Armstrong Ceiling Solutions identifies seven things architects should know when specifying ceilings for education projects

Education buildings have particularly onerous design requirements. The Priority Schools Building Programme, for example, focuses on better learning environments that are low maintenance, have low running costs and maximise natural light, while maintaining aesthetic values and thermal comfort. All this has to be achieved alongside design standardisation (to reduce cost, complexity and build time), as well as the output specification from the Education Funding Agency Agency (with which the school has to consult about its needs, rather than a main contractor), which outlines the requirements of the school and baseline designs.

Elements for consideration with regards to ceilings are as follows:

One  
Any room will have an optimum reverberation time (RT) requirement depending on its use and size, and whether the main activity is speech or music-based. Providing too much sound absorption, and hence having a very low RT, can be as acoustically damaging and undesirable as having insufficient sound absorption when an excessively long reverberation time will result. Evidence suggests that office workers improve their focus on tasks by 48 per cent when speech privacy is improved.

Two  
You can calculate the reverberation time of a space by using a mathematical model based upon the ‘Sabine’ formula, which takes into account the significant surfaces of the room, their respective sound absorption coefficients and the room dimensions. An acoustic module available from some manufacturers enables a simple indicative calculation to be made. Once the total sound absorption of a room (from both planar surfaces and objects) has been calculated, an estimate can be made for the probable reverberation time. The installation of clouds and canopies in a reverberant space can significantly reduce the reverberation time and contribute to a reduction in background noise.

Three
Fire resistance in a suspended ceiling can only be achieved by a combined tile and grid system, as there is no such thing as a fire resistant tile or a fire resistant grid. Depending upon national legislation, the type of structure to be protected (wood, concrete or steel) and a manufacturer’s product offer, ceiling systems can typically provide between 30 and more than 60 minutes protection. Full details of the ceiling type and construction, protected structure and tested time are given in fire reports available from the manufacturer.

Four    
The increased use of concrete thermal slabs as heat sinks rules out wall-to-wall ceilings. But not having an acoustic ceiling will mean higher reverberation times and unacceptable noise levels. The installation of canopies in a reverberant space, in sufficient numbers and layout to satisfy both technical and aesthetic considerations, can significantly reduce the reverberation time and contribute to a reduction in background noise and increased comfort and wellbeing for occupants.

Five
It is now possible to calculate (according to ISO 14021) exactly what degree of recycled content a ceiling tile comprises. Recycling schemes, such as those for off-cuts from new installations and end-of-life tiles from refurbishment and strip out projects (both of which divert waste from landfill) will increase this ratio exponentially. Some ceiling tiles comprise more than 70 per cent recycled material and some ceiling systems are capable of achieving an Ecopoints rating of 0.16.

Six      
According to a Brinjac Engineering study on the environmental effect of high light reflectance ceilings (2006), the use of a 90 per cent light reflecting ceiling tile combined with indirect lighting can provide cost savings of up to 20 per cent – equating to as much as an 11 per cent reduction of the building’s energy use, compared with a standard 75 per cent light reflecting tile. Canopies installed over an individual work place can improve the light reflectance over the space and provide improved user comfort without affecting other areas.

Seven   
Standard ceiling tiles can not only be used to hide or integrate service elements, such as lighting fixtures, loudspeakers, air diffusers, chilled beams and sprinkler systems, but also provide minimal grid visibility for a clean and monolithic ceiling finish. The system can also be integrated into canopies to provide design solutions for thermal mass, and is flexible enough to allow the re-configuring of room layouts and service element positions without moving ceiling panels.

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Armstrong Ceiling Solutions is marking the start of a new school year with the launch of a new education brochure, which helps architects and specifiers meet these onerous criteria.