Exposed Soffit Ceiling

A soffit is an architectural feature found on the exterior and interior of buildings. It typically refers to the horizontal underside of any construction element. Many people are familiar with the term in relation to a roof overhang. In this scenario, the vertical board below the edge of the roof is the fascia, while the horizontal underside is the soffit.

Inside many commercial or retail buildings, contractors often build floors using steel beams and concrete slabs. We refer to the underside of this structural element as the concrete soffit or soffit ceiling. Additionally, this area serves as a crucial attachment point for the building’s mechanical and electrical (M&E) services. The M&E installations can be considerable and they either fix to or suspend from the concrete soffit.

A common way to hide these services is by installing a tile and grid suspended ceiling below the soffit. The ceiling tiles are removable which enables access for equipment maintenance and repairs. However, there is a growing trend toward leaving soffits and services exposed. In such instances, designers often leave the concrete soffit with its natural finish. Galvanized steel services then complement the concrete to create an industrial scheme. Although, they may paint the ceiling soffit and any visible services black to create a uniform appearance. Thus, the upper ceiling space and services become less prominent.

At OWA, we define an acoustic ceiling raft as a separate, floating, free-hanging, horizontal assembly. It features a suspension system secured to the soffit and incorporates multiple removable or fixed panels. A raft is usually a large installation, bigger than a smaller one-piece canopy. It may be metal or a combination of metal and mineral.