Suspended ceilings are commonly used in commercial buildings and have been for years. They are false ceilings that are constructed below an existing soffit, creating a smooth surface and offering a wide variety of benefits.
Also known as dropped ceilings, this system is popular in:
- Offices
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Shops
- Supermarkets
- Industrial Units
- Hospitals
Some even use suspended ceiling systems in domestic settings, particularly kitchens and conservatories.
So, why exactly are suspended ceilings so popular? Let’s delve into the 19 ways this type of commercial ceiling could elevate your workspace.
1. Concealed HVAC Systems
One of the main benefits of a suspension ceiling is to hide HVAC systems, electrical wires, pipework and more. Instead, businesses are faced with a clean, smooth finish to the internal ceiling of a room. Not only does this have an impact on the visual appeal of their office, but it also reflects positively on their business.
2. Sound Absorption
Certain sound absorbing ceiling tiles are designed to reduce noise reverberation. By absorbing energy into the tiles rather than reflecting them back into a room, you can reduce echoing. In turn, this suspended acoustic ceiling helps to improve speech clarity and makes for better communication and collaboration across your departments.
3. Sound Insulation
Similarly, there are sound insulating ceiling tiles to create the perfect ‘soundproof’ suspended ceiling. This type of panel combats sound attenuation, reducing room-to-room noise transfer. If you’re looking to improve privacy and create a confidential space, this is one solution to achieve that.
4. Lighting
The quality of light in a room will contribute to its overall appearance and functioning. Poor lighting in any environment can lead to eye strain, fatigue and headaches. This in turn can reduce productivity levels and comfort at work. Suspended ceiling tiles have a light reflectance score that’s published by the manufacturer as a percentage.
This will be indicated on the product pages on our website. Ceilings with a high light reflectance can return up to 90% of light back into the space. Most standard ceilings offer 75%.
5. Fire Safety
Areas such as corridors or fire escapes will require a fire-rated ceiling. This indicates how effectively the ceiling can hold back fire and prevent it from spreading from room to room. Fire safety should be taken very seriously and we always advise that you speak to a professional for any kind of professional advice.
6. Moisture Resistance
Specialist, high humidity ceiling panels can withstand extreme environments such as swimming pools, saunas, spas, shower rooms and kitchens. Along with a non-corrosive gridwork, your hung ceiling can tolerate humid areas without warping, building up mould or causing water rings. For these environments, we recommend a tile with at least 90% humidity resistance.
7. Air Quality
Most suspended ceiling systems can incorporate certain ventilation systems to remove pollutants and allergens from the air. There are also metal mesh ceiling tiles, which can improve airflow within your space. The expanded mesh allows air to circulate throughout the workplace, further benefiting your team by improving wellbeing, creativity and productivity.
8. Hygiene
Most hospital ceiling tiles are manufactured with bio-coatings. These prevent the build up of bacteria, moulds and yeast, helping to maintain a sanitary workspace. As a more affordable option, there are wipeable tiles that are easy to clean and can withstand certain cleaning chemicals without damaging. This solution is also ideal for businesses looking to achieve a high standard of hygiene.
9. Thermal Insulation
Simply installing a suspended ceiling will reduce the room height and act as an effective means to ‘trap’ the warmer air within the room. This can create a comfortable work environment and reduce heating bills. Without a suspended ceiling, heat energy can be lost in the top of the ceiling (the ceiling void).
10. Accessibility
Now your HVAC systems are safely stowed away in the ceiling void, what happens if you need to access them? Most standard suspended ceiling systems provide easy access into the ceiling void, so this shouldn’t be a problem. Unlike alternatives, you can easily lift the tiles up through the gridwork and lower them back down, providing accessibility without having to remove the entire ceiling.
11. Energy Efficiency
With better insulation and lighting, a suspended ceiling can reduce your energy expenditure. Not only does this have a huge impact on your daily expenses, but it has a huge impact on our environment and can reduce your business’s carbon footprint.
12. Installation
Of all the commercial ceiling options, suspended ceilings are the easiest to install. This makes your project quick, easy and stress-free. It could even reduce the amount spent on labour costs constructing more complex systems – and with our suspended ceiling installation guide, you can’t go wrong!
13. Durability
A correctly specified suspended ceiling could last a long time without needing replacements. If you’re looking for an even more durable option, we recommend swapping your mineral fibre tiles for metal ones. Made of steel, these promise longevity and great value for money – proving to be a great investment.
14. Interior Design
With over 220 types of suspended ceiling panels available to order on our website, we have options to suit any interior scheme. From colours to sizes, edge details to perforations, you can build a suspended ceiling design that perfectly matches your vision.
15. Cost Efficiency
When you total up reduced labour costs, cut energy bills and the longevity of a suspended ceiling, it’s hard to argue that it isn’t a great investment. In fact, we’ve already listed 13 ways a suspended ceiling could save you money and return a positive ROI (return on investment).
16. Maintenance
False ceilings are easy to maintain. Should you notice a faulty tile, this can be individually removed from the grid without removing the entire ceiling. This makes repairs and replacements quicker and less expensive when compared to alternative options such as drywall ceilings.
17. Sustainability
Mineral fibre ceiling tiles are made from a mixture of recycled natural materials, making for a more eco-friendly build. Certain manufacturers also have their own recycling schemes for their products at the end of their life. For more information or to learn about our own sustainability plan, please contact our team.
18. Productivity
Once you’ve found the perfect suspended ceiling system suited to your workspace, you can begin to enjoy the many benefits it has to offer. Creating a comfortable, engaging workplace to support staff can improve productivity amongst the team, ultimately improving work quality which can have a large impact on your business.
19. Affordability
At Ceiling Tiles UK, we offer a variety of suspended ceiling products to cover a wide spectrum of budget requirements. This includes affordable, entry level ceiling tiles that still promise high quality. To find out your suspended ceiling costs, try our bespoke quote tool.
Complete Suspended Ceilings
Now you know exactly how a suspended ceiling could improve your workspace, why wait? We offer complete suspended ceiling kits to make your installation that little bit easier. In these kits, you’ll receive everything you need to construct your commercial ceiling – we’ll even calculate suspended ceiling component quantities so you can minimise material wastage!
Order yours online today by selecting your product and entering your room measurements. For any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at team@ceilingtilesuk.co.uk.