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Category

Ceiling Raft

OWA manufactures and supplies a variety of quality, bespoke, floating, acoustic, mineral fibre, mesh and metal ceiling rafts. Please review our range...

OWAtecta S80 demountable mesh metal ceiling raft with class A acoustic pads installed at Assembly B building in Bristol

Metal – Mesh

OWAtecta expanded metal mesh is a contemporary and industrial suspended ceiling surface material.

OWAtecta Rd1522 perforated metal clip-in ceiling tile in a restaurant

Metal – Rd1522 perforated

OWAtecta Rd1522 is a perforated surface for galvanised steel, modular metal tiles or rectangular panels.

What is a ceiling raft?

Firstly, what is an acoustic ceiling raft? At OWA, we define a raft as an individual, horizontal, free-hanging ceiling assembly. The assembly fixes to the soffit via a suspension system, and it incorporates multiple removable or fixed panels.

Ceiling raft designs

OWA offers different raft solutions depending on the project brief. A raft will provide acoustic absorption, and it may also need to mask M&E services.

Acoustic rafts are an effective solution for absorbing sound in noisy interiors and rooms. Our metal ceiling rafts suspend from the exposed soffit on threaded rods, and we manufacture them from galvanised steel or aluminium. Also, the raft assembly features separate, removable, metal panels which hook onto a ladder suspension system. The suspension system consists of folded galvanised steel profiles bolted together. The hook-on raft panels can be perforated steel, aluminium or steel mesh. Each is powder coated and supplied with an acoustic pad. Furthermore, a raft hangs horizontally, and each face of the acoustic pad will absorb sound. When arranged in rows, the large surface area of the raft arrangement will reduce echoes and reverberation. Therefore, this will aid speech intelligibility and improve sound clarity for staff, students or customers. But a minimum order quantity will apply. Please liaise with your ASM or our technical department.

On the other hand, a mineral raft may feature our RAW acoustic boards. The boards fix securely to an MF suspension system with visible screws and our custom screws are painted to compliment the natural board colour. A designer or contractor can specify a RAW mineral raft in virtually any size or shape. To finish the raft perimeter, the ceiling contractor can apply a painted metal trim or timber frame. This type of raft does not have demountable panels. Therefore, we would not advise that you use it to hide services or where you need access, unless there is a large void space above the raft.

Where to use a raft

Large open plan offices, schools or leisure facilities, like bars and restaurants, can be noisy environments. So, such spaces need a method of sound absorption to reduce unwanted noise. Acoustic rafts absorb this sound to create a more productive and comfortable environment.

A perforated or mesh metal ceiling raft or a RAW mineral raft will add style to any commercial, public or education room or corridor. Architects and designers can use shapes and colours to create stunning unique layouts to enhance aesthetics. While the acoustic absorption properties of the rafts will improve sound quality to aid work, rest and play.