Ceiling Glossary

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z 

A

American Society for Testing Materials

A nonprofit organization that establishes standard tests and specifications for construction materials. Such tests and specifications usually are referred to by the abbreviation ASTM followed by a numerical designation.

ASTM

Abbreviation for American Society for Testing Materials.

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B

BOCA

Building Officials and Code Administrators. Publishes the National Building Code every three years, with yearly supplements. Most commonly referred to in the northeast states.

Backloaded Insulation

Thermal/acoustical insulation that is placed above the ceiling suspension system and laid across the horizontal grid members. The insulation is covered by the acoustical panels or tiles. Also referred to as backloading. Note: This should never be used with WOODHAVEN Planks.

Bevel Edge

An acoustical tile is considered to have a bevel edge when the face of the tile turns up at the edge at approximately 45 degrees for 1/8" to 1/4" around the perimeter of the tile.

BIOBLOCK

HUMIGUARD Plus ceilings are treated with BioBlock, fungicide treatment to inhibit or retard growth of mold or mildew on painted surfaces.

Border Cut

Cut made on both ceiling panel and grid at the perimeter of the installation.

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C

Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC)

A measure of a ceiling tile's ability to block sound from traveling room to room. A ceiling tile with a CAC < 25 is considered low performance, while a CAC > 35 is high performance. CAC is important between rooms and between floors and ceilings.

Ceiling Suspension System

A system of metal members, designed to support a suspended ceiling, typically an acoustical ceiling. Also may be designed to accommodate lighting fixtures or air diffusers.

Clips

Several clip designs are available to suit applications such as fire resistance, wind uplift, and impact. Fire resistance-rated designs have exact requirements, including the mandatory use of hold-down clips for acoustical panels or tiles weighing less than 1.0 pound per square foot (4.9 kg/m2). For rooms with air pressure that's significantly different from adjacent spaces, retention clips may be necessary to hold panels in place.

Cross Tee

Tee that is inserted perpendicular into the main runner of a ceiling suspension system to form different module sizes (like 2' x 2' or 2' x 4').

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D

Deflection

Bending or deviation from a straight line or course. Used here as the standard by which allowable load for suspension system components is measured.

Double Web

References the number of vertical layers of steel on main runners and cross tees. The most common is a double layer that provides greater stability around light fixtures and air diffusers.

Duty Classification

Load carrying capability of grid components in pounds per linear foot (Light: 5 lbs, Intermediate: 12 lbs, Heavy: 16 lbs)

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F

Fiberglass Panels

Ceilings made with a base of high density fiberglass, typically with a vinyl surface. Fiberglass panels are dimensionally stable, easy to clean, have mold and mildew resistance, and are economical.

Fire Guard Grid

Fire resistance rated grid.

Fire Rated

Refers to the UL fire resistance rating of an assembly.

Fire Resistance

The property of acting as a barrier to fire for a certain amount of time. Acoustical ceiling systems form a membrane to contain fire within a room. Fire-rated assemblies (including ceiling panels, suspension systems, light fixtures, diffusers, and structural components) are given ratings of one, two, three, or four hours as tested per ASTM E 119.

Fissuring

Method of adding depressions into the face of acoustical tiles or panels during manufacture for appearance and acoustical performance.

Flame Spread Rating

A single number measurement of the flame spread across the surface of a material. Defined by ASTM E 84 commonly known as the 25 foot tunnel test, the number is obtained by comparing with red oak flooring.

Flange

Horizontal surface on the face of the tee, visible from below the ceiling. The part of the grid to which the color cap is applied. Most grid system flanges are either 15/16" or 9/16".

Fog

Products with this icon may be fogged following CDC recommendations using EPA-approved disinfectant cleaners per Armstrong Disinfecting Guidelines.

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G

Galvanized

A generic term used to describe a sheet or coil of steel coated with zinc applied in an electrogalvanizing or dipping process.

Gauge

Thickness of the steel used to make a grid member. May be expressed by a number designation (26 GA.) or in thousandths of an inch (0.013).

Grid

Structural system of main beams, cross tees, and associated hardware which hangs from the deck above and supports lay-in, concealed, or surface-attached ceiling panels.

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H

Hanger Wires

Wire used to suspend a grid system from the existing structure and support ceiling tiles or panels. For an easier way to hang and level grid, learn more about our innovative QUICKHANG Installation method.

Hold Down Clip

Mechanical fastener that snaps over the bulb of a grid system to hold ceiling panels in place.

Hook Tee

Cross tee with an end tab that hooks through the rout hole and rests on the vertical web of the main runner.

Hot Dipped Galvanized

Process used to coat steel to offer resistance to corrosion. Cold-rolled steel is dipped into a molten zinc bath, and a heavy coating of zinc is applied to the steel substrate. Zinc coating thickness varies and is designated by a G series, such as G-60 or G-90.

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I

Intermediate-Duty Systems

These are used primarily for ordinary commercial structures where some ceiling loads, due to light fixtures and air diffusers, are anticipated.

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K

What is Kanopi by Armstrong Ceilings?

Kanopi is the direct-to-customer branch of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (AWI), a leader in the design and manufacture of innovative ceiling, wall, and suspension systems.

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M

Main Beam, Main Runner, Main Tee

Load-bearing beams of a suspension system in which the structural members are mechanically locked together. They provide direct support for cross runners and may support light fixtures and air diffusers, as well as the acoustical tile.

Mineral Wool

A man-made, wool-like material of fine inorganic fibers for thermal and acoustical insulation.

ML

Cross tee end detail that is installed with a hook insertion, in contrast to the XL tee that is installed with a stab insertion.

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N

Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)

A ceiling tile's measure of the absorption of sound that strikes the surface area. Ceilings with an NRC <.50 are considered low performing, while ceilings rated >.50-.60 are considered good performance, and those with >.65 are considered high performance.

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O

Override

Offset on the end of some cross tees that rests on top of the supporting members flange. Increases stability and moves cut edge of tee out of the visible plane of the ceiling.

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P

Plenum

In suspended ceiling construction, the space between the suspended ceiling and the main structure above.

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Q

QUICKHANG Installation

QUICKHANG hooks and brackets offer a new way to install a basement drop ceiling system directly to joists more quickly and easily than with hanger wire. For residential use only.

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R

R Factor

A number measuring a material's resistance to heat flow. R stands for resistance, the inverse of conductivity.

Rotary Stitching

Process by which two vertical layers of steel are stitched or bonded together to form a stronger, singular piece. Armstrong Ceilings is the only grid manufacturer to employ this technology.

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S

Scoring

Process of cutting grooves into the face of acoustical panels to create different decorative visuals and add acoustical benefit.

Scrubbable

For applications where cleanliness is a priority, acoustical units may require cleaning beyond normal maintenance procedures. Acoustical panels with special facing materials such as vinyl film offer superior scrubbability without compromising panel finish integrity. Metal ceilings may also be used for scrubbable applications. The accepted test procedure is the Gardner Scrubbability Test ASTM D 2486.

Spray

Products with this icon may be sprayed following CDC recommendations using EPA disinfectant cleaners per Armstrong Disinfecting Guidelines.

Stab End Detail

Designed to be inserted in main runner rout hole with a forward, over-the-shoulder motion.

Suspension System

A metal grid suspended from hanger rods, consisting of main beams and cross tees, clips, splines, and other hardware which support ceiling panels or tiles.

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T

Tegular

A functional edge detail that allows a suspended ceiling panel to extend below the grid, making the grid less noticeable.

Temperature and Relative Humidity (RH) Resistance

Temperature and humidity affect an acoustical panel or tile's stability. Standard acoustical panels and tiles are designed for installation within the normal temperature range of 60-80 degrees F (15 to 29 degrees C) and maximum 70 percent RH. When the temperature and RH are expected to exceed these ranges, consider the use of acoustical ceilings designed specifically for these applications, like HumiGuard™ ceilings.

Tile

Acoustical ceiling board, usually 12" x 12", which is glued, or suspended by a concealed grid system.

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U

UBC 25-2

Uniform Building Code (seismic standard).

UL Label

An identification for any product authorized by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (ULI) to:

  • have a rating based on the performance of tests in similar products
  • be made from materials and by processes the same as those of similar products which have already gone through fire, electrical, and other performance tests
  • be subject to reexamination by ULI.

ULI

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

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W

Wipe

Products with this icon may be wiped following CDC recommendations using EPA disinfectant cleaners per Armstrong Disinfecting Guidelines.

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