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Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

  • 1.  Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

    Posted 03-13-2019 01:20 PM
    Hi everyone,

    I am looking for great ideas! We replaced some lay in ceilings in some small behavioral health rooms with gyp board to make them anti-ligature, and as I anticipated, the rooms are now "echoy". Rooms are roughly 80-90 SF each with a 9'-6" ceiling, and they are carpeted. Everything else is painted gyp board. Any recommendations for an antiligature/durable solution?

    ------------------------------
    Heather Graham Lewis AIA
    Michigan Medicine
    Ann Arbor MI
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

    Posted 03-16-2019 02:09 PM
    Add glued on acoustical panels. They are very effective. They can be applied on the ceiling, which is hard to reach.

    ------------------------------
    Sylvia Botero AIA
    President
    RBB Architects Inc.
    Los Angeles CA
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

    Posted 03-16-2019 02:10 PM
    You could look into USG's new Ensemble ceiling assembly. I haven't used it on a project yet but have seen samples of it in the office. They are promoting it as having the appearance of a drywall ceiling, through application of their proprietary acoustically neutral paint coating, with the acoustic properties of an ACT ceiling. Ensemble™ Acoustical Drywall Ceiling | USG
    Usg remove preview
    Ensemble™ Acoustical Drywall Ceiling | USG
    Ensemble™ Acoustical Drywall Ceiling - The first integrated ceiling system offering ideal combination of seamless design and superior acoustics.
    View this on Usg >



    ------------------------------
    Heidi Wang AIA
    Architect
    Worn Jerabek Wiltse Architects, P.C.
    Chicago IL
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

    Posted 03-16-2019 02:10 PM
    I wonder if a "textured" application would help stop some of the reverberation cycle.  The old fashion "popcorn" ceiling that you still see in hotels that haven't been renovated lately?

    ------------------------------
    Kaya Doyle AIA
    Kaya K. Doyle, AIA, Architect
    Lake Zurich IL
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

    Posted 03-19-2019 01:26 PM
    A lock-down acoustical ceiling is a great solution. Gordon lock-down ceiling is a product on the market that is readily available.

    ------------------------------
    Anne Cox AIA
    Architect/ Senior Medical Planner
    HKS Architects, P.C.
    Northville MI
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

    Posted 03-19-2019 01:27 PM

    Just adhere acoustic tile to the gypsum board ceiling. This gives you the benefit of an acoustic ceiling, and eliminates the potential risk with the ceiling grid system.

     

    Donald

     

    Donald C Henke, AIA, Assoc. DBIA, LEED AP │ Design Manager

    Turner Construction Company | mobile 469-321-6946 | dhenke@tcco.com

     






  • 7.  RE: Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

    Posted 03-19-2019 01:28 PM

    Heather, I've found the Behavioral Health Design Guide a great reference just for such issues.  Depending on the level of supervision provided based upon the patient safety risk assessment a level III space where patients have minimal supervision behind unlocked doors (i.e.. lounges and activity rooms) gluing 12"x12" acoustical tiles to the hard ceiling is a  possible solution with a recommended ceiling height of at least 9'-0"aff.  If the PSRA is more of a level IV space where there is little to no supervision (i.e. patient room) then a plain hard ceiling is the recommended solution.

     

    Paul A. Krutulis, ALA, NCARB, ASHE

    Architect, Office of Facilities Project Management

    University of Illinois at Chicago Facilities Management

    Room 125 PPB (MC 270), 1140 South Morgan, Chicago, IL 60607-7143

    312.996.0513

     

     






  • 8.  RE: Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

    Posted 03-19-2019 01:28 PM

    A very simple solution would be to adhere a concealed spline type acoustical tile to the gypsum board. Without splines obviously. Newer plank type panels with concealed splines and minor edge bevels are an attractive look.

    ------------------------------
    Rod Vickroy Assoc. AIA
    Principal Owner
    Vickroy Design LLC
    Mchenry IL
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

    Posted 03-19-2019 01:28 PM
    ​We have used a number of solutions to address acoustics.  The big question is what type of behavioral health room such as consultation or patient room. One of the simplest is an applied acoustic panel material.  There are some attractive shapes that look great.  We have also applied these to walls and used art work and other elements to break up the acoustic profile of the room.  Many vendors will assist with acoustic modeling to determine what will work.  Good luck!

    ------------------------------
    Luke Leising AIA
    Architect
    Guidon Design Inc
    Indianapolis IN
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Antiligature hard ceilings/acoustics

    Posted 03-19-2019 01:29 PM

    Hi Heather.  This is a constant balance issue in Behavioral Healthcare.  One approach is to "break the box".  If you introduce non-parallel surfaces in the room, they can reduce the echo effect.  This could be a recess in a wall or a drywall angle at the wall ceiling intersection.  This doesn't work as well as sound absorbing materials, but it does help.

     

    At greater cost, you can consider adding a material to the ceiling that will absorb sound but not create a hazard.  Examples of this could be acoustical tile direct applied to the ceiling (make sure it is a fairly rigid material), or a non-flat material like cork or homosote covered with a washable paint.

     

    At the top end of the price scale is a secure acoustical ceiling, but that would mean replacing the work you already installed.  An acoustical consultant can help you fine tune these suggestions, but I do a lot of Behavioral healthcare and those are the solutions I would look to implement.

     

    Kevin Turner, AIA

    Principal Architect

     

    Human eXperience Workshop

    401 Hawthorne Ln.

    Suite 110-124

    Charlotte, NC  28204

    (M) 919-225-2671

    Kevin.Turner@hX.design

     

    www.hX.design