Suspended ceilings outperform open plenum ceilings by not only reducing a building’s lifetime operating costs, but also by providing a sustainable advantage.
The Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association (CISCA) recently conducted a study comparing suspended ceilings with open plenum (exposed) ceilings based on initial construction costs, recurring energy costs and the resulting life cycle payback.
"This study is an important step forward for the interior ceiling construction industry," says CISCA Executive Director Shirley Wodynski. "Debate about the relative benefits of each ceiling type has been ongoing. An objective, independent study was needed to quantify life cycle data and to clarify the advantages of each ceiling type."
Based on energy and construction data for a retail space and an office building in five markets in late 2007, the research found suspended ceilings can achieve a life cycle payback in as few as 11 months. During the life span of the ceiling, these lower energy costs translate into savings that outweigh the initial construction costs.
"Depending on the building type and geographical location, wall-to-wall ceiling systems and the return air plenums they create can save energy," says the study’s co-sponsor, Scott Qualls, sales director for United States Gypsum Ceilings Division. "They also can lower maintenance costs and contribute to LEED credits."
Analysis and Implications
Most energy cost savings result from the smaller HVAC systems needed for buildings with suspended ceiling systems. Because lower static pressure exists in the closed plenum space, lower horsepower fans are needed to create air movement. Open plenum ceilings, on the other hand, have more air to cool or heat than suspended ceiling systems, and they require higher static pressures and fan horsepower.
Moreover, the mechanical systems required for circulating air in an open plenum space require more energy consumption to return air through fixed fans. Suspended ceilings can supply and return air more efficiently because ducts can be installed where they are needed most—near work or activity areas.
Lighting in suspended ceiling systems also can contribute to lower energy costs. Return air plenums are more efficient at removing heat from lights, which lowers air-conditioning loads. Additionally, wall-to-wall ceiling systems create a higher light reflective surface than open plenum designs, which leads to more efficiently illuminated spaces, as well as a more diffused and evenly distributed lighting system.
Finally, benefits of suspended ceiling designs include lower energy usage and reduced environmental emissions. The energy savings derived from a suspended ceiling design can contribute to LEED EA credit No. 1 on a building project, which requires a 10.5 percent energy reduction to earn one point.
Despite these benefits, architects and building owners still will be drawn to specifying exposed ceilings for their open aesthetic. In response, manufacturers are creating exciting wall-to-wall ceiling products that include three-dimensional treatments, floating ceilings, curved ceilings, and transparent or translucent ceilings.
These new designs—along with rapid life cycle payback, reduced energy consumption and sustainable design potential—may make suspended ceilings the ceiling of choice for the future.
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Saturday, February 4, 2012