Missing or broken ceiling tiles are dangerous

How often have you seen broken or missing tiles in suspended ceiling systems? If we were asking this question of an average group of people their answers would probably be in the 'not very often' range, but as interior building specialists, you probably see it all too often, but did you realize that that gaping or broken ceiling is a violation of fire saftey rules?

OSHA requires that the ceiling system is fully enclosed with saftey items like sprinklers and smoke detectors built into the ceiling, or suspended immediately above it as per specifications. The point of this is that the systems are designed to pick up smoke or fire at the level of the intact ceiling. If any holes are in the ceiling when a fire starts, either because someone moved the tile, or because a tile broke or was damaged by water etc, then what you create is a ceiling jet. The hot gasses, or flames can build up in the area above the smoke detectors or water sprinklers and in this way fire can break out in several areas of the building without there being necessary protection.

Make sure that you inform business owners, end users and any facility owner that it is their responsibility to fix ceiling systems not just for aesthetic appeal, but for saftey!
The Best Team