INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE

SITE CONDITIONS, STORAGE & HANDLING fibre tiles are cut with a sharp knife. Unnecessary breakage of tiles should
It is the responsibility of the ceiling contractor to ensure that be avoided. Blue Tongue and Axiom aluminium extruded sections are best
materials delivered to the installation site are safeguarded from the time cut using a powered saw with the correct blade for the material. Metal
of purchase until the finished ceiling is handed over. However, it is tiles will often need to be cut at room perimeters or junctions with columns
usually the main contractor who is responsible for the conditions on site and when this is necessary it is important that a flat clean cut edge
and so both parties must be aware of the requirements of suspended results. This is best achieved using aviation snips, electric shears, or a
ceilings for flat, dry, clean and safe storage conditions high speed jig or bandsaw. The cut edge should then be masked by an
Armstrong packaging of ceiling tile and grid varies from material to appropriate perimeter section and held down using wedges or spring
material, but all is designed to withstand careful site handling. However, clips as necessary. Care is necessary when handling and installing tiles,
poor or rough handling, rolling or dropping of cartons on their corners or especially metal and soft fibre tiles, to prevent finger marking of the
edges may cause damage to the product or the product to deteriorate, surface from soiled or greasy hands, and where appropriate, clean cotton
irrespective of the material. Long grid and trim cartons should not span gloves should be worn.
between points as any load applied mid-span may cause product damage. Note: The acoustical panels shall not support any other material as
Site storage of such items should be flat, preferably on a suitable pallet this may effect dimensional stability.
(supporting entire length), without any additional top loading. Mineral
fibre tiles are packed as cartons with a cardboard sleeve and then AFTER COMPLETION
shrink-wrapped; however the shrink-wrapping is not waterproof. Grid Once a building is handed over to the client, it is not always occupied
sections, soft fibre tiles, wood veneer tiles and metal tiles are all packed at once. In this situation heating and ventilation may sometimes be
in full cardboard cartons. Cartons of mineral fibre and soft fibre tiles decreased or switched off to save energy costs. In these circumstances,
should be stored and stacked with the tiles face up (horizontally) and conditions above and below the ceiling should be equalised and it may be
without any other heavy objects on top of them. Cartons of wood veneer necessary to temporarily remove tiles to facilitate this. Attention must also
and metal tiles should be stored with the tiles standing on their sides be paid to ensuring that the internal conditions are not allowed to exceed
(vertically). All cartons may be stacked on suitable pallets and secured those that the ceiling tiles are designed to withstand. Heat build up due
with shrink-wrapping for transportation but when on the installation to solar gain may need dispersing by ventilation to reduce the risk of
site they should never be stacked higher than when originally delivered condensation occurring as the temperature falls. The effect of insulation in
to the site. Consideration should be given to the advice of the OH&S the ceiling space or in a roof construction also needs consideration and
Representative regarding the manual handling of heavy cartons. An sufficient ventilation may be required to prevent surface condensation and
assessment should be made of any associated risks and if necessary a vapour control barrier to control the effects of surface or interstitial
mechanical lifting equipment should be used. condensation.
Although temperature and humidity recommendations vary by
product, the space must be cleared of debris and, in general, should be MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING
enclosed. The ceiling panels should be kept clean, dry, and protected from Armstrong mineral fibre tiles are marked on the back for ease of
the elements. Panels should be removed from cartons 24 hours before identification and maintenance.
installation to allow them to adjust to interior conditions Maintenance on suspended ceilings should only take place after the
effect of the work on the technical characteristics of the installation has
INSTALLATION CONDITIONS been fully considered. If in doubt,please consult your nearest Armstrong
The Armstrong range of ceiling tiles provides the industry with a choice Ceiling Systems Division sales office. The specialists there will help you
of humidity resistance performances which will affect their suitability for in assessing your projected maintenance operation and offer advice
different installation conditions. Armstrong suspended ceilings and on future performance of the existing ceiling after it has been carried
Soundsoak wall panels are interior finishes and the conditions during the out. Ceiling tiles should require no more maintenance than a painted
installation within the building should reflect this. Armstrong recommend plasterboard ceiling, however, when maintenance is necessary, certain
during installation that the relative humidity (RH %) should not exceed procedures should be followed to ensure that the performance and
99% for RH99 HumiGuard Plus panels, within a 0–49°C temperature appearance of the ceiling is maintained.
range. RH100 HumiGuard Max products can be installed in conditions of Minor damage to mineral fibre tiles can be repaired using
100% RH, including “standing water” applications, within 0–49°C. commercially available fillers and Armstrong touch-up paint, although
due to natural aging of the installation an exact colour match may not be
INSTALLATION possible. Similarly when replacing tiles, new material is likely to introduce
Cartons should be opened carefully with the cardboard sleeve on colour variation. This effect can be substantially reduced by redecoration
mineral fibre cartons released to ensure that tiles can be removed of the entire ceiling, or by replacing all tiles in a particular area and using
without damaging the edges of the tiles. It is recommended that mineral the re-usable existing tiles for refurbishment elsewhere.
CLEANING PAINTING
Different ceiling tile materials have different requirements for cleaning. Most Armstrong ceilings and walls can be repainted by spraying.
Mineral fibre, Metal or Soft Fibre ceiling tiles should first have any
Painting Precautions
surface dust removed using a soft brush or with a vacuum cleaner.
Armstrong cannot guarantee that the published surface burning
Vacuum cleaner attachments such as those designed for upholstery do the
characteristics, fire resistance ratings, acoustical performance,
best job. Pencil marks, smudges etc. may be removed with an ordinary
dimensional stability/sag, or light reflectance will remain the same after
gum eraser. Alternatively, a moist cloth or sponge dampened in water
repainting. Field or any other “after market” painting will void the warranty.
containing a mild soap or diluted detergent can be used. The sponge
Armstrong recognizes that ceilings are occasionally repainted,
should contain as little water as possible and the ceiling must not be made
however Armstrong cannot be responsible for the finished appearance or
wet. The process should be repeated again in a similar manner with a
performance for the field-painted acoustical material.
damp sponge but with clean water only to remove any residual soap or
detergent. No abrasive cleaners should be used. Spray Painting Method
Armstrong Bioguard Acoustic and Orcal Bioguard products have been When painting acoustical materials, the painter should be very
tested for resistance to disinfectants with different active ingredients: careful that he does not close up the acoustical surfaces; perforations,
• Hexanios (active agent – Quaternary Ammonium) fissures or the DuraBrite® acoustical membrane on the Ultima® and
• Minncare (active agent – Hydrogen Peroxide) Optima® products. It is through these openings in the surface that sound
• Klercide CR B (active agent – Chlorine) waves enter the body of the acoustical material and are absorbed. Care
Ceramaguard tiles are unaffected by moisture and may be cleaned should be taken that these perforations are not clogged. At minimum
with increased amounts of water. As Ceramaguard can absorb moisture repainting will result in a .05 to .10 reduction in NRC.
without detriment to the stability of the tile consideration should be given Spray painting will result in a more uniform coating on embossed or
to the additional weight of the ceiling and the required centres of main irregular surfaces. Panels should be removed from the grid suspension
runners. system, laid flat for painting, and allowed to dry thoroughly while still flat
Soundsoak wall panels should first be vacuumed to remove loose before reinstallation. This method eliminates the costly operations of
dust. Surface stains may be treated with a dry cleaning fluid or dry masking walls and covering furniture. It also provides for easier cleaning
shampoo. Cleaning agents of these types should be tested on a small and/or repainting of the grid while the panels are out being repainted.
unobtrusive area prior to wider application.Abrasive cleaners should not First remove loose dust from the material with a brush or vacuum
be used and the panel or tile must not be made wet during cleaning. cleaner attachment. Thin the paint only as much as necessary. If it is
Specialist contractors offer cleaning services using chemical too thick for proper spraying, follow the paint manufacturer’s
solutions. Where these methods are employed, it is recommended that a recommendations for thinning paint. When spray painting, apply the paint
trial operation is first carried out so that the result and overall effect can with a stream directed perpendicularly to the surface of the material,
be assessed. It is best in this case to conduct such a test in a noncritical moving the gun back and forth to get a uniform coating. Under normal
area of the building. conditions, one coat should be sufficient.
With the computerized color matching systems now available, it is
THERMAL INSULATION recommended that a sample of the ceiling panel to be color matched be
The use of overlaid insulation placed on, and supported by, mineral taken to the paint store.
ceiling panels is not recommended. The additional weight supported by Armstrong SuperCoat Touch-up Paint is intended to hide minor
the panel could result in panel sag in high humidity conditions. If job scratches and nicks in the surface and to cover field tegularized edges of
requirements are such that insulation is necessary at recommended mineral fiber and fiberglass panels.
occupancy conditions, limit such insulation to a maximum of 1.27 kg/m2.
Treating Cut Tegular Edges
Only roll insulation is recommended and must be applied perpendicularly
All field-cut edges “exposed to view” should be colored to match
to the cross tees with the grid supporting the weight of the insulation.
the factory finish. Armstrong SuperCoat Ceiling Touch-up Paint is
recommended.

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