cavity ceiling

English translation: dropped ceiling/drop ceiling

18:56 Mar 30, 2005
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Architecture / notes about planned renovation
English term or phrase: cavity ceiling
Is this term correct - I presume that it may be a calque of "Hohldecke" from German - the text I am currently editting being written by a German. From the text it is apparent that a false ceiling is used in a room, with the false ceiling being used to concea cabling.
Michael Bailey
Austria
Local time: 11:51
Selected answer:dropped ceiling/drop ceiling
Explanation:
Dropped ceiling: A flat ceiling built lower than the original ceiling.


Dropped Ceilings
One of the easiest solutions to covering up an unsightly basement ceiling is to install a dropped ceiling. Dropped ceilings, also called suspended ceilings, consist of a gridwork of metal bars in the shape of an upside-down T, which are suspended on wires from the overhead joists. The metal channels snap together in a regularly-spaced pattern – typically 2' x 2' or 2' x 4' squares – and the squares are then filled with lightweight acoustic ceiling panels by simply dropping the panels into the grid. The panels have different face textures and are typically white, but can be painted any color using standard latex paint. Fluorescent light fixtures of the same dimension can also be inserted into the grids as desired.

A nice advantage is that the easily-removed ceiling panels offer instant access to plumbing, ducts and wiring located above the grid, greatly simplifying repairs or alterations. It's also easy to add insulation on top of the panels, which, along with the panels' acoustic properties, all help to deaden sounds and keep the basement and the rooms above quieter.

The disadvantage is that a dropped ceiling eats into the headroom. Since the grid is suspended on wires and there needs to be enough clearance between the grid and the framing above to install the panels, you'll lose a minimum of about eight inches of headroom.


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Note added at 1 hr 12 mins (2005-03-30 20:09:19 GMT)
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A note, so as to prevent misunderstanding, a \"drop/dropped ceiling\" doesn\'t have to be in a basement. They can be found anywhere and they are usually installed for cosmetic reasons (i.e., to cover cables, wires, water pipes, etc) or to reduce noise, add insulation and so on.

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Note added at 1 hr 14 mins (2005-03-30 20:10:48 GMT)
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Dropping a Ceiling
by Dwight Barnett
Scripps Howard News Service
Q: I would like to have the cathedral ceiling in my front room dropped. What kind of material should I use, and who does this kind of work?--J.D.

A: Generally speaking, a dropped ceiling is a series of metal crossbars that are suspended by wires from the original ceiling. A metal channel is installed on the walls to help support the railing and give the new ceiling a finished appearance. Ceiling tiles are then placed between the gridwork of metal rails.

There are hundreds of patterns and colors to choose from. The tiles can be 2 feet square or measure 2 feet by 4 feet. Indirect lighting panels can be installed to illuminate the room. Visit a home store to see the varied patterns, shapes and colors.

Or you might want an acoustical ceiling or a Sheetrock ceiling installed.

First, new ceiling joists are installed at the height you desire. The ceiling is wired for lighting and fans and then covered with your choice of materials.

This type of work does not require a high level of skill and can be done by a handyman, carpenter or general remodeler. You will want a licensed, qualified residential electrician to do the wiring.

(C. Dwight Barnett is a master inspector certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors. Questions may be addressed to him at PO Box 14091, Evansville, IN 47728, or e-mail [email protected].)
Selected response from:

Robert Donahue (X)
Grading comment
Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +3dropped ceiling/drop ceiling
Robert Donahue (X)
5 +2ceiling cavity
juvera
5 +1ceiling cavity
Maria Luisa Duarte
4cavity ceiling
Clauwolf
2false ceiling
Tony M


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
cavity ceiling


Explanation:
:)
Cavity, Ceiling Lighting zone that is from the lighting fixture level to the
ceiling, which is one of the three light zones, used to design a lighting ...
www.yourwebassistant.net/glossary/c4.htm - 30k - Em cache - Páginas Semelhantes

Clauwolf
Local time: 06:51
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
ceiling cavity


Explanation:
PDF] TECHNICAL Zonal Cavity Calculations
Formato de archivo: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
... The space between the ceiling and the luminaires is. the ceiling cavity. ...
height of ceiling cavity. For surface mounted. or recessed fixtures hcc = 0 ...
www.hubbell-ltg.com/products/ psgpage/technical/zonal_cavity.pdf


Indoor Office Lighting-Lighting Design - [ Traduzca esta página ]
... The space between the ceiling and luminaire plane is the ceiling cavity. ...
recessed or shallow surface mounted fixtures, there is no ceiling cavity. ...
www.ecmweb.com/mag/electric_practical_guide_indoor/ - 43k - En caché - Páginas similares

AECasia Product System 2004 - Thailand - Cellumax - Ceiling - [ Traduzca esta página ]
... When insulation is required above the ceiling, within a ceiling cavity, there
is on better choice than Cellumax LF-5A Loosefill ceiling cavity spray. ...
www.aecasia.com/CELLUMAX/ceiling.htm - 55k - En caché - Páginas similares

ceilings roofs & floors - [ Traduzca esta página ]
... Light fittings located within a ceiling cavity normally require to be enclosed
in an ... box to prevent fire spreading quickly into the ceiling cavity. ...
www.promat-ap.com/applications_ceilings.html - 10k - E


Maria Luisa Duarte
Spain
Local time: 11:51
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Can Altinbay
19 mins
  -> thank you!MLD

neutral  Tony M: Not sure -- there is a world of difference between 'the ceiling cavity' and 'a cavity ceiling'
25 mins
  -> and ??????MLD
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
dropped ceiling/drop ceiling


Explanation:
Dropped ceiling: A flat ceiling built lower than the original ceiling.


Dropped Ceilings
One of the easiest solutions to covering up an unsightly basement ceiling is to install a dropped ceiling. Dropped ceilings, also called suspended ceilings, consist of a gridwork of metal bars in the shape of an upside-down T, which are suspended on wires from the overhead joists. The metal channels snap together in a regularly-spaced pattern – typically 2' x 2' or 2' x 4' squares – and the squares are then filled with lightweight acoustic ceiling panels by simply dropping the panels into the grid. The panels have different face textures and are typically white, but can be painted any color using standard latex paint. Fluorescent light fixtures of the same dimension can also be inserted into the grids as desired.

A nice advantage is that the easily-removed ceiling panels offer instant access to plumbing, ducts and wiring located above the grid, greatly simplifying repairs or alterations. It's also easy to add insulation on top of the panels, which, along with the panels' acoustic properties, all help to deaden sounds and keep the basement and the rooms above quieter.

The disadvantage is that a dropped ceiling eats into the headroom. Since the grid is suspended on wires and there needs to be enough clearance between the grid and the framing above to install the panels, you'll lose a minimum of about eight inches of headroom.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 12 mins (2005-03-30 20:09:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A note, so as to prevent misunderstanding, a \"drop/dropped ceiling\" doesn\'t have to be in a basement. They can be found anywhere and they are usually installed for cosmetic reasons (i.e., to cover cables, wires, water pipes, etc) or to reduce noise, add insulation and so on.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 14 mins (2005-03-30 20:10:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Dropping a Ceiling
by Dwight Barnett
Scripps Howard News Service
Q: I would like to have the cathedral ceiling in my front room dropped. What kind of material should I use, and who does this kind of work?--J.D.

A: Generally speaking, a dropped ceiling is a series of metal crossbars that are suspended by wires from the original ceiling. A metal channel is installed on the walls to help support the railing and give the new ceiling a finished appearance. Ceiling tiles are then placed between the gridwork of metal rails.

There are hundreds of patterns and colors to choose from. The tiles can be 2 feet square or measure 2 feet by 4 feet. Indirect lighting panels can be installed to illuminate the room. Visit a home store to see the varied patterns, shapes and colors.

Or you might want an acoustical ceiling or a Sheetrock ceiling installed.

First, new ceiling joists are installed at the height you desire. The ceiling is wired for lighting and fans and then covered with your choice of materials.

This type of work does not require a high level of skill and can be done by a handyman, carpenter or general remodeler. You will want a licensed, qualified residential electrician to do the wiring.

(C. Dwight Barnett is a master inspector certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors. Questions may be addressed to him at PO Box 14091, Evansville, IN 47728, or e-mail [email protected].)

Robert Donahue (X)
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  zaphod: Absotively correct
17 mins
  -> Thanks Zaphod

agree  gtreyger (X): Right on the nose, as always.
1 day 8 hrs
  -> Thanks Gennadiiy

agree  Tony M: Most appropriate for AE (BE: suspended ceiling more likely) But as I said, this is making assumptions about the type of construction that are NOT in the context as given
4 days
  -> Thanks Dusty. It does depend on what the asker was looking for here.
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
ceiling cavity


Explanation:
There are two things called "ceiling cavity".
1. Architects call the space between the ceiling and the false ceiling ceiling cavity. (The space is also called the plenum.)
The false ceiling can be installed for a variety of reasons, for example because of the elements being used for the structure are best to be hidden, or for sound or heat insulation. The most common use however is to provide space for services, like ventillation ducts, heating, water and drainage pipes, and particularly
for lighting installation. This is the case here.

2. The other use of the expression is by lighting engineers, who call the space between the bottom of the ceiling (reflective surface)and the level of the hanging light fittings (luminaire plane) the "ceiling cavity". The use it for calculating light levels. There may or may not be a false ceiling, but that doesn't make any difference here. The question doesn't refer to this situation.

Cavity ceiling is an entirely different, structural matter, again, it is irrelevant here.

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Note added at 1 hr 15 mins (2005-03-30 20:12:18 GMT)
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(I am speaking as a professional here.)

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Note added at 1 hr 18 mins (2005-03-30 20:15:13 GMT)
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If you are trying to name the ceiling itself, then yes, it is a false ceiling, sometimes called a drop ceiling. Whichever takes your fancy.

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Note added at 3 hrs 1 min (2005-03-30 21:58:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Also suspended ceiling. That is the proper name for it.

juvera
Local time: 10:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Robert Donahue (X): I would vote for "drop ceiling" myself, but then I am biased. : ) Really nice explanation!
3 hrs
  -> Thanks.

agree  Prisma: Suspended ceiling, and I also agree with R.D-well explained.
21 hrs
  -> Thanks.

neutral  Tony M: Explanation is great, but the context makes it clear we ARE talking about the ceiling itself, and NOT just the cavity above it...
4 days
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37 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
false ceiling


Explanation:
It sounds to me as if this is quite simply a general term describing a false ceiling --- although we tend to think in terms of offices with modular ceilings made of frames and tiles, in practice, the term can be applied to ANY ceiling that has a space behind (above) it.
'Suspended ceiling' might also be appropriate, but that probably implies slightly more about the TYPE of construction employed

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Note added at 4 days (2005-04-04 07:07:21 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

My term is a more general one, to cover ANY kind of decorative ceiling designed to hide things!
Naturally, drop ceiling [AE] or suspended ceiling [BE] are the correct terms for a very specific type of ceiling...
And to both MLD and Juvera --- please note that Asker\'s question makes it perfectly clear that this relates to the TYPE OF CEILING itself, and not to the plenum (space) above it; if there was any doubt, just look at the German noun that Asker has suggested...

Tony M
France
Local time: 11:51
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
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