The advantages of metal ceilings

Metal is considered the solution for covering acoustic ceilings in non-residential buildings mainly: offices, hospitals, shopping centers and airports. The acoustic metal ceiling offers several advantages, whether it is resistance, accessibility or comfort.

In order to provide acoustic qualities to the metal, it is necessary to perforate the metal ceiling to allow sound waves to circulate.

Common sense would suggest that the more perforations there are, and with a large diameter, the better the sound absorption will be. However, this is not the case. Indeed, the perforation rate has little influence on absorption. The choice of making more or fewer perforations then becomes essentially aesthetic.

The absorption solutions of our metal ceilings combined with the closing cover of the metal tray on the plenum side (plasterboard or steel sheet type) make it possible to provide our metal ceilings with high lateral attenuation performance.

For optimal confidentiality between premises, the DECIBEL offer guarantees lateral attenuation Dnfw up to 52 dB.

Find all of this information in the dedicated brochure “Acoustic metal ceilings”

French fire safety regulations in buildings describe preventive measures aimed at protecting people. They facilitate and secure emergency response and protect material assets.

Fire prevention obligations are classified into two categories:

• Active means of protection including detectors and sprinkler-type water diffusers.
• Passive means of protection including the reaction to fire of construction materials and the fire resistance of construction elements.

Reaction to fire is an intrinsic characteristic of a material and characterizes its contribution to the development of a fire.

Plafometal metal ceiling solutions have the best fire classification performances:

• A1 for all unpainted and pre-painted products with or without veil
• A2-s1,d0 for post-painted or filled and reversible radiant products

The classification of the reaction to fire performances of suspended ceiling elements must be carried out according to various provisions, unified at European level. They are described in:

• The "Euroclasses" standard has been in place since the publication of the decree of November 21, 2002, relating to the reaction to fire of construction and development products.
• The EN 13964 product standard for suspended ceilings describing the requirements and test methods.

The regulatory texts that govern fire safety and mention M categories, according to the French reference, will gradually be updated to "Euroclasses".
Pending their updates, a transposition table, described in the decree of November 21, 2002, indicates the admissible performance levels based on the regulatory requirements requested in the current texts.

Thanks to their light reflection indices of up to 87% in the non-perforated version and up to 79% in their perforated versions, Plafometal metal ceilings reflect the daylight received and contribute to the provision of natural light.

Interior implementation

• It must comply with DTU 58-1.
• For metal ceiling systems implemented on large surfaces and subject to large temperature variations, the thermal expansion of the materials must be anticipated: adequate expansion joints should be provided.
• For steel elements (whose expansion is quite close to concrete), consider approximately 1 mm per meter for 100 °C. For example: there is an expansion of 12.5 mm for a 25 m ceiling subjected to a temperature variation of 50 °C. The expansion of aluminum elements is twice as high as those made of steel.
• DTU 58.1 specifies that "in the case of modular suspended ceilings on a non-visible frame, the panels must be interrupted at the level of the building's expansion joint line (generally every 25 m), and the empty space thus created must be covered with a joint cover fixed on one side only".

Corrosion protection according to standard EN 13964:

• Class B (relative humidity variable up to 90%, temperature variation up to 30°C but without corrosive pollutants): all our standard steel solutions.
• Class C (relative humidity variable up to 95%, temperature variation up to 30°C and accompanied by a risk of condensation, but without corrosive pollutants): all our non-perforated solutions in standard aluminium and our PM300-6HR system in high-strength steel clipped onto a hidden carrier. If perforated, contact us for a specific study.
• Class D (more severe conditions than above - chlorinated environment): stainless steel not recommended (PM300 system clipped onto hidden carrier incompatible), contact us for specific study.

Outdoor implementation

It requires special precautions.

For metal ceiling systems implemented on large surfaces and subject to large temperature variations, the thermal expansion of the materials must be anticipated. It is advisable to provide adequate expansion joints:

• For steel elements (whose expansion is quite close to concrete), consider approximately 1 mm per meter for 100 °C. For example: there is an expansion of 12.5 mm for a 25 m ceiling subjected to a temperature variation of 50 °C. The expansion of aluminum elements is twice as high as those made of steel.
• We also recommend following the indoor implementation specification of DTU 58.1: "in the case of modular suspended ceilings on non-visible frames, the panels must be interrupted at the level of the building's expansion joint line (generally every 25 m), and the empty space thus created must be covered with a joint cover fixed on one side only".
• Choice of suitable products: it is necessary to select from our catalogue the products that have been designed for this use. Refer to the descriptive sheets of the blades, Monobac cassettes and PM300 clipped linear trays. Other custom solutions can be studied on request.
• Choice of materials for corrosion resistance: depending on the atmospheric conditions - humidity, temperatures, rural, industrial or marine air - we will choose suitable organic materials and coatings offering protection against corrosion of class C2 to C5-M for steel products coated according to standard EN 12944 and class 3a to 4 for aluminium products coated according to standard EN 1396. Refer to the table opposite for compatible Plafometal products.

In all cases, our ceilings must be protected from rain and runoff.

Installation design for wind resistance:

• It is necessary to determine in advance on a case-by-case basis the peak dynamic wind pressure within the meaning of Eurocode 1, which depends on the geographical area (regions 1 to 4), the roughness of the terrain (0, II, IIIa, IIIb, IV), the installation height of the ceiling in relation to the ground and its inclination, but also the altitude and orography (relief) of the terrain and the shape of the building.
• Contact us to find out the center distances to be planned according to the selected product, indicating the degree of exposure to wind and corrosion according to the project's installation characteristics. The installation company must then submit its project for approval to the project owner.
• For PM300 clipped linear tray systems, also refer to the dedicated installation guide.

Find all of this information in the “Implementation” sheet

Our metal ceilings and wall panels have been tested with three types of disinfection chemicals recommended by the World Health Organization against major viruses, including COVID-19: 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, 6% hydrogen peroxide and 70% ethanol.

Test methods include long-term or repeated exposures to these chemicals. Results are evaluated according to the EN 12720 exposure standard and the ISO 11998 disinfection and wet abrasion standard (tests performed with a microfiber cloth).

This is also valid for all pre-painted/post-painted steel or aluminum products from the ALPHA, ALPHA PLUS and DECIBEL offers.

Acoustiroc® metal wall panels are resistant to these three disinfectants.

Find all this information in the "Maintenance" sheet

Plafometal has developed an offer of acoustic AND active ceilings, thus combining the know-how of metal ceiling design and thermal engineering.

A thousand-year-old and natural principle

As old as the world and 100% natural, the principle of heating or cooling by radiation is based on a fairly simple physical law that demonstrates that two objects with a different temperature naturally radiate towards each other.

Thus, a hot body releases electromagnetic radiation of infrared waves that are automatically absorbed by colder bodies located in its environment, regardless of the ambient air temperature.

A proven technology in the building, at the service of the comfort of the occupants

This principle of radiation, transposed to the building, gave birth to reversible radiant ceilings, i.e. heating and cooling, a proven technology, and particularly effective with metallic materials, the most adapted to thermal exchanges. The surface of the ceilings will heat (in winter) or cool (in summer) everything that occupies a room, objects and people, bringing greater comfort to the occupants of the premises.

Indeed, unlike traditional technologies, active ceilings provide a uniform temperature and no noise from equipment (heating or air conditioning). More precisely: in winter, when heating, the ceiling emits waves towards the occupants. In summer, it is the opposite, the infrared radiation diffused by people and objects (computers, lights, etc.) is absorbed by the ceilings, which are then refrigerated. These ceilings also avoid the discomfort associated with the air circulation of air conditioning in summer.

An economical and sustainable multi-comfort system

• Opting for this type of thermal installation means choosing discretion and aesthetics because the system, hidden in the ceiling, is invisible but still remains acoustic: no pipes, cables, radiators or other unsightly blowing blocks will disrupt the circulation or the layout of a workspace.
• Ensuring excellent temperature uniformity is one of the major advantages of the reversible radiant ceiling system. Regardless of the temperature of the room, the feeling of heat or freshness is always there since it is not a mass of air that is heated or cooled. No temperature difference in the same place therefore, everything happens by heat exchange between the occupants and the radiant climate ceiling.
• The absence of air mixing and water condensate are the guarantee of limiting the circulation of microbes, thus providing sanitary comfort and thus avoiding the spread of diseases between the occupants of the premises.
• The overall life cycle cost of the system (investment, energy consumption, maintenance) is very attractive. The system operates on temperate water temperature regimes (14°C to 45°C), which is less energy-intensive than conventional heating and air conditioning systems. In addition, the ceiling can work on any water production system (e.g. geothermal).

The heating and cooling ceiling system is therefore beneficial for everyone, both occupants and managers of the premises.

To learn more about the concept and the active Plafometal systems available, discover the dedicated brochure by clicking here.