care should be exercised in the
selection of plank material.
 Concealed Grid
• A system where, after the tiles are installed, the grid is not visible.
• The system most commonly comprises galvanised steel ‘Z’ sections fixed with clips to a
primary network of galvanised channel sections.
• Systems using inverted ‘T’ sections (similar to those described under ‘Exposed or lay-in
grid’) may also be appropriate for specific manufacturer’s tiles.
• Tiles are manufactured from a variety of material, including mineral/rock wool, glass
fibre, perlite cast plaster and wood.
• Edges may be kerbed (slotted), back-cut or tongued & grooved to receive the ‘Z’ or ‘T’
section.
• The butting edges of the tiles may be square or bevelled to create a ‘V’ joint feature.
• Common sizes of tiles are 300 x 300 and 600 x 600.
• Concealed grid systems require an extremely high standard of workmanship to achieve
a satisfactory installation.

TYPICAL CONCEALED GRID

 Concealed Grid

The following ceiling tile module sizes can be used with Z

system ( Proprietary Rockfon )
600 x 600, 1200 x 600, 1500 x 600, 1200 x 1200,1200 x 300
Main runner/primary channels are positioned at 1200 mm
centers. Stepped Z sections are positioned to suit the size of
the tiles
 Gypsum Board Ceiling
• In this is ceiling gypsum boards are used as tiles or panels hence called as gypsum
boards ceiling.

• Metal Furring system is commonly used proprietary system.

• These types of ceilings have fully

concealed suspended framing.

• Directly supported by rods or ties

from above these.
 Gypsum Board Ceiling
• Metal Furring system is consists of metal stud or
‘C’ channel as primary runner suspended by
rod adjustable hanger or angle section to
structural slab.

• Then furring channel or section is attached to

primary runner with performed clips.

• The furring section forms a battening system on

to which gypsum board is screwed using dry
wall screws with an electric screwdriver
 Gypsum Board Ceiling
Installation –
• Primary channels set at 1.2 meter
centers with hanger at 1.2 meter
centers - starting no more than 45 mm
from wall.

• Furring sections are set at 600 mm or

450 mm centers depending on
thickness and number of layers of
boards.

 Perimeter angle is set on all sides of the

ceiling giving a base for gypsum board.
Gypsum Board Ceiling
 Gypsum Board Ceiling

Perimeter detail

Method of fixing sections

Typical cross section

 Timber Suspended Ceiling:
• Grid system is formed with the help of wooden
joists.
• Modular grid size 400x600mm
• Grid system is supported by hanger wire &
wooden screws
• Each cell is filled with lightweight “wooden
panels" which simply drop into the grid.

Direct fastening under solid ceilings

Direct fastening under wooden ceilings

Connection to solid walls

Installation Sequence

1. Marking and drilling in primary

ceiling.

2. Fix the perimeter angle section to

the walls at the desired levels.
 Installation Sequence

3. Suspend the intermediate ‘C’ channel from the ceiling at the desired height with
soffit cleat.

4. Suspend the main frame ceiling section from the intermediate section with
connecting clips at 600mm c/c
 Installation Sequence

Sprinkler Penetration

5. The electric cables and service ducts are

laid as per design before panels are screwed.

• Lighting fixtures, speakers, air terminals or

mechanical services weighing up to 56
pounds can be supported by suspended
ceiling

• Sprinkler heads or other similar ceiling

penetrations shall be provided with at least
2.54 cm of clearance in all directions
surrounding the sprinkler head or extension. Fixture Support
 Installation Sequence

6. Screw the panel onto the frame work.

7. For final finishing panel can be painted or polished.

Curved Ceiling
Thank You