FAQs

The two most popular sizes for ceiling tiles are 595mm x 1195mm and 595mm x 595mm. The suspended ceiling grid is pre-notched so will either be installed at 600mm or 1200mm centres, hence the ceiling tiles are 5mm smaller than the aperture to fit in.

However before ordering any ceiling tiles, we would recommend taking a ceiling tile down and accurately measuring it in either centimetres or millimetres, particularly if you have an old suspended ceiling (20+ years), as we used to make the suspended ceiling grid 4ft x 2ft and 2ft x 2ft and cut the ceiling tiles 1210mm x 605mm and 605mm x 605mm.
Hopefully your ceiling tiles will be metric 595mm x 595mm or 1195mm x 595mm, however should you have the old imperial ceiling tiles 605mm x 605mm or 1210mm x 605mm just let us know before ordering, as we have had these ceiling tiles specially made and normally carry them in stock.

Over the last 50 years we’ve seen many different suspended ceiling systems available, ranging from the old 300mm x 300mm concealed grid system through to the 2500mm x 300mm SL2 Plank that are now so popular in corridors. Whatever your suspended ceiling or ceiling tile requirements, even if you think they’ve been discontinued, please phone us as we can often get ceiling tiles specially made!

Suspended ceiling tiles normally fall under 4 categories, Class ‘O’ Spread of Flame, 30 minute, 60 minute and 90 minute fire rating. However the fire protection a particular ceiling tile offers will also vary dependent upon what ceiling soffit the suspended ceiling system is fixed to, and the edge detail of the ceiling tile.

For example, Armstrong Ultima Square Edge offers 90 minutes beneath Steel and 60 minutes beneath timber. However if you put Microlook (stepped edge) Ultima beneath timber it only offers 30 minutes fire protection compared to Square Edge Ultima that offers 60 minutes.

The composition of ceiling tiles can be broadly categorised under 4 main classifications, mineral fibre ceiling tiles, soft fibre ceiling tiles, plasterboard ceiling tiles and metal ceiling tiles.

Mineral Fibre ceiling tiles are the most popular style of ceiling tile in the United Kingdom, and are made up of an almost dusty composition. Popular in most commercial environments, they come in a range of sizes, thicknesses, edge details and face patterns.

Soft Fibre ceiling tiles are popular in areas of both high humidity, such as showers, saunas, changing rooms and swimming pools and areas where good sound absorption is required. Aesthetically they normally have a plain white finish with a compressed fibreglass like core, that come in a range of different edge details.

Plasterboard ceiling tiles are popular in most retail environments where the bright white finish gives a nice clean finish that offers a high light reflectance. Due to their reinforced gypsum core they are both hard wearing and durable and will often support spot lights without the need for additional strengthening. Typically the 7mm or 8mm plasterboard core is covered in a white vinyl front enabling the ceiling tiles to be regularly wiped down and cleaned, particularly beneficial in most commercial kitchens, takeaways, laboratories, workshops and food preparation areas.

Metal ceiling tiles are traditionally one of the more expensive types of suspended ceiling systems and have become increasingly popular due to both their versatility and look. Available in a range of different systems, from clip-in with a concealed suspended ceiling grid to lay-in with an exposed suspended ceiling grid, metal ceiling tiles will either come plain for a hygiene finish or perforated, with an acoustic infill for sound absorption.
Whatever your suspended ceiling or ceiling tile requirements, please feel free to phone us and we will be happy to help in any way we can!

Modular light fittings are designed to go into suspended ceilings, directly in place of a suspended ceiling tile. Hence, typically recessed modular light fittings will measure 595mm x 595mm and 1195mm x 595mm, and lay in the suspended ceiling grid exactly the same as the ceiling tiles do.

The three most popular light diffusers are the aluminium bladed category 2 louvre, (RCT104 + RCT124), the plastic eggcrate (RCT105 + RCT125) and the plastic prismatic sheet (RCT101 + RCT121).

In commercial office environments it is recommended that the recessed modular light body should be fitted with the aluminium category 2 louvre, as the aluminium louvers have been specifically designed to reduce the glare from computer screens.

In all other retail and commercial environments, where computer usage is at the most limited, prismatic diffusers and ventilated eggcrates are used.

Standard prismatic diffusers, when accompanied with a recessed modular light body, offer the highest light/lumen output of all the diffusers, that often means your suspended ceiling will require fewer modular light fittings, saving the client money both in terms of the initial installation cost and running/operation costs in the years that follow.

Ventilated eggcrates can often be used in conjunction with recessed modular light fitting bodies, typically in areas where a very direct light output is required

Modular light fittings are normally built to house 4 fluorescent tubes. 595mm x 595mm modular light fittings normally house 4 x 18 watt tubes and 1195mm x 595mm modular light fittings normally house 4 x 36 watt fluorescent tubes.

Fluorescent tubes normally come in three colours……. standard white, cool white and day light.

We do, to compliment our range of commercial light fittings suitable for suspended ceilings, we now offer a 595mm x 595mm recessed modular LED panel, consisting of hundreds of small LED’s that are mounted on a PCB board and encased within the luminaire by an opal diffuser.

Suitable for most commercial environments, the main benefits of our LED light panels are:

1. Cheaper running costs (reduced energy consumption by up to 65%)
2. Reduced maintenance costs (long lifetime of over 50,000 hours)
3. Superior light output

However, to compliment our recessed LED panels we also offer a range of LED tubes that can be simply fitted into standard modular light fittings, so we can offer all of the benefits of LED technology into existing modular light fittings without the higher initial outlay.

A prismatic diffuser is a 3mm thick polystyrene sheet, that is made up of small prisms across the sheet to diffuse light. The prisms should face down towards the floor to allow for maximum light distribution into the area.

In commercial environments, prismatic diffusers have two applications;

a) Prismatic Diffusers are often coupled with recessed modular light fittings to sit in the suspended ceiling in the place of a ceiling tile. Once the prismatic sheet is lit by the recessed light fitting body and fluorescent tubes, it will then evenly disperse the light across the sheet and into the room.

b) Prismatic Diffusers can also be used to diffuse day light into an area. Typically done when the roof above a suspended ceiling contains Sky Lights, as the traditional ceiling tiles can simply be replaced by a prismatic diffuser to allow the natural light to flood in.

In all retail, industrial and commercial environments a clear prismatic diffuser should be used as this will allow for maximum light output.

Opal prismatic diffusers are a lot less popular as their milky colour diffuses more of the light, and subsequently they dramatically reduce the light output.

Consequently opal prismatic diffusers can be used to offer an ambient/softer light but not normally as a primary light source. Hence, whilst no longer popular in commercial environments, they are still popular in people’s homes where suspended ceilings have already been fitted.

As prismatic diffusers are normally found in suspended ceilings, we typically cut prismatic diffusers to 595mm x 595mm and 1195mm x 595mm, to fit directly into the suspended ceiling in place of a ceiling tile. Hence both sizes are carried in stock and available for next day delivery.

However should your project require different size prismatic sheets please feel free to get in touch, as we can often cut down different shapes and sizes from the larger master sheets.

We currently have all clear prismatic diffusers on special offer;

595 x 595 Clear Prismatic diffuser £4.95 each + VAT

1195 x 595 Clear Prismatic diffuser £9.95 each + VAT

Armstrong Ceiling Tiles are manufactured in the United Kingdom by Armstrong World Industries.

Armstrong ceilings are the leading manufacturers of suspended ceiling systems in the UK. Whilst many suspension systems are available, the most popular consists of and exposed suspended ceiling grid and lay-in suspended ceiling tiles.

Armstrong Suspended Ceiling Grid is typically white in colour and comes on a range of widths, both 15mm suspended ceiling grid and 24mm suspended ceiling grid. To establish whether your Armstrong ceiling tiles sit on a 15mm or 24mm ceiling grid, we would recommend measuring the complete width of the exposed ceiling grid the tile sits on.

If your Armstrong Ceiling Tile sits on a 15mm ceiling grid, they are typically known in the Armstrong Range as Microlook suspended ceiling tiles. If however your ceiling tiles sit on the 24mm wide grid they can be either Square Edge ceiling tiles or Tegular Edge ceiling tiles. As Armstrong manufacture stepped edge ceiling tiles for both the 15mm grid (known as Microlook ceiling tiles) and 24mm grid (known as Tegular ceiling tiles) it is key before placing an order to establish the right grid system.

For instance, in the Armstrong Dune ceiling tiles range, if they are stepped edge tiles on the 15mm grid you would order Armstrong Dune Microlook and if they are stepped edge on the 24mm grid you would order Armstrong Dune Supreme Tegular.

Armstrong ceilings offer a range of ceiling tiles based on application, aesthetic and importantly budget.