CEILING
SYSTEMS
Between us, ideas become reality ™
SLOPED Ceiling
In s ta l l a ti on G ui del i nes
Armstrong Ceiling Panels Acceptable in sloped
installations include:
Mineral Fiber Lay-in, Tegular, and Vector® Ceiling Panels
Fiberglass Lay-in, Tegular, and Vector Ceiling Panels
MetalWorks™ Tegular and Vector Ceiling Panels
Infusions® Lay-in Ceiling Panels
Note: WoodWorks® Ceiling Panels are not acceptable in
sloped designs.
Suspension Systems Acceptable in sloped
installations include:
Prelude® XL® Heavy-duty
Suprafine® XL Heavy-duty
Silhouette® 1/4" XL Heavy-duty
Silhouette® 1/8" XL Heavy-duty
Interlude® XL Heavy-duty
Hold Down Clips:
414 - Retention Clip
442A - Vector Hold Down Clip
thoroughly examined sloped ceilings utilizing lay-in
ceiling panels for Seismic Design Categories C, D, E, F.
We have conducted full-scale seismic shake table testing
on three sloped ceiling designs at the Structural Engineering
Earthquake Simulation Lab located at the State University of
New York at Buffalo. Armstrong can provide documentation
of these test results to design professionals, code officials,
and building departments on a project specific basis in the
form of a Seismic White Paper.
Since each sloped ceiling design is unique, general detail
drawings accompany these guidelines. Project shop drawings
are the responsibility of the contractor. The structural engineer
of record is responsible for verifying and approving the use of
Armstrong components in these unique installations.
2 .0 S l op ed Ceil ing I nst al l at ion Gu idel ine s
The following guidelines are in addition to the requirements
set forth in ASTM C636 and ASCE 7.
2 .1Angle Guide line s
1. 0 Ge n e ral
• Maximum ceiling slope angle shall not exceed 30°.
Designing and installing a sloped suspended ceiling can provide
the opportunity to enhance daylighting, conserve energy, and
contribute to LEED® EQ Credit 8.1 Daylighting and Views.
•C
eilings with a slope angle >30° require project specific
engineering, which is the design team’s responsibility.
Generally, a sloped suspended ceiling and its supports and
attachments are installed and designed in the same manner
as a flat or level suspended ceiling. Current building code
states that suspended ceiling main beams must be leveled
to within 1/4" in 10'; sloped installations are not addressed.
The International Building Code (IBC), as well as its antecedents,
permits alternate designs, materials, and methods of
construction so long as any alternate is approved by the
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
Actual construction of a sloped suspended ceiling
may require engineering documents by code officials/
authorities having jurisdiction in your area; a strict
interpretation of the code may rule out sloped designs.
Armstrong has a long history of product development
and innovation for suspended ceiling systems and continues
to commit resources to this endeavor. Armstrong has
2 .2 Ho ld Do wn Clip Guide line s
Hold down clips are required for all sloped ceiling applications
(except MetalWorks Vector ceiling panels).
• Hold down clips reduce accessiblity.
• Armstrong
Retention Clip Item 414 is acceptable for use on
lay-in and Tegular mineral fiber, fiberglass, MetalWorks, and
Infusions ceiling panels in sloped installations.
greater
Splay Wire
• Armstrong
Vector® Hold Down Clip Item 442A is acceptable
VectorHanger
ceiling panels in
for use with Optima® and Ultima®Vertical
Wire Adjacent
sloped installations. Refer to Vector installation instructions
to Bracing
BPLA-297843 for more information.
45º or
greater
A
Splay Wire
Vertical Hanger
Horizontal Axis
Wire Adjacent
to Bracing
Cross Tee
Main Beam
45º or
Sloped
greater
Vertical Axis
Bracing
Installed Vertically
B
Splay Wire
Front View
Horizontal Axis
Horizontal Axis
Beam
2. 3 Main
Sh i m
Gu i d e l i n e s
Cross Tee
• PanelsSloped
will tend to slide downhill, especially on steeper angles.
er Clip
Vertical
Vertical Hanger
• If
needed, place
1/8"Axis
or 3/32"
shim
Wire Adjacent
shims (depending
on
panel
type)
Front View
between the panel edge and the to Bracing
or tee at the lower
web of the45º
cross
greater
edge of each
panel to center the
panel in the suspension
system
ar*
opening.
B
Splay Wire
er
iliz
2. 4 Su s p eta
nb
s i o n S y sgte
e m Guidelines
S
d
Horizontal
Axisslope.
” E parallel (up/down the
incline) the
• Install main beams
Cross Tee
Vertical Axis
Main Beam
Sloped
Bar* Hanger
Stabilizer Vertical
Wire Adjacent
to Bracing
Side View
45º or
greater
Ke
Splay Wire
rfe
dE
Vertical Hanger
Wire Adjacent
to Bracing
Horizontal Axis
Bracing
dg
Installed
es Vertically 45.0º
“A
Main Beam
lip
Tee
• DO NOT
INSTALL MAIN BEAMS
PERPENDICULAR
n C dges
geCross
Sloped
d
w
E RESULT INDSUSPENSION
o
E
TO THE SLOPE AS THIS” MAY
“A
ld r “D”
SYSTEM FAILURE.
Vertical Axis
o
H
Cross Tee
Vertical Axis
o C” o
N
• Main beams recommended
to be spaced
on center,
Front View
n “ 4'-0"
Hanger
oVertical
maximum. 45.0º
Wire Adjacent
e
to Bracing
dg
joists, or trusses are running
up the slope and do
•”IfEI-beams,
“B not have purlins between them, bridge the beams, joists, or
s
trusses
lipa material capable of supporting the ceiling system
tor with
c
C
e
load.
V wn
BracingDo
2.ld4. 1 Ha n g er Wi r e G u i d e l i n e s
Installed
Main Beam
Ho
Bracing
Main Beam
Installed
Sloped
Vertically
Border Panel
Main Beam
quarter turned
Vertical
Sloped Hanger
Adjacent
to maintainWire
kerfs
Side View
to Bracing
Bracing
Installed
Vertically
Cross Tee
suspended
• Hanger wires should be Cross
Tee vertically and plumb.
Cross Tee
• If
rigid bracing is used, it shall remain
vertical
and the splay
Vertical
Hanger
wires shall be
installed
at
maximum
45°
to
the
horizontal.
Vertical
Axis
Wire Adjacent
45.0º
to Bracing
Vertical Hanger
Top View
Wire Adjacent
Vertical Hanger
Wire Adjacent
to Bracing
Vertical Hanger
Wire Adjacent
to Bracing
Vertical Axis
Bracing
Installed
Vertically
to Bracing
45º or
greater
Main Beam
Sloped
Splay Wire
Cross Tee
Main Beam
Sloped
Vertical Axis
Vertical Axis
Top View
Front View
Main Beam
Sloped
Top View
Vertically
• 12 gauge hanger wire must complySloped
with ASTM C636
requirements.
Bracing
Installed
Vertically
Horizontal Axis
Vertical Axis
Top View
45º or
greater
Horizontal Axis
Splay Wire
Main Beam
Sloped
Bracing
Installed Vertically
Horizontal Axis
Cross Tee
Cross Tee
Cross Tee
VerticalVertical
Axis Axis
Main Beam
Top View
Sloped
Side View
2
Horizontal Axis
2. 5 P er i me te r T re a t m e n t G u i d e l i n e s
2 .5 .2 F lo at ing S lo pe d Ce iling Pe rime t e rs
Sloped Ceilings Perimeter Solution Matrix
• Can be finished with the Axiom® family of perimeter trims.
Non-Seismic Areas
Suspended
Ceiling
Slope
Option 1
Up to 30º
Field Modified
2" Item 7808
Wall Angle
with positive
cross tee
attachment
at all ends
Over 30º
Option 2
Wall shim
with 7/8"
Item 7800
Wall Angle
kept at 90º
with positive
cross tee
attachment
at all ends
Seismic Cat.
C, D, E, F
Option 3
SEISMIC RX
solution –
•D
iagonal bracing of the floating element will be required
to keep the suspension system square.
2 .6 V e c t o r ® Ce iling P ane l Co ns ide rat io ns
•U
ltima® and Optima® Vector ceiling panels in a sloped
installation must have the access kerf oriented towards
the top of the slope.
Wall shim with
7/8" Item 7800
Wall Angle
kept at 90º
and BERC2
Clip with
positive
cross tee
attachment
on adjacent
attached walls
#12 Hanger Wire
Prelude
Suspension
System
Vector Hold Down Clip
required on “A” edge
. 8"
Max
AXVTBC
Tab removed
Requires project specific engineering
2. 5 . 1 M o l d i n g a t t h e P e ri m e t e r:
•O
ption 1: Wall angles at the top and bottom of the slope
should be re-bent to the correct angle by the contractor
or at a local sheet metal shop. BERC or BERC2 clips are not
compatible with moldings bent to an angle other than 90º.
AxiomClassic
Trim
Vector
Ceiling Panel
•B
racing may be required for Axiom Perimeter Trim greater
than 4 inches in height.
–2
" wall angle Item 7808 should be used. Note: If 7/8"
molding is field bent upwards, the result is no room to
mount your cross tees to the angle, unless you back cut the
web and bulb severely, which impacts loading.
AXTBC
Grid bent and screwed
to create brace.
Brace as required.
NOTE:
1. Our recommendation for a
cantilever situation is that the
hanger wire is installed on
perimeter cross tees closer to
the Axiom channel than the
cross tee midpoint or within
8" of the Axiom – whichever is
the shorter distance.
2. Alternate hanger wire and
bracing.
10" Axiom
Trim
AXTBC
•O
ption 2: Wall angles are painted and wall shimmed to
achieve the correct angle.
– 7/8" wall angle Item 7800 should be used.
–T
he field crafted wall shim must keep the angle 90º to
the slope.
wall shims
2 .7 Lo ad Co ns ide rat io ns :
Armstrong seismic testing has only been done with ceiling
panel weight, without any lay-in light fixtures. Pendant
lighting is recommended with sloped installations.
•O
ption 3 (SEISMIC): Wall angles are painted and wall
shimmed to achieve the correct angle.
– 7/8" wall angle Item 7800 should be used.
–T
he field crafted wall shim must keep the angle 90º to the
slope in order to use Seismic Rx® BERC or BERC2 clips.
3
Quick Reference for Slope Ceiling Installations
Main Beam Classification
Non-Seismic Areas
Seismic Category C
Seismic Category D, E, F
Heavy-duty
Heavy-duty
Heavy-duty
Perimeter Vertical Hanger Wires
not more than 8" from perimeter
No
Yes
Yes
Grid End Wall Clearance
None Required
3/8" – Seismic Rx®
3/4" – Seismic Rx®
Horizontal Restraint (splay wires
and/or rigid bracing) within 2"
of intersection and splayed 90º
apart at 45º angles for ceiling
areas >1,000 SF
No
No
Yes
Compression Struts 12'-0" O.C.
in both directions starting 6'0"
from perimeter of ceiling area on
ceilings > 1,000 SF
No
No
Yes
Seismic Seperation Joint for
ceiling areas > 2,500 SF
No
No
Yes
Hold Down Clips
Yes
Yes
Yes
m ore in f orm at ion
For more information, or for an Armstrong representative, call 1 877 ARMSTRONG.
For complete technical information, detail drawings, CAD design assistance,
installation information and many other technical services, call TechLineSM services at
1 877 armstrong or FAX 1 800 572 TECH.
For the latest product selection and specification data, visit armstrong.com/installation
U.S. Patents Pending, including US Publication No. 2004/0182022.
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