BUILDING MATERIALS AND

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY - IV
 A dropped ceiling is often a secondary
ceiling, hung below the main (structural)
ceiling. It may also be referred to as a drop
ceiling, T-bar ceiling,false
ceiling, suspended ceiling, grid ceiling, drop
in ceiling, or drop out ceiling .
The area above the dropped ceiling is called
plenums pace.
 Visual - color, texture, pattern, shape
Control diffusion of:
light
sound
Conceal MPE
Accommodate: lights, diffusers,
communication, sprinkler
May assist with
fire resistance
distribution / return of HVAC
 Exposed Structural & MPE
Tightly Attached
Suspended
Interstitial
 Exposed Structure & MPE
Industrial, warehouse,
Economy & ease of maintenance
Timber, trusses, etc.
Often for appearance

Flat Plate
Painted - hotels & apartments
Minimal MPE services in ceiling
Economy and reduces story height
 Exposed Structure Ceiling
Joint Preparation for Sprayed on Textured Ceiling

Textured Ceiling
Exposed Timber & MPE Services
 Attached directly to joists or slabs
Special arrangements / accommodations for:
Structural members (beams, girders)
MPE systems
 Suspended from the Structure
Generally by wires
Materials: drywall, plaster, fibrous (acoustic)

Structure

Ceiling
Support
Plenum space
Wires
for
ducts, pipes, conduit ...

Support System Suspended Ceiling

Metal Framing Drywall
Furring Channels Plaster
Metal Grid Acoustic (incombustible fibers)
Suspended Plaster Ceiling (note the delamination of the finish coat)
 Acoustic Lay-in Panels

Exposed Metal Grid

2x2 or 2x4 Lay-in Panels
MPE sized to fit grid or
cut into the acoustic tile
Economical
 Difficult to access

Main Runners Cross Tees

Provide Main Ceiling Support Intermediate Support
Generally 4 o.c. Rest/ attach to Mains
Attached to Hangers Spacing depends on tile
Additional hangers may be
required to support MPE loads Wall Angle
Attaches to wall
 Recessed Grid

Ceiling mounted - lights, sprinkler,

smoke detector, communication

Multiple Tile Finishes Available

Diffuser sized 2x2

Common Support Grid Profile
 Suspended Ceiling
used as a
Fire Resistant Membrane

Combination Light/Diffuser

The Integrity
of the Fire
Resistant Rating
Must be Maintained
at the
Ceiling Penetrations
Suspended Acoustic Ceiling with a Gypsum Fire Ceiling Above
 Common with elaborate MPE systems
Hospitals & laboratories

Purpose:
Accommodate extensive MPE systems
Provide access for maintenance & updating
services
 Flooring is the general term for a permanent
covering of a floor, or for the work of installing such
a floor covering.
Floor covering is a term to generically describe any
finish material applied over a floor structure to
provide a walking surface.
TYPES OF FLOORING:
Hard flooring
Soft flooring
Flooring supporting under floor services
 Functions:
Visual
Acoustics
Light
Wearing Surface
Considerations
Life / durability
Skid resistance
Sanitation
Noise
Fire (resistance, combustibility)
Other (conductivity,..)
 Distribution of electrical /communications
Methods
Conduit
Cellular Raceways
Cellular Decking
Raised Flooring
Under-floor Electrical Services
Placed in the concrete slab
 Softer base.
Types of Soft flooring:
1. Carpets
2. Rugs
3. Resilients
Types of installations:
Installation
Glued directly to substrate, or
Pad & tackless strip
 Insulates against drafts
Decreases noise
More comforting feel
Quality
Pile (nap): visible surface of carpet
Density: how close the tufts are made together, more
important than depth
Heat setting
Twist
Depth
 Types based on materials:
NYLON: most popular, durable , easy to maintain,
limited colors.
POLYPROPYLENE:
strong,
nonabsorbent,
resists stains and static,
colorfast,
cheap,
crushes easily,
limited colors,
heat sensitive
 Polyester bend:
made from recycled plastics,
resists stains and fading
Acrylic:
feels and looks like wool
low static level
resists mildew
subject to pilling
 Edge Strip

Glued Carpet abutting Terrazzo

 Wool:
soft
durable
long lasting
expensive
moth sensitive
shrinkage
allergies
hard to clean
 Cut Pile
Formal looking plush, velvet,
smooth, may flatten
Saxony
Similar to cut but yarns have
been twisted more giving less
formal appearance
Frieze
Informal, curly texture, shows
minimal marks
 Level Loop
Loops are all same height, may have flecks of
darker color, durable
Multi-level Loop
Two or three loop heights, sculpted or embossed
effect, good in high traffic areas
Cut and Loop Pile
Sculptured effect from some looks cut and some
braided, very durable
 Extends life of carpet
Shock absorber
Less than thick
 Use of a Soft material
Padded carpet
Cushioned resilient flooring
Resilient underlayment

Selection of surrounding material

Dense ceiling material below (plaster, drywall)
Mount ceiling on resilient clips or spring hangers
 Skid Resistance
Measure by its static coefficient of friction (SCOF)
Skid resistance desirable to minimize slipping

Flame Resistance
Most flooring required to meet minimum criteria
Exit corridors typically have higher requirements
 Resistant to:
Wear
Moisture

Noisy -conduct sound

Types
Concrete, stone, brick, tile, terrazzo
 Advantages
Low initial cost
Durable

Common Uses
Parking decks
Warehouses
Industrial
Exposed Concrete with a pattern & tinting
 Types
Marble
Granite
Slate
Sandstone etc.
Installation
Setting Bed
Grouted joints
MARBLE
Green Marble
Golden Marble
Rain Forest Brown Marble
Rain Forest Golden Marble
Rain Forest Green Marble
Plain Green Marble
GRANITE
Paradise Granites
Asian Granite
Black Galaxy Granite slab
Paradiso Granite
Kashmir Gold Granite
Himalayan Blue Granite
Raw Silk Granite
Indian Jubrana Granite
Marble
Granite
 Typically laid on face (but can be laid on edge)
Often with a setting bed

With Grouted Joints Without Grouted Joints

Paver Patterns
 Fired Clay tiles
Multiple shapes/sizes
Installation
Setting Bed (typical)
Thin Set
Grout Joints
 Fired Clay
Often Glazed Finish
Floors & Walls
Multiple sizes & colors, smaller tiles shipped with backing
sheets
Laying Ceramic Tile Reinforced Mesh
Bridge Cracks in Floor
Applying Adhesive with a Notched Trowel
Spacers Being Installed
Tile Placement
Cutting Tile
Small tile shipped with backing sheet
Decorative Ceramic Tile
 Ground/polished concrete
Typ. granite or marble chips w/ colored cement
Divider strips
At changes in color/texture, expansion/contraction
Brass Divider Strips
 Strip Flooring
Tongue and groove
Nailed to sub floor
Pre-finished or unfinished
Random Plank
Wider than strips
Screwed to sub floor, covered with wood plugs
Parquet
Small pieces arranged in different designs
Pre-finished squares for easy installation
 Materials
white & red oak, pecan, maple, pine, .
Types
Wood Strip Flooring - blind nailed
Square edge - fasteners visible (or filled)
Parquet
Pre-finished or finished in-place (except parquet)
Blind Nailed Strip Flooring
Multiple Floor Finishes
wood, tile, & carpet
 Vinyl Composition
Thin (1/8), rolls or tiles (VCT)
Will show substrate irregularities
Multiple colors & patterns
Low cost, moderate durability
Installation - glued
 Indoor air quality: problems often caused by finish
materials and coatings ( glues, binders, fabrics, etc.)

Mold & Mildew: can be a problem in carpets, wall

coverings, & fabrics

Vinyl common in finishes: manufacture of vinyl

releases significant amounts of air pollution

Recycling of interior materials in its infancy