Four Ways to Evaluate Ceiling Quality

Part 1: Evaluating Ceiling Finishes

Part 2: Evaluating Ceiling Acoustics

Part 3: Evaluating Ceiling Longevity

Part 4: Evaluating Ceiling Sustainability

Evaluating Ceiling Sustainability

By Naomi Millán, Associate Editor - August 2009

The ceiling can also be selected to play into an organization’s green initiatives. How the ceiling will interact with the lighting system should be considered. The light reflectance (LR) of the ceiling is important to the success of daylighting strategies, for example.

“High LR panels are becoming more important as America tries to understand energy efficiency,” says Rice. The ceiling helps light move through the space, whether the source is daylight bouncing up from light shelves or interior up-lighting, he says.

A 90 percent light reflectance is preferred for daylighting or indirect lighting.

Ceiling tiles are also available with differing levels of recycled and rapidly renewable content. And consider how the ceiling will be disposed of at end of life. Often systems, including the grid, can be recycled.

Even in the current economy, if facility executives do their homework, they will find ceiling options that are not only cost-effective but also match the needs of the space.