Suspended
ceilings are structural elements that are frequently used in industrial-purpose
buildings and contribute to spatial comfort with the role they play in
providing various requirements such as heat insulation, sound insulation,
lighting and ventilation of the place. In addition, suspended ceilings are
preferred in order to increase the aesthetic value of the space, to hide the
installations and to obtain a flat ceiling appearance.
The choice
of suspended ceilings should be made considering the purpose of use and the
place where they will be used. First of all, it should be determined which
spatial problems will be solved with suspended ceilings and which of these
problems are priority. According to the determined direction, it should be decided
which material and mounting method will be used in the suspended ceiling
application. The topics to be considered in the selection of suspended ceiling
systems are as follows;
Appearance,
Surface Properties and Aesthetics
Suspended
ceilings, which have different textures and appearances, play a role in
defining the identity of the space by forming a whole with the wall and floor,
and they support the aesthetic perception by hiding the installation.
Acoustic
The
selection of suspended ceiling's coating materials and connection details
suitable for the acoustic needs of the space contributes to noise control and
increases the acoustic comfort of the space.
Light
Reflectance
Especially
in places where intense lighting is required, the selection of the suspended
ceiling provides the place with the illumination at the right level and the low consumption of electrical energy in
the space.
Fire
Protection
In suspended
ceilings, the gap and joint details between the panels determine the smoke
leakage rate in case of a possible fire (Chou et al., 2020, p. 7244). The
choice of suspended ceilings with fire resistance protects the structural
elements, ventilation systems, air conditioning systems and electrical
installations from the effects of fire.
Moisture
Resistance
Humidity in
buildings; mold, fungus, bacteria, etc. causes microbiological activities. The
air quality of the environment is adversely affected and threatens human health
(Yıldız and Dal, 2016, pp. 25-37). Suspended ceilings are not durable when
exposed to moisture for this reason, when choosing suspended ceilings, their
resistance to moisture should be determined by evaluating the possibility of
exposure to water and humidity of the place where they will be applied.
Thermal
insulation
Although
suspended ceilings are not thermal insulation materials, they can contribute to
the energy need of the building by providing high thermal insulation
performance. As the thickness and pore diameter decrease, it's thermal
conductivity increases (Ülker, 2009, p.26).
Detachability
Thanks to
the fact that the suspended ceiling materials are easily removable, it is easy
to make the necessary changes during the maintenance and repair of the
installations, when the ceiling covering materials need to be changed or in
case of a possible relocation.
Hygiene,
Mold and Bacteria Resistance
In order to
prevent the formation of mold and bacteria in spaces, inorganic materials should
be preferred in suspended ceiling systems that are resistant to bacteria and
fungus formation and protect the ceiling surface.
Technical
Equipment Integration
Integration
of suspended ceiling systems with electrical, plumbing, mechanical
installation, lighting, heating and fire extinguishing systems located above
the ceiling provides functionality with visual aesthetics, ease of access and
maintenance.
Longevity
Suspended
ceilings maintain their performance characteristics for a long time if their
maintenance and cleaning are carried out as specified by the suspended ceiling supplier.
Impact
Resistance
Choosing a
suspended ceiling material with high impact resistance is important both in
reducing possible damage to the structure and in creating a comfortable
environment for users.
Indoor
Air Quality
In order to increase
indoor air quality, materials with low volatile organic compound emissions
should be preferred in the selection of suspended ceiling covering materials.
Seismic Resistance
Suspended
ceiling systems can cause various damage such as breaking of panels during
seismic events, buckling of ceiling grid elements and connections, or adversely
affecting the functionality of the structure. For this reason, the performance
of suspended ceilings during earthquakes has critical importance, especially in
regions located in earthquake zones such as Turkey.
Environmental
Factors
In the
selection of suspended ceilings, components that can produce harmful
microorganisms should be avoided. Special care should be shown to choose
components that are not harmful to health and to comply with the required
standards. Issues such as sustainability and suitability for recycling should
also be considered.
As a result,
the choice of suspended ceiling material and carrier system, which will be
determined according to the purpose of use and structural requirements of the
building, is important. Suspended Ceiling Systems have different raw materials,
properties and forms. E.g; There are suspended ceiling systems of plaster and
gypsum origin, metal and metal origin, wood origin (organic), mineral origin
(inorganic), fabric, ceramic, glass or polymer origin.
You can review our Integra series to learn more about our metal suspended ceiling systems, which are one of the most preferred suspended ceiling materials due to their
Also, you can browse our 3D metal suspended ceiling application videos to discover suspended ceiling applications that can be realized in different ways such as lay-in, clip-in and hook-on.
References:
GÜLER, M.
Betül, KASAPOĞLU, Esin “İç Mekanlarda Asma Tavan Uygulamaları” , Mimarlık ve
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