Suspended Ceiling Tiles Q&A
Here we answer all your questions about suspended ceiling tiles
The world of
suspended ceiling tiles is rather niche. There are very few specialists in this
field and not many people have a broad knowledge about ceiling tiles, but only
have answers to commonly asked questions.
So, what are some
of the most asked questions we receive? And what are the most common questions
that go unanswered? We will answer all there is to known here for you.
The Most Asked Questions About Ceiling
Tiles
Although the list
of questions we receive is long and vast, we do have specific questions that
come up much more frequently about suspended ceiling tiles. The top 3 questions
we receive are :-
1.) How much do
ceiling tiles cost?
Answer: Ceiling
tiles can cost anywhere from £20.00 per box, up to £500.00 + per box. The reason
for this is simple. You are buying both the ceiling tiles brand, as-well as its
performance, so the less technical performance a tile has, means the lower the
price will be. The higher the technical abilities and the more reputable the
brand, would mean a much higher price.
2.) What ceiling
tiles do i have?
Answer: There are
many different ceiling tiles available today, making it almost impossible to
answer this question without either checking key features of their tile, or
seeing it in person. Take a look at our ‘How to identify ceiling tiles’ post
for advice on identifying your tile.
3.) Do i need a
fire rated ceiling tiles?
Answer: This all
depends on the where your ceiling is being suspended and the regulations that
will apply to it. For example, a commercial shop that has a flat above, would
require that the ceiling between the two properties would give protection in
the event of a fire. This is rated in forms of reaction to fire and structural
fire protection. If in doubt, always consult a professional or your local
building control.
Technical Questions
Above are just
three examples of the questions that we get asked on a regular basis, there are
of course many more questions and some of which that people struggle to find an
answer for. The hardest answers to find are usually much more technical in
nature and around topics such as acoustics, fire protection and hygiene
performance.
So why are these
questions so hard to find answers for? There simply aren’t many people who are
trained to understand the technical specifications required for suspended
ceilings. The manufacturers of the major brands do have technical departments
who should be able to answer or assist you with any of these more in-depth
questions, or we are more than happy to help you with some of our expert knowledge.
Acoustic ratings
Acoustic ratings are difficult to understand for anybody
that isn’t trained in this field. But it is common for people to be looking for
an acoustic ceiling tile. So how do suspended ceiling acoustic work, and how
are they rated?
The acoustic performance of a ceiling tile is measured in
two ways: -
1.
Sound Absorption – Rated in alpha waves between
0.0 and 1.00 & Class A to E.
2.
Sound Attenuation/Insulation – Rated in dB
When working on a project, you would generally have a
specification to work to, and this may state things such as a requirement for a
Class A sound absorber. This would tell us the rating in which we need to
achieve and we would find a ceiling tile that has that rating.
Fire Performance
Fire ratings are rather complicated in the ceiling world, as
many people expect a stand-alone ceiling tile to have a fire rating. The truth
is that to achieve a certified fire rating, you must adhere to the guidelines
on a manufacturers fire certificate. This certificate would outline which
ceiling tile and grid systems have been tested together and in what environment,
in order to achieve a fire rating.
In almost all cases, you cannot mix one manufacturers tile, with
another’s grid, as they will not have been tested together, to give a certified
fire rating. There are of course exceptions to this, so please do contact us if
you have a query.
The other consideration of a fire rated ceiling tile is the type
of surface your new ceiling system will be suspended from. The four most common
surfaces are steel, concrete, timber and mezzanines. Steel and concrete
surfaces are the easiest to achieve a fire rating below, as many manufacturers
have tested their systems in this application. Timber and mezzanine surfaces are
less widely tested, so your choices of tile and grid systems will be much more
limited. All is not lost here though, as specific tiles have been designed for
use below mezzanines, such as the Zentia
Mezzguard tile.
Humidity Resistance
Humidity resistance is an important ceiling factor. You must
make sure that the ceiling tile you choose is suitable for your environment,
and where humid areas appear, you must use a tile that has a high resistance to
humidity.
The humidity resistance performance of a tile is measured in
% RH, the RH stands for relative humidity. The reason they are rated in RH, is
to tell us that the tile expects to withstand x amount of humidity within a standard
setting, rather than constant humidity. This matters more in applications such
as swimming pools and changing rooms, as the humidity in the air is much
greater, so the tile is more exposed and has more chance of sagging.
The material make up of the tile plays a big part In is
humidity resistance, as certain materials repel moisture better than others.
For example, glass fibre-based ceiling tiles will repel moisture better than a
mineral fibre ceiling tile would.
Light Reflectance
The surface of a ceiling tile must be able to reflect light,
to keep rooms well-lit with even light distribution. You wouldn’t want a room
to look dark and dingy because your ceiling tiles had poor light reflectency.
Similar to humidity, light reflectance is measured as a
percentage ranging from 0% to 100%. You may want to take a look at this rating
on any tiles you are looking to buy, to make sure that they are suitable for
your application.
In conclusion, there are a multitude of questions
surrounding ceiling tiles and suspended ceilings, but you only need to ask an expert
to get your answer!
For more information and support, call one of our dedicated
sales professionals today on 01253 864902.