Metal ceilings offer both design customization and high performance. When a project-specific solution is required, it’s best to involve the metal ceiling manufacturer’s technical support team early in the process—and through to completion.
Collaboration and communication
Any highly complex or custom metal ceilings project can span years and involve many individuals, so collaboration and regular communication are key.
Early involvement: Ideally, all parties should be involved from the design stage. When the project goes out to bid, installers should request support from their metal ceiling manufacturers as soon as possible and provide all project documents—such as specifications and applicable codes—up front.
Products and services: Products must meet the aesthetic, performance, and sustainability requirements. For complicated and custom projects, ask if the manufacturer’s services include takeoffs, shop drawings, and project management. Qualified manufacturers can review drawings for unusual site conditions and produce shop drawings of recommended ceiling systems and installation details.
BIM capabilities: Building Information Modeling (BIM) software allows project design and construction teams to communicate in real time. Metal ceiling manufacturers can provide BIM files for standard system components. These can be downloaded into master BIM models, where sizes, perforations, and finish colors can be integrated into architects’ 3D models’ reflected ceiling plans and drawings.
Shop drawings and support
Perimeter trim, exterior applications, and lighting integration are three common examples of field conditions that can benefit from ceiling manufacturer-supplied shop drawings.
Perimeter trim: Typically produced from an extruded aluminum, perimeter trim provides a clean border on a traditional ceiling grid, a decorative accent or transition, or a tidy edge on a floating ceiling cloud or island. The trim can be highly engineered with precise miters or curved to a specific radius. When a project calls for trim of numerous widths, lengths, curves, or finishes, request that shop drawings and a fabrication schedule be supplied with the product.
Exterior applications: Metal ceilings in exterior environments can resist corrosion and humidity. They can also comply with stringent building codes and local considerations, such as heavy winds. Request wind load testing and performance data, and review installation requirements for high-performance exterior systems. Shop drawings can detail proper spacing of suspension, down bracing, and various connections with accessory items, which can be submitted for approval to the engineer of record.
Lighting integration: With the wide variety of lighting designs and mounting methods, ceiling manufacturers can advise on compatible systems and can produce shop drawings. These should include recommended suspension layouts with custom-sized panels or carriers and should avoid unplanned modifications in the field.
Visualizing solutions in 3D
Metal ceiling manufacturers with 3D modeling can help visualize solutions for the following challenging situations and designs.
Uneven or sloped elevations: A ceiling may span two or even three different elevations within a single plane, especially when they are used in existing building renovations. Field measurements can allow a ceiling manufacturer with 3D modeling to determine the slope of the interacting ceilings, and design a system to meet these project-specific conditions.
Unforeseen field conditions: When installers encounter unforeseen site conditions—such as unaccounted for mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems—their work slows or stops until a solution can be devised. Supplied with the site-specific information, metal ceiling manufacturers can replicate these conditions in a 3D model and develop a custom fit to meet the real-world need.
Custom designs: Some may assume that architects’ high-end conceptual designs for metal ceiling projects are highly customized and costly. However, during the shop drawing phase, ceiling manufacturers can develop 3D models that maintain the design intent, optimize system sizing and assembly to reduce installation time, and deliver the highest value.
Conclusion
Metal ceiling products are a versatile ceiling material choice and can be fully customized to fit any project’s needs. But always remember to involve the ceiling manufacturer’s technical services team for support.
Michael Thill is the product manager for metal ceilings at Rockfon North America and is certified as a construction documents technologist (CDT) through the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). For more information, visit rockfon.com.
