Discover How Versatile, Customizable Ceiling Grid Systems Benefit Your Facility
A suspended ceiling grid is a ceiling that functions much like what is commonly referred to as a “drop ceiling.” As an HVAC product, a ceiling grid is essentially a customizable “frame” that can be equipped with diffusers and other tools for critical environments where airflow from above is required to ensure air is delivered precisely where it is needed. Additionally, suspended ceiling grids are preferred for air distribution in cases where ceiling access is necessary. These grids can include access panels alongside the diffusers.
However, suspended ceiling grids are not all built the same. Manufacturers design ceiling grid systems differently, depending on the extent to which these designers are innovators in the HVAC industry. For example, some ceiling grids are “stick-built,” which essentially means they are constructed on-site. Other grids, however, are modular, which means they are designed in a custom HVAC manufacturing facility, then shipped for a seamless installation. Additionally, certain ceiling grids can only handle one function, such as air distribution; others – when built by a superior manufacturer – include additional useful features, like LED lighting.
Discover more about how these grids work, the advantages and disadvantages of certain designs, and how facilities can find the right manufacturer for these systems, along with ceiling systems for hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, and other critical environments.
Comparing Suspended Ceiling Grids
In the case of air distribution, a basic suspended ceiling grid is essentially a frame that can support air distribution products, such as air diffusers. However, exceptional manufacturers can go beyond this basic design and add highly beneficial characteristics.
Comprehensive ceiling grid systems can also include these key features and capabilities:
- Prefabrication in individual sections.
- Ability to link sections together to form a larger grid.
- Capacity to hold various products beyond diffusers, including lighting, blank panels, and ceiling access panels.
- Versatility of design to accommodate the needs of labs, healthcare facilities, manufacturing plants, and more.
In addition to these special capabilities, well-made ceiling grids on the market today also offer businesses a variety of optional features that can further enhance their product’s performance in critical environments that can’t afford contamination:
- Type 316 stainless steel, which offers greater protection for metal components, which are susceptible to chemical interactions, including rust.
- An antimicrobial powder coat finish.
Keep in mind that these superior features are more likely to be available from manufacturers that also offer a wide selection of cleanroom solutions, including hospital and manufacturing ceiling systems. If a manufacturer has to account for infection and contamination prevention for other products, customers will likely be able to customize their ceiling grids with these same features when working with that manufacturer.
Modular Versus Stick-Built Suspended Ceiling Grids
Modular suspended ceiling grids and other prefabricated products, such as hospital ceiling systems, hold an additional advantage for clients seeking an air distribution solution for ceiling use.
Stick-built systems, which represent an earlier solution for HVAC installation, require on-site building, which, for the modern facility manager, presents several challenges, including:
- Construction debris
- Facility traffic management
- Less efficient lead times
As a solution, however, more and more facility managers are discovering the value and benefits of modular design. This allows facility teams to get their systems up and running quickly without disrupting the flow of day-to-day operations or threatening to affect their critical environments with contaminants during construction.
In addition, facilities that manufacture modular products can provide quality assurance before shipping the product, allowing for rigorous testing that ensures system reliability and compliance. When modular design is coupled with features such as Type 316 stainless steel and an antimicrobial finish, facilities with critical environments can rest assured that their products are prepared for performance in spaces with stringent requirements.
How to Find Exceptional Suspended Ceiling Grids
To commission the right suspended ceiling grid for your critical environment project, it is important to work with a manufacturer that can deliver products that meet your entire list of requirements. The right manufacturer will have significant experience designing for environmental conditions much like what your facility demands.
Comprehensive ceiling grids will include customizable panels for features other than air distribution, such as lighting. Superior grid manufacturers will also provide opportunities to tailor this product’s materials and finishes to your specific needs. In addition, facilities should consider the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of manufacturers that take a modular design approach to their products, whether they’re building hospital ceiling systems or just the grids themselves.
Learn more about hospital ceiling systems and suspended ceiling grids to discover their versatility and effectiveness for critical environments.