PROCESS FOR FITTING A FALSE CEILING

Abstract: Process for fitting a false ceiling below the upper sup­ porting structure (2) in a room comprising the steps of fitting supporting members (1, 4) onto opposite walls (3) of the room, connecting spaced apart sectional beams (5) each having a web (5″) and at least one flange (5′) perpendicular thereto, with their ends to said supporting members by placing said beams with the flanges (5′) resting freely on the supporting members (1, 4), so that the web (5″) of each sectional beam hangs down past the supporting members, while the end parts of the web are accommodated in a space within or between the supporting members (4).

Description: The invention relates to a process for fitting a false ceiling below the upper supporting structure in a room bounded by walls, in which supporting members are fitted on two opposite walls of the room a distance below the upper supporting structure and a number of spaced-apart parallel self-supporting sectional beams having a web and at least one end flange perpendicular thereto, are connected by their ends and with their flanges to said supporting members, following which ceiling panels are fitted to the beams near the bottom sides thereof. It is desirable particularly when renovating relatively old houses to fit false ceilings in the rooms in these houses below the upper supporting structure, mainly to achieve improved sound insulation. Such false ceilings were hitherto suspended from the upper supporting structure by means of hangers. Since the hangers are fastened directly to the upper supporting structure, said hangers form sound bridges, consequently adversely affecting the sound-insulating effect of the false ceiling. In US-A-3003602 a supporting frame for false ceilings is disclosed which does not require any structural connection between said frame and the upper supporting structure. According to this publication beams in the form of I-beams are connected to the walls by means of slip fittings slipped over one of the flanges of the beam and connected by means of pivoted struts with a bearing or pressure plate assembly which is attached to the walls so that a pair of coacting toggle systems are formed for each beam having the result that a lateral pressure is applied upon the bearing plates so that the greater the load on the beam the stronger will be its connection with the walls. However, this known method is complicated and expensive whereas the toggle systems are either disposed below the beams so that it is impossible to fit ceiling panels to the beams or disposed above the beams so that an undesired rather wide gap is formed between the beams and the upper support structure. The object of the invention is to provide an improved process of the above-mentioned type, according to which a false ceiling with excellent sound-insulating properties can be obtained in a more simple way. This object is achieved through the fact that in the process according to the invention the supporting members each formed by an edge batten fixed to the wall in question and by a number of blocks which are fitted on the edge batten so that they are permitted to slide in the lengthwise direction thereof, and the sectional beams are placed with their end flanges resting freely on the top sides of the blocks so that the web of each sectional beam hangs down past the blocks, while the end parts of the web are accomodated in the space between two adjacent blocks. In this way the false ceiling obtained has no mechanical connection at all with the upper supporting structure, so that the sound-insulating effect of the ceiling is optimum, whereas the sectional beams placed in this way are permitted to contract freely as a result of temperature fluctuations. The sectional beams preferably have an I section, so that these beams are fitted with their top flanges resting on the top sides of the blocks, the ceiling panels being provided at at least two parallel edge faces with a groove made therein and said panels being fixed at the bottom ends of the sectional beams by making the said groove grip the bottom flanges of the I sections. The edge battens advantageously have at their top sides an upward-projecting nose which in the fitted position lies away from the wall in question, and the blocks are provided at their top sides with a laterally projecting, downward-directed hook-shaped part which grips the nose. In this way a false ceiling with excellent sound-insulating properties can be fitted in a very simple manner. It is preferable to provide a layer of an insulating material in the space between the ceiling panels and the top sides of the beam-shaped members, thereby improving the insulating properties of the ceiling. Finally, edging boards can be mounted along the sides of the ceiling panels facing the walls, against the bottom sides of the ceiling panels and connecting to the walls. The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows in cross section an end part of a false ceiling obtained according to the process of the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross section along the line II-II in figure 1; and Figure 3 shows in perspective an end part of a ceiling obtained. As shown in the drawing, an edge batten 1 is fixed to a wall 3 of a room at a distance below the upper supporting structure 2. The edge batten 1 is provided with a nose 1′ which is gripped by the hook-shaped parts 4′ of a number of blocks 4. An edge batten 1 and blocks 4 are fitted in the same way, but in mirror image, on the wall (not shown) of the room opposite the wall 3. The blocks 4 support a number of parallel I sections 5 which rest with the end parts of their upper flanges 5′ freely on the blocks 4, and the end parts of the web 5″ of each I section 5 are accommodated in the space between two adjacent blocks 4. The ceiling panels 6 are provided at their side edges with grooves 7 which on either side of the web 5″ of each I section 5 grip the bottom flange 5‴ thereof. A layer 8 of an insulating material, for example glass wool, is also placed on the ceiling panels, with an aluminium sheet 9 between them. The seams between the ceiling panels 6 and the walls 3 are filled up with a filling material 10, after which an edging board 11 is finally fitted against the bottom sides of the ceiling panels. The ceiling panels 6 are preferably made of two plaster slabs 6′ and a layer of cardboard 6″ connected to the plaster slabs 6′ between them, the latter layer being of such dimensions that the grooves remain open.

Claims: 1. Process for fitting a false ceilling below the upper supporting structure (2) in a room bounded by walls (3) in which supporting members (1, 4) are fitted on two opposite walls (3) of the room a distance below the upper supporting structure (2) and a number of spaced-apart parllel sel-supporting sectional beams (5) having a web (5″) and at least one end flange (5′) perpendicular thereto, are connected by their ends and withe their flanges (5′) to said supporting members (1, 4), following which ceilling panels (6) are fitted to the beams (5) near the bottom sides thereof, characterized in that the supporting members (1, 4) are each formed by an edge batten fixed (1) to the wall in question and by a number of blocks (4) which are fitted on the edge batten so that they are permitted to slide in the lengthwise direction thereof, and the sectional beams (5) are placed with their end flanges (5′) resting freely on the top sides of the blocks (4) so that the web (5″) of each sectional beam (5) hangs down past the blocks, while the end parts of the web are accomodated in the space between two adjacent blocks. 2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge battens (1) have at their top sides an upward-projecting nose (1) which in the fitted position lies away from the wall in question and the blocks (4) are provided at their top sides with a laterally projecting, downward-directed hook-shaped part (4′) which grips the nose. 3. Process according to claims 1 or 2 in which the sectional beams (5) have an I-section characterized in that the ceiting panels (6) are provided at at least two parallel edge faces with a groove (7) made therein, and said panels (6) are fixed at the bottom ends of the sectional beams by making the said grooves (7) grip in the bottom flanges (5‴) of the I-sections.

Inventors: FAAY, CORNELIS ANTHONIUS
Applicants: FAAY VIANEN B.V.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E04B9
IPC codes: E04B9