Week 7: Chapter 9- Ceilings

  Chapter 8

Ceilings  

In Chapter 9 we learned about ceilings. We learned about the Structural part of them as well as materials that can be used and how they are installed. We learned how to design ceiling solutions for projects and chose the appropriate sustainable ceiling system.  

Ceilings come in a variety of forms and materials. Some expose the structure of the building, while others are enclosed, thus hiding mechanical, electrical, and plumbing pipes, ductwork, junction boxes, and wiring.

 

Cathedral Ceiling/Sloped Ceiling

A ceiling that conforms roughly to the pitch (slope) of the roof is known as a cathedral ceiling. First made popular during the 1970s, the cathedral ceiling provides a sense of spaciousness that a flat ceiling may not. The design challenges associated with the cathedral or sloped ceiling include integration of lighting, consideration for adequate heating and cooling, and creation of a sense of human scale within the space.

Directly Applied Ceilings

A directly applied ceiling is one that is attached to the structure of the building. Historically, directly applied ceilings were made of plaster or wood. Gypsum wallboard has replaced plaster as the most commonly used directly applied ceiling material.

• Gypsum Wallboard- Within the residential environment, the most common ceiling finish is gypsum wallboard. Gypsum board is also called drywall and sometimes plasterboard. Gypsum can come from either a natural or synthetic source and requires a lot of energy to produce. Because it comes in sheet sizes, it can also produce a lot of waste when cut to fit a certain dimensional space. Although there are some places that will recycle gypsum, they are not yet commonly found. Some manufacturers use paper with recycled content for the outer layers of wallboard. The best way to reduce the carbon impact when using gypsum is to use the thinnest board possible that meets the project needs and to specify light weight gypsum board. Designing to work with the material size (standard size is 4’ x 8’ sheets) will also help to reduce waste.

• Plaster- plaster is applied in a three-coat system over lath. This finish was the primary wall and ceiling finish prior to the invention of wallboard. In historic buildings, the crown moldings and ceiling medallions in a room were also made of plaster and could be applied as a part of the plastering finish coat.

• Other traditional ceiling materials include wood slats and wood coffers as well as exposed wood hammer beams.

Suspended Acoustical-panel Ceilings (SAPCs)

Within the commercial environment, the preferred ceiling treatment is the suspended acoustical-panel ceiling (SAPC). The primary reasons for this are twofold: the acoustical ceiling provides noise control in large spaces, and the suspended system allows for ductwork, sprinkler lines, and electrical wiring to occur above the visible ceiling system. Additional advantages include ease of access to utilities and the ability to replace a single damaged tile without redoing the entire ceiling. The standard sizes for the SAPC are 2 feet by 2 feet and 2 feet by 4 feet. A variety of fluorescent light fixtures accommodate these grid sizes, as do mechanical supply registers and return grilles. As such, the SAPC is also the most economical choice available to the commercial client.

• Recycled and Recycled Context/Recyclable- Several factors must be considered for the use of a sustainable suspended ceiling system. Many ceiling manufacturers now offer ceiling tiles with recycled content and several offer ceiling-tile reclamation programs. Old ceiling tiles that are no longer desired can be recycled and made into new tiles by the manufacturer.
• Ceiling Tile Material- Low-density ceiling materials include fiberglass or mineral fiber. Mineral fiber ceiling tiles are non-combustible and can be sag-resistant in addition to providing sound absorption. Mineral fibers can absorb water and sag over time if not designed to resist sag. Fiberglass ceiling tiles are appropriate for use in wet areas, as they are moisture resistant.
• Low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)- Ceiling materials with low or no VOCs are available from a variety of manufacturers. These contribute to good indoor air quality because they do not off-gas.
• Light Reflectivity- Ceiling systems with a high light reflectivity reduce the amount of artificial lighting required, and thus reduce overall energy consumption within a space.

Ceiling Grid Types

Three basic variations on the grid system that support the tiles exist.

• Exposed T-bar
• Recessed T-bar
• Concealed grid

Dropped Ceiling Sections

A ceiling grid can hold other types of ceiling tiles in addition to acoustical panels. These include both wood and metal tiles. It should be noted that these materials absorb far less sound than the SAPC system unless specifically designed as an acoustical tile.

Metal tiles are often applied directly to the plaster or drywall using screws. This type of ceiling was common in turn-of-the-century commercial interiors and has experienced resurgent use during the past decade. Wood ceiling tiles can also be used when a wood ceiling is desired as a part of the design. Wood is often used to provide the appearance of warmth to the interior space.

In addition to traditional tile and grid systems, most ceiling manufacturers also provide acoustical materials for use as an aesthetic feature within the interior. These can be in the form of clouds, canopies, and other decorative forms.

Exposed Structure

Designers sometimes want to expose the structure of the ceiling to achieve either a rustic appearance or an industrial interior. Lighting and mechanical systems must be integrated carefully in such an application because all wiring and ductwork will also be exposed.

• Metal Structure-When structural steel is left exposed it is subject to both rust and fire. A designer must detail these exposed members to deal with both of these issues.
• Wood Structure-Wood beams are commonly left exposed in certain applications. As with steel beams, careful attention to fire prevention and control must be given.

Exposed Mechanical Ceiling

In some designs, it is desirable to have an exposed ceiling where the mechanical and sprinkler systems are visible. Generally, these are painted to match the ceiling color, although this is not necessary. Round ducts are most commonly used when they are to be left exposed. When encased in a ceiling, mechanical ducts are usually insulated on the outside. Therefore, it is important to coordinate exposed ductwork with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) designer to make sure these are insulated internally for a more attractive appearance.

Ceiling Shapes

In addition to the cathedral ceiling, other ceiling shapes may also be used. Careful attention must be given to the acoustics within such spaces.

• Vaulted ceilings have been in use since Roman times and were commonly used in Gothic cathedrals. Vaulted ceilings tend to be used in more traditional interiors and public buildings such as museums, churches, banks, and government buildings.

• Barrel vaults also date back to the Romans. A barrel vault can be used to enhance any rectangular space by adding height and form to the space. Like a vaulted ceiling, the barrel vault most commonly occurs in traditional interiors.

• Domes have been used to mark monumental spaces since the Roman Empire. The dome provides a central emphasis within a space. The dome as used in public buildings marks important spaces and provides a sense of grandeur.

Interior Design Considerations

One of the most important things that an interior designer must do is to make sure that they have coordinated the proposed lighting design and layout with mechanical, sprinkler, and ceiling-mounted equipment such as LCD projectors. Ideal lighting solutions can be severely impacted by a lack of coordination with the other items when light fixtures or LCD projectors have to be moved in order to avoid sprinkler systems or mechanical ducts. Working with the mechanical engineer and architect to coordinate all the systems can help avoid this problem. One of the advantages of using building information modeling is that the program will not allow you to put two things in the same location--so interference between a mechanical duct and light fixture would be caught during the design of the project rather than in the field.

Acoustics--Noise Control

One of the primary functions of the ceiling plane in a commercial space is to provide acoustical control. Oftentimes, the wall and floor are hard surfaces with very little sound absorption. Thus, the ceiling material is used to control noise within the space.

• Designing the Ceiling- Interior designers use the ceiling plane to delineate space, assist in wayfinding, and enhance the overall conceptual approach of the design intent. In addition to standard flat ceilings, designers may want to use the ceiling as a design feature to create a sense of movement or otherwise reinforce the design concept. The ceiling design is often ignored but is as important as designing the floor and wall surfaces. Carefully placing and integrating all elements on the ceiling with the material used and with lighting can contribute to the overall success of a project. Similarly, a failure to do so can lead to poor results. Access to the underlying plumbing, mechanical, and electrical is an important aspect of ceiling material selection. A suspended ceiling provides clean and easy access to these while a gypsum board ceiling does not without the addition of access panels.
• The Implication of Building Codes - According to the building code, the minimum height requirement for habitable spaces is 7 feet 6 inches, except for kitchen, bath, storage and laundry spaces that can be as low as 7 feet.

Reclamation Programs

Some ceiling manufacturers have created product-reclamation programs. An example of this is Armstrong’s Ceiling Recycling Program through which 200 million square feet of old ceiling materials have been recycled since 1999, diverting all of these materials from the landfill and saving 1 million tons of raw materials. (Armstrong website www.armstrong.com, retrieved 8/3/2020.) Armstrong has committed to product transparency. Since 2017 and the launch of their SUSTAIN program, Armstrong has obtained Declare Labels and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) for all products in this line. Environmental Product Declaration (EPDs) provide information on the impacts of all products.

USG also provides a recycling program for approved ceiling panels.

Formaldehyde Free

USG provides formaldehyde-free, low-VOC acoustical ceiling tiles.

Sustainability Options

Sustainable ceiling materials options include mineral fiber (such as acoustical panels), metal (which can be recycled but may have a higher embodied carbon), and wood which can be obtained from an SFC-certified source or using reclaimed lumber.

Ceilings with low or no VOCs contribute to green building rating systems by providing for better indoor air quality. Materials that have a low carbon footprint and contain recycled content and can be recycled or reclaimed at the end of their lifecycle are considered sustainable.

LEED V4.1

Although LEED does not specifically address ceilings, it does address acoustics as well as materials that are used in the interior such as the material used on the ceiling. Lighting is also a component of the LEED Green Building Rating Systems.

Living Building Challenge

The petals of concern to the design and specification of the ceiling are those related to Materials and Energy (lighting).

Blogging Assignment 

“W Philadelphia Hotel” Philadelphia, PA, Nelson Worldwide & Design studio Ltd. Photo by Eric Laignel.

I think this is a well-designed ceiling for a few reasons. The main on is that it fits the environment that it is in very well. This is also in a chill area at a hotel. theses areas can get very loud. This is a drop-down acoustic ceiling which will help with the noise. They decided to make it look very interesting rather then just boring panels which I appreciate.

1930s Georgian Revival estate by Richard Carmon of Atelier & Company

This is a well designed ceiling system in my opinion. It is a home that is a historic preservation which I love. But it is a fun cross between a dome and a barrel ceiling. They covered it in plaster and made a beautiful design on the top. This ceiling opens the space up and makes it feel grand but haveing the wood on the walls maks it feel cozy still. 

“Inphi” San Jose, CA, Arc Tec Inc.

This ceiling is an example of one where they combined many different systems. I think that is one reason it is successful. It has an exposed wood ceiling that is beautiful and makes the space look very tall. It also has exposed mechanical systems which make it feel industrial. And in the spaces that is a gathering area, they have a fun acoustic system hanging that will help with sound. they don't talk about skylights in the chapter but they also have one in this building which I think is really cool!