Impact resistance
The Challenge
In schools and sports halls, the impact resistance of construction materials is an important issue. As well as provide good sound absorption, surfaces need to offer protection from the impact of balls and withstand wear and tear and often rough treatment by students. As the lay-out in schools is changed quite regularly, ceiling tiles often need to be demounted and reinstalled.
Installed surfaces need to offer protection in low-to middle impact areas (rough treatment of students, multi-purpose halls for fitness, gym) as well as heavy-impact areas (sport halls for ball games). The life time of a ceiling tile is thus, amongst others, strongly dependant on its impact resistance.
Impact resistance of suspended ceilings is tested according to EN 13964 annex D and tests the total ceiling system, ie. the ceiling tile and all grid components. It defines three impact resistance classes which characterises the level of impact resistance of a suspended ceiling.
Class 2A ceilings can be installed in sports centres where low-impact ball sports are played and in heavy-duty school areas.
Class 3A ceilings can be installed in rooms where the ceiling must fulfil basic requirements on impact resistance, such as classrooms, school corridors, children’s daycare centres, playrooms, etc.
In heavy-duty sport halls, Class 2A ceilings will not suffice – Class 1A is essential. Class 1A ceilings should be installed in any sports hall where heavy-impact ball sports are played.
The test procedure for impact resistance as described in EN 13964 Annex D, indicates the ability of a ceiling to resist the incidental impact of balls under normal conditions in sports halls. It does not apply to abuse or vandalism.
Our contribution to performance
Rockfon Boxer/Samson combined with the OlympiaPlus system live up to the highest impact resistance requirements of Class 1A. The Rockfon OlympiaPlus system is patented and was developed by Rockfon in cooperation with Chicago Metallic (CMC). This Class 1A impact resistant ceiling has, besides its impact resistance, a number of other advantages over alternative solutions:
- Fire safety of Rockfon products, rated A1, meaning they are non-combustible, allowing extra time for evacuation in case of fire
- 100% sound absorption (αw = 1,00) with Rockfon Boxer and Samson
- Full and easy demountability of the system
- Ease of installation versus alternative systems
Rockfon Boxer and Samson have a surface that is strengthened by the use of continuous fibres that are able to withstand high tensile forces. The amount of continuous fibres used determines the impact resistance level.
