Suspended Ceiling

[Louisemh1066]

Morning,

We are looking to install a suspended ceiling in one of our offices and I don't know if it needs to be fire rated? Obviously better if it is but in my company the cheaper the better!

So its in an office attached to a workshop. There are no breaks in the walls between the workshop. Whilst the office has a normal height ceiling the workshops goes up 8 metres to the roof so there are no cavity's to worry about on the workshop side.

There are no other floors above the office where the suspended ceiling is potentially to be fitted so the space above it will just go to the metal roof. Other then wiring for lighting there are no other services running in the area either.

Help please?

 

[Louisemh1066]

I should also say the room is 24 m2 and is not on a fire escape route.

 

[^woody^]

As this is an existing office, the fire protection (compartmentation) is via the existing structure, and so any retrospective suspended ceiling is not deemed part the fire protection - although it will contribute towards passive fire protections by virtue of that it is and made of.

Any system you choose would have (should have) inherent fire resistance qualities, and it will be the 'reaction to fire' standard that applies (i.e. limited fire spread), but you wont need to make if a fire-proof compartment ceiling.

You will need to ensure the walls above the ceiling are properly sealed at penetrations and at the roof underside, and that there is no combustible material above the ceiling.