Suspended or dropped ceilings is a patented architectural technique first invented by Donald Brown in Ohio. The technique makes use of drop ceiling panels and is now widely applied in both residential as well as commercial areas due to the number of benefits they provide, despite minimal drawbacks present too.
The whole system is made up of tiles glued or attached to a network of metallic channels. Metallic channels are formed from many inverted T shaped metallic bars suspended in the air from the joists located in the main ceilings. A space called the plenum can be found between the main ceilings and dropped ceilings where pipes and tubes are hidden.
Clients can choose from different types of materials used to cover the entire structure. Tiles can be made of wood planks, tin, faux wood or tin, styrofoam and composite materials. When customized by clients, they provide maximum designing potentials for the space, especially commercial areas like hotels.
These panels can be easily installed on the metallic channels. They can also be easily removed every time repairs and fixing would be necessary for the tubing and piping located inside the plenum. An added benefit is that these tiles are excellent in insulating sound as well as temperature, leading to lesser noise and electricity bills.
On the other hand, when the materials are used in a very harsh manner, they tend to be damaged easily. This would also depend on the components of the tiles used upon manufacturing. Composite materials are more likely to become yellow or stained than metals.
Space, particularly the headroom, would also be reduced because there is a required space allowance before the ceilings can be installed. Other commercial space owners like slumlords might find opportunity in using these materials to their advantage, hiding structural damages in their properties.
To control the disadvantages though, there are some things clients can do. They can employ their comparison shopping skills to find drop ceiling panels that are of great value. Some manufacturers offer corrosion and color fading resistant as well as fire rated materials for a reasonable price.
The whole system is made up of tiles glued or attached to a network of metallic channels. Metallic channels are formed from many inverted T shaped metallic bars suspended in the air from the joists located in the main ceilings. A space called the plenum can be found between the main ceilings and dropped ceilings where pipes and tubes are hidden.
Clients can choose from different types of materials used to cover the entire structure. Tiles can be made of wood planks, tin, faux wood or tin, styrofoam and composite materials. When customized by clients, they provide maximum designing potentials for the space, especially commercial areas like hotels.
These panels can be easily installed on the metallic channels. They can also be easily removed every time repairs and fixing would be necessary for the tubing and piping located inside the plenum. An added benefit is that these tiles are excellent in insulating sound as well as temperature, leading to lesser noise and electricity bills.
On the other hand, when the materials are used in a very harsh manner, they tend to be damaged easily. This would also depend on the components of the tiles used upon manufacturing. Composite materials are more likely to become yellow or stained than metals.
Space, particularly the headroom, would also be reduced because there is a required space allowance before the ceilings can be installed. Other commercial space owners like slumlords might find opportunity in using these materials to their advantage, hiding structural damages in their properties.
To control the disadvantages though, there are some things clients can do. They can employ their comparison shopping skills to find drop ceiling panels that are of great value. Some manufacturers offer corrosion and color fading resistant as well as fire rated materials for a reasonable price.
