Mineral Wool

Mineral fibre ceiling tiles

Mineral fibre ceiling tiles are a common site in offices, schools, hospitals, shops and many other buildings. The panels lay into a ceiling grid to create a suspended ceiling, false ceiling or drop ceiling. Mineral tiles are available in a range of sizes, textures, colours and performance criteria. Additionally, they offer great value for money, forming the cheapest accessible ceiling available for interior fit out projects.

What are mineral fibre tiles

There are numerous types of mineral fibre ceiling tiles on the market, and here at OWA we manufacture our tiles using mineral wool. We began producing wood fibre boards in 1948 and subsequently developed our own blend of wood and mineral fibres in 1964 when the OWA brand was created. After further planning and development, in 1975 we started producing our own mineral wool. Further investment and modernisation saw the creation of our unique biodegradable mineral wool in 1987 from sand, lime, waste glass and dolomite. We mix the wool via the wet felt process with natural fillers and binders; clay, perlite and starch. We don’t use any fibre glass or paper in our products. OWA mineral boards are known for being strong, rigid and high-quality.

Mineral fibre ceiling tile sizes

A suspended ceiling, false ceiling or drop ceiling consists of a ceiling grid constructed from metal tee bars. Here in the UK, predominantly the grid forms 600x600 mm or 1200x600 mm openings. Each tile manufacturer offers ceiling tile modules to suit those sizes. 600x600 mm is generally the most popular, they are easier to handle and remove for maintenance. OWA UK stocks a range of ‘best seller’ 600x600 mm ceiling tiles for swift delivery.

Types of mineral fibre ceiling tiles

There are numerous ceiling tiles on the market with varying characteristics. Some of the common types are as follows:

• Sound absorbing tiles – lower density, softer tiles are the best sound absorbers. However, because they are softer, they are then more susceptible to damage. A sound absorbing tile may have a white painted surface, incorporating fissures or needling, and these holes enable the tile to absorb sound. Alternatively, the tile may have a fleece covering which also allows sound to pass through its surface.
• Sound insulating tiles – denser, rigid tiles are the best sound insulators. Because they are denser, they will also be more durable and stronger. Unlike a sound absorbing tile, the insulator will not have any needling or fissures on the surface. Although, it may have a smooth, fleece surface for aesthetics and to match other tiles.
• Fire resistant tiles – these too will be dense and rigid. But the tiles must undergo testing to BS EN standards within a system by a certified body.
• Humidity resistant tiles – a specialist tile to suit humid environments, i.e. washrooms, shower rooms, swimming pools. These tiles will have a 100% RH rating and will not sag or deform.
• Hygienic ceiling tiles – performance tiles for environments requiring high levels of hygiene and cleanliness.
• Cleanable, washable and wipeable tiles – standard mineral ceiling tiles will stain if wiped or cleaned with damp clothes or disinfectants. However, specific tiles are available to meet these demands.

Where to install mineral fibre ceiling tiles

A suspended ceiling, false ceiling or drop ceiling is suitable for many different buildings or applications. Some examples are as follows:

• Commercial offices – modern, open plan office space can be a noisy environment. Therefore, ceiling tiles that offer high levels of sound absorption will be ideal. Whereas, for boardrooms, private offices or meeting rooms, a sound insulating tile may be preferred.
• Education facilities; schools, colleges, universities – according to BB93 ‘Acoustic design of schools: performance standards’ states that class C acoustic tiles (minimum) are a requirement in corridors and stairwells. Noisy classrooms may benefit from high sound absorbing tiles to keep noise levels to a minimum. Thus, aiding teaching and ensuring students can focus on learning.
• Healthcare; hospitals, dentists, doctors surgeries, clinics – again, corridors and stairwells need a ceiling with minimum class C sound absorption. Wards and treatment rooms may require hygienic ceiling tiles capable of resisting germs, fungi and bacteria. The tiles may also need to be wipeable or disinfectable. Due to the inherent hard surfaces and floors, sound absorption must also be considered to reduce noise, ensuring patients are comfortable, and can rest and sleep without too much disturbance. Like offices, sound insulating tiles may be a requirement for private consulting rooms.
• Retail; shops, supermarkets, boutiques, department stores – mineral ceiling tiles are very popular for large retail spaces. They are an economical ceiling solution that enables easy access to services above. But primarily, they absorb sound, the white surface reflects light, and the bright backdrop doesn’t influence the appearance of the products on sale. All of which combine to ensure the customer has an enjoyable shopping experience.
• Hospitality; hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes, fast food, gyms – similarly to retail, the primary concern regarding the environment is the focus on customer enjoyment. A suspended ceiling can play an important part in the acoustics and sound absorption of the space, ensuring customers can dine, play and relax in comfort and enjoy their social free time. Open exposed soffits are a modern trend where mineral ceiling tiles are not used. However, OWA also offers free-hanging acoustic solutions for such spaces.

If you have an ongoing requirement for a mineral fibre / wool ceiling, or any other type of ceiling, please contact us to discuss the project specification.