Chapter 22
Selecting Interior Finishes
Finishes
Functional Parameters
Durability
Acoustical performance
Fire safety
Relationship to mech. & elect. services
Changeability
Fire resistance
Aesthetics
Design compliance / enhancement
Interior Finishes
One of the purposes Conceal or accommodate the building services
Equipment & distribution systems:
 Mechanical (HVAC)
 Plumbing (water, sewer,storm)
 Sprinkler
 Electrical (power, communication, etc.)
 Vertical transportation
 Others: computer connections, vacuum, etc.
MPE System Installation
Shafts - vertical runs of pipe, duct, wiring, elevators, etc.
Concealment and prevention of fire migration
Suspended Ceilings - Horizontal runs of MPE
Floors - services cast into floor, access flooring
Plumbing Chases - water, sewer
Mechanical Spaces - rooms, penthouse, roof, basement,
mezzanines
Horizontal runs of Piping
Horizontal Runs of Duct
Sprinkler
Duct
Duct
Cable
Tray
Electrical
Plumbing
Overhead Rough-in: High Rise Corridor
Electrical
Cable TV
Plumbing
Sprinkler
Unistrut
Overhead Rough-in; Low Rise Hotel Corridor
Plumbing Chase
Plumbing Underground
MPE Rough-in for Elevated Slab
Electrical
Plumbing
Sleeves
Partition Rough-in
Plumbing
Electrical
Partition Framing
to Conceal
Fan Coil Unit
Rooftop
Equipment
HVAC Equipment
Heating & Cooling
HVAC Equipment
Cooling Tower (“ground” or roof mounted)
Roof Top Mechanical & Electrical Space (concealed)
Fiberglass Construction - Communications Transmission
Mechanical Equipment Room
Electrical Panels
Interior Finishes Sequence
Overhead Rough-in (duct, pipe, electric home runs/service) AND
MPE Vertical Distribution Systems (plg, duct, elec.)
Partition Framing (CMU, metal framing)
Partition Rough-in (plg, elec., communications, etc.)
Ceiling Framing & Rough-in (DW, acoustic grid, lights, HVAC, etc.)
Cabinetry, Built-in equipment and furnishes
Ceiling Finishes, Wall Finishes, Floor Finishes
Sequence depends on: Type of materials / systems used
Interior Finishes Sequence
Primary Considerations for Sequence:
Need for subsequent operations - framing/RI
Priority for Location EX. - electric pipe vs.
sewer
Durability of material
 Ability to withstand unconditioned Space- cabinetry/doors
 Ability to withstand construction abuse - soft vs. hard tile
 Project Schedule Requirements
Availability - lead time, field measurements
Considerations for Selecting Interior Finishes
Appearance
Durability & Maintenance
Acoustic Criteria
Fire Criteria
Relationship to MPE services
Changeability
Cost
Toxic Emissions
Appearance
Present / Carry out a particular Concept
Interior space - usage, feel, form, etc.
Lighting
Color
Pattern
Texture
etc.
Durability & Maintenance
“Highly durable finishes generally cost more…”
Selection generally determined by “need”/use
Intensity of use - “wear & tear”
Water resistance requirements
Cleanliness & maintenance requirements
Examples
“hard” flooring in an airport vs. carpet in an office
drywall ceilings in a hospital vs. acoustic in retail/office
CMU in public restrooms or mechanical room vs. drywall
VWC in a corridor vs. paint
Acoustic Criteria
“Interior finish materials strongly affect the quality of listening
conditions and the levels of acoustic privacy inside a building.”
(They absorb or reflect sound - space use typ. determines)
Sound Transmission Class (STC) of Partitions
A measure of sound transmission
Full scale testing to determine STC rating
Can also use a field test to verify
Requires - proper construction
 partition, sealing MPE penetrations, doors, etc.
Acoustic Criteria
Ways to Reduce Sound Transmission
Proper selection of materials / components
 Floors, ceilings & walls
Proper installation
Sound absorbing insulation
Resilient partition mountings
Isolation of equipment
Sound Insulation and
Resilient Mountings
to reduce sound transmission
‘Insulates’ floor and
Seals joint between
partitions & floor
Cement/Gypsum Self-Leveling Floor Covering to
reduce floor-to-floor sound transmission
Equipment Isolation Mount
Fire Criteria
Typically governed by Building Codes
Concerned with:
Combustibility
 Flame spread (how quickly fire spreads / material burns)
 Fuel Contributed Rating (combustibility of material)
 Smoke Developed Rating (smoke contribution)
“smoke, not heat, is the primary killer in building fires”
Fire Resistance
“Smoke” caulking @ MPE penetrations
Fire Resistance Ratings
Full Scale Tests to determine an assembly’s rating
Must maintain physical & structural integrity
Not permit passage of flame or hot gases
Insulate to keep cool the side not exposed to the fire
Openings
 Restricted in size
 Must be protected to prevent passage of fire/gases
Doors - rated
 Duct - Fire/smoke dampers
 Piping - sleeves and sealant

Pneumatically
Operated
Fire Damper
Fire Damper
with Fusible Link
Rated Opening in Exit Corridor
Rating Label on Corridor Doors
Changeability
How permanent are the interior finishes?
Office, Retail
Changes in services and finishes often
Lighter, easily changed construction materials
 acoustic clg., drywall, moveable partitions, carpet, etc.
Government Building, Theater
Changes in services and finishes less often / seldom
 Heavier, harder to change construction materials
 drywall clg., plaster, CMU, stone, hard tiles
Cost
First (initial) Cost
Installed cost
Highly important with tight budget and/or short life
Life-Cycle Cost
First cost + maintenance + replacement + energy costs
Important if:
 Building useful life is long
 Ownership is retained over an extended period
 Budget considerations allow higher initial cost
Toxic Emissions of Materials
Solvents, finishes, etc.
Airborne fibers
Susceptibility to mold/mildew
Radon Gas
Sick Buildings
Trends in Interior Finish Systems
Components vs Single system
Constructed to accommodate change
EX: partitions anchored to grid, modular
Heavy to Lighter Materials
EX: plaster/CMU to drywall, hard tiles to vinyl/carpet
Less dead load, often less cost
Wet systems to “Dry” systems
Plaster to gypsum drywall to acoustic
Terrazzo to hard tile to carpet/vinyl