3.11.3.4 Ceiling and Soffit Lining Selection

3.11.3.4 Ceiling and Soffit Lining Selection
Ceiling design requires a high level of coordination between the station architecture and
services design. A suspended, modular ceiling system with mechanical fixings, access
panels and secure fastenings to withstand uplift and downdrafts is preferred.
The ceiling design requirements vary with each station. For example:
• Where there are high ceiling volumes, or areas where people move through a
station quickly, it may be appropriate to have a very open ceiling, with minimal
screening to any ceiling voids beyond. An open ceiling may be beneficial for
smoke management, acoustics, maintenance and cost.
• Other station areas may demand high quality, fully opaque ceiling linings. This
may be required to conceal services, unsightly ceiling voids and absorption panels.
Full ceilings may also be required to integrate ceiling services and fixtures, provide
a reflective surface to assist station luminance, form a smoke plenum or to achieve
a clean and low maintenance finished surface.
With any ceiling and soffit lining, the following must be considered:
• Design life as specified in the User Requirements Brief
• Suitability of pre-finished products
• Available colour and light reflectance value as required to support the lighting
design
• Sound absorption properties to meet the requirements of the station acoustic
design
• Services coordination as specified in the Users Requirements Brief, including
lighting, EWIS, PA speakers, smoke detectors, sprinklers
• Coordination of services maintenance access
• Some station designs may also require that the ceiling lining forms part of the
smoke management system. Depending on the particular smoke management
system, this may require that the ceiling lining is shaped in a particular way,
perforated or sealed to draw smoke into a plenum.