What are ceiling tiles made of?

It is extremely common to come across ceiling tiles in most buildings as they are a great form of access to the void above. Demountable ceilings are designed to make gaining access to electrical and other services, easy and hassle free. The other beauty of ceiling tiles is that they are easily replaceable if damaged.

But what are ceiling tiles made of? Are they safe to handle and cut, or do I need to wear a hazmat suit!? Well, please don’t go all mad scientist on us just yet, as almost all ceiling tiles are perfectly harmless. They are most commonly made of mineral fibre, rockwool or plasterboard, although other forms of tiles exist such as plastic, but these aren’t commonly used in the UK.

These materials are harmless in everyday situations. However, you would of course benefit from wearing a dust mask when cutting tiles to ensure that you aren’t breathing in the loose fibres.

Mineral Fibre	Rockwool

What are the differences?

So, all that a side, why are some tiles made of mineral fibre, and some made of other materials? This is down to the technical results that the tile will give you, in terms of acoustics, fire protection and rigidity. For example, mineral fibre tiles are known as a denser tile that is more rigid and strong, whereas rockwool tiles less dense, but their material make up means they are a better absorber of sound, making them a better ceiling tile acoustically.

Which type are more affordable?

The question really depends on the brand and type of tile you go for. The material used to make the tile doesn’t always dictate the price. For example Armstrong Tatra mineral fibre tiles are £46.50 for a box of 16 tiles over on Judge Ceilings site and Rockfon Artic, which is a rockwool tile, is £52.00 for a box of 32 tiles, showing that there isn’t a great deal of price difference between the two.

The price of a ceiling tile is usually based on the below three points.

·         Thickness of tile

·         Availability of tile

·         Performance of tile (Fire, acoustic & hygiene ratings)

For more pricing information, give us a call today on 01253 864902.

Does Mineral Fibre or Rockwool perform better?

This ultimately depends on the model of ceiling tile you are using and the scenario in which it is being installed. Mineral fibre tiles are more widely used as the most popular tile material, this is due to the good technical features, as well as the affordable price that comes with them. However, not all mineral fibre tiles are on the cheap side, take the Armstrong Perla OP 0.95, which is a high quality and high specification tile that retails at £167.99 per box.

The true performance of a ceiling tile depends on the type of qualities that you require and the setting in which it is installed. For more information on technical performance, send us an enquiry to sales@judge-interiors.co.uk.

Suspended ceiling tiles? Trust The Judge.