Armstrong ceiling - technical characteristics, types, pros and cons + Photos

If it is necessary to quickly and inexpensively mount a ceiling in a room with a sufficiently high ceiling, then a good option is a suspended type system. Especially convenient is the Armstrong cellular ceiling, which is so popular today, the technical characteristics of which will be discussed in this material.

And what is it - Armstrong ceiling?

His name is beautiful and promising. It has already become a household name, often meaning any suspended ceiling construction with mineral plates. However, this is a completely separate type of suspended ceiling. Let's talk, for a start about its pros and cons.

The advantages and disadvantages of these ceilings

Positive aspects:

• This mineral suspended ceiling will always give you free access to the ventilation system, and also to various sensors and lighting devices.
• The suspended system will reliably hide all irregularities, dirt and other errors on the base ceiling.
• Quick installation and disassembly, easy maintenance of the ceiling - these are two more significant advantages.
• High luminosity of the plates allows, to some extent, saving on electricity.
• Good absorption of extraneous noise makes such a design an excellent option for the office.
• A large number of accessories produced specifically for these ceilings makes installation even easier. In particular, you can purchase ventilation grilles and built-in lighting elements.
• Let's not forget that the natural material of the plates is safe and environmentally friendly.

However, Armstrong's ceilings are not without drawbacks:

• The main problem is that they do not like floods from their neighbors from above. After all, even if the stove is moisture-resistant, then it does not possess water resistance. Therefore, if in the neighborhood or as pipes you are not sure, it is better to give up the suspended ceiling. Take a rack or cassette.
• Where temperature or humidity often change, mineral plates deteriorate quickly. Their color changes - for example, from white it becomes yellowish.
• These plates are quite fragile. They do not like sharp blows, being damaged even from a shot by a champagne cork. Therefore, you should always keep in stock two or three plates. After all, it is very simple to replace them.

Types of Armstrong suspended ceilings:

# 1. The economy class of ceilings (types - Baikal and Oasis) is highly demanded. After all, this is the minimum cost and maximum convenience. Such plates are inexpensive, but have high quality and decent design.

# 2. Functional ceilings (Prima type) have additional protection against moisture. Thus, these plates do not change their shape even at a humidity of ninety-five percent.

# 3. Acoustic ceilings (Ultima type) are protected from external noise.

# 4. The hygienic ceilings (BioGuard type) are covered on top with a special compound that protects them from the effects of hot steam and grease sticking. In addition, this coating does not allow bacteria to multiply.

# 5. Design ceilings have an original look. They are used to give a special style to some room.

Suspended ceiling characteristics Armstrong

In general, such a ceiling consists of a suspension system made of special metal profiles and mineral plates that are mounted on the suspension system. In the beginning we will talk about the characteristics of the plates used for Armstrong ceilings.

Armstrong suspended ceiling plates

The basis for the Armstrong ceiling plates used is mineral fiber (aka stone wool, otherwise recycled). Latex, starch, gypsum and cellulose supplements (obtained from recycled paper) are added to this fiber. The technology, developed to the smallest detail, allows to obtain high-quality material with a minimum of energy and raw material costs. Cheaper plates have more starch in their composition, and more expensive ones have more latex. This additive gives the material excellent moisture resistance.

Finished plates are laid with sheets of cardboard, piled up and sealed in polyethylene using vacuum. Thus, the material receives protection from natural disasters and mechanical damage. In the stack can be from eight to twenty-two pieces. In the latter case, the package will be enough for 7.92 square meters of the ceiling. It is necessary to store and use plates under certain conditions: humidity is not allowed more than 90 percent, and the temperature limit is even less - from 15 to 30 degrees.

To make installation more convenient, Armstrong mineral plates are made with three kinds of edges:

• Plates with Microlook edges have a not very wide stepped edge. They are used in suspended structures with a width of 1.5 centimeters.
• Tegular edged plates also have a stepped edge, but wider. Used in suspension systems with a width of 2.4 centimeters.
• The boards with the edge of the Board are universal - their edges are even, therefore such boards are suitable for both types of suspended structures.

As for the other characteristics of Armstrong mineral plates, they are as follows:

• Width - 60 centimeters;
• length - 60 or 120 centimeters;
• thickness - varies from 0.8 to 2.5 centimeters;
• weight - from 2.7 to 8 kilograms per square meter .

What is the suspension system

The popularity of the use of ceilings made of mineral plates is due to several factors. In particular, this ease of installation and low cost. Well, the technical characteristics of Armstrong suspended ceiling also play a role.

By and large, there are two main types of such systems: modular and solid. Often used the first type, which consists of a frame and modules - panels, tapes, rails. The frame is usually hidden under the headliner. However, there are options when this is not required, and then its protruding elements are visible. Unlike a hemming ceiling, the suspension system takes up more space. But under it you can hide any engineering communications.

By the way, the installation of this ceiling must be started with communications (otherwise it will be difficult later). Next to the ceiling base frame is attached from the transverse and longitudinal profiles. The distance between the individual profiles is 60 centimeters (this is the size of Armstrong mineral plates). By the way, the installation of the frame is very similar to the installation of the supporting structure of drywall. The last stage of work - the installation of plates, ventilation grilles and lamps. She will not make work - the assembly of the ceiling is similar to the assembly of the children's designer.

About the aesthetic component

Perhaps the favorite of all colors used for the ceiling can be called white. But on sale today you can find both colored and patterned plates Armstrong. And black ceilings are often used in cinema halls. Differ slabs and texture. In addition to the most commonly used smooth ceilings, there are perforated and embossed. There are also open lattice type cells that look very interesting. In addition, they are able to visually hide the entire suspension system.

This variety allows you to decorate the ceiling completely to your liking. You can vary the number of levels. This will allow you to get very interesting effects in the office, apartment or public room. Using the built-in lighting elements, get beautiful three-dimensional designs. In this case, the suspensions are hidden or left visible.

Where Armstrong ceilings are used

Different performance requirements are made for different types of premises. This must be taken into account when selecting a suspended ceiling. And there is such a possibility - as mentioned earlier, as many as four types of Armstrong mineral plates are produced, each of which is suited to specific conditions.

# 1. The universal economy class ceiling is not distinguished by any features, therefore it is suitable for normal operating conditions. This, for example, can be industrial buildings, hotel lounges, schools and kindergartens.

# 2. The ceiling is functional, created from moisture-proof plates (which contain a lot of latex), where humidity is very high. For example, it may be a store, cafe or restaurant, swimming pool, bathroom of a residential building, bath, laundry. Also, such ceilings can be installed in wet workshops of industrial enterprises and where there is direct access to the street (in corridors, halls).

# 3. The acoustic ceiling is necessary wherever it is necessary to muffle loud sounds. In particular, it can be a cinema hall, an office or a night club. Such Armstrong ceiling characteristics are also suitable for a hotel or a noisy production facility.

# 4. The hygienic ceiling is invented specifically for medical and food premises. Complying with all standards and requirements of hygiene, such products adorn hospitals with polyclinics, as well as shops of food enterprises.

# 5. The design ceiling shines not with technical characteristics, but with its shape and color. It is needed where you want an exclusive and unique. This could be, for example, a shop hall, a hotel hall, an office or a restaurant. You can make an unusual public space, and you can indulge your own apartment with a designer ceiling.

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