When we think about a commercial refurbishment, choosing the
right ceiling might not always come top of the agenda. But it’s still
an important element to consider. Believe it or not, your commercial
ceiling can have far-reaching consequences on the productivity of your
staff in addition to the ease of maintenance and overall aesthetics.

For example, a high ceiling can make a room feel more spacious,
encouraging abstract thinking, creativity and collaboration. Whereas
low ceilings can make an office feel far more snug, aiding
detail-orientated concentration.

Commercial ceilings help create an enclosure and separation
between spaces, controlling the diffusion of light and sound around a
room. Choosing the right style of ceiling is more important than you
might think, not least because it protects and conceals any electrical
and plumbing systems above, but it can be fire resistant rated too.

Here at Cubex, we specialise in two types of commercial ceilings,
metal frame (MF) plasterboard and suspended ceilings. Suspended
ceilings in particular have proven extremely popular time and time again
in commercial buildings such as offices, hospitals, schools, retail
stores and even industrial units. They are ‘‘false’’ ceilings that are
constructed below an existing soffit, creating a smooth surface and
offering a number of benefits listed below:

Conceal the Chaos
Also known as dropped ceilings, suspended ceilings are a
cost-effective way of giving your premises a clean and smooth finish to
the internal ceiling of a room, hiding messy cables and pipework which,
in turn, enhances the rooms overall aesthetics. Keep in mind that just
because your HVAC systems are neatly tucked away in the ceiling void
above, you can still access them. Suspended ceilings provide
easy access into the ceiling void as you can simply lift the tiles up
through the gridwork and lower them back down again – much easier than
removing the entire ceiling!

Sound Absorption
Sound reduction is a common concern within the workplace,
particularly within open plan office spaces, so we thought you might
like to know how suspended ceilings also enhance acoustics. The tiles
used for your commercial suspended ceiling may be manufactured from
materials such as mineral fibre, metal, plasterboard or laminates, and
can be perforated to provide specific levels of acoustic absorption that
can be used to control the reverberation time in the space below. By
absorbing energy into the tiles rather than reflecting them back into
the room, you can reduce echoing noise. In turn, a suspended acoustic
ceiling helps to improve speech clarity and makes for better
communication and collaboration across your departments.

Sound Insulation
Sound absorption and sound insulation are not the same. Sound
absorption occurs by absorbing some of the energy instead of
transmitting it. Sound insulation is a technique that is used to
restrict sound from travelling between separate spaces through walls,
ceilings and flooring.

Sound insulating ceiling tiles are another option for the make-up of
your commercial suspended ceiling. This type of panel combats sound
attenuation which, in turn, reduces room-to-room noise transfer and
therefore improves confidentiality, keeping private conversations
private.

Fire Safety
Did you know suspended ceilings can also be fire rated? The
ceiling tiles are tested and given a Euroclass (combustibility) rating
on their reaction to fire (based on their structural integrity) for a
set period of time (usually 30 or 60 minutes). This indicates how
effectively the ceiling can prevent a fire spreading from room to room.
Because of this, suspended ceilings are the go-to choice for new mezzanine floor installations.
Installing fire rated ceiling tiles along with column casements and
bulkheads will ensure your mezzanine complies with building regulations
regarding fire protection.

Thermal Insulation
Installing a suspended ceiling system will reduce the height of
the room and subsequently act as an effective method to ‘‘trap’’ warm
air in the room. This prevents heat energy from escaping through a
ceiling void and helps to reduce your heating bills. Pretty
cost-effective, eh!

Light and Energy Efficiency
The quality of light in a room will contribute to its overall
appearance and function. Poor lighting in any environment can lead to
eye strain, fatigue and headaches which can reduce the productivity and
comfort of your staff while at work.

With better insulation and lighting, a suspended ceiling can reduce
your overall energy expenditure. Not only does this have a huge impact
on day-to-day expenses, but it can also reduce your business’s carbon
footprint too.

Moisture Resistance and Hygiene
Leisure centres, washrooms and kitchens are just three examples
of businesses working in high humidity. These companies will need a
ceiling tile solution that does not warp or house mould and isn’t prone
to staining either (water rings). Thankfully, suspended ceilings are
versatile and by changing the specification of the tile they can be
moisture resistant too, meaning they can tolerate humid workspaces.
They can also be wipeable (easy to clean), helping to maintain a
sanitary workspace – perfect for hospitals!

Maintenance
In the unlikely event one of your suspended ceiling tiles
becomes faultyor damaged, they’re easy to replace. They can be
individually removed from the grid without having to remove the entire
ceiling, making repairs and replacements quick, easy and inexpensive.

Time and Money
This is the part you’re really interested in, right? You’ll be
pleased to know that the installation of a commercial suspended ceiling
is by no means timely! In fact, of all the workplace
ceiling options, suspended ceilings are the quickest to install. And in
even better news, suspended ceilings promise longevity and great value
for money, proving to be a worthwhile investment. What’s more, the
materials used in the make-up of your suspended ceiling can be
customised to meet your design requirements too.

We mentioned earlier that suspended ceilings were a popular
choice among business owners, and we bet you can now see why! If you’re
looking to start your next workplace refurbishment project and are
looking for a contractor to design and deliver a bespoke, functional and aesthetic workspace, get in touch with Cubex today – we can even act as your Principal Contractor!