T-Bar Ceiling Systems
The backbone of commercial ceilings. Grid, tiles, and everything above your head in most office buildings.
What Is a T-Bar Ceiling?
A T-bar ceiling — also called a suspended ceiling or drop ceiling — is a grid system hung from the structure above with hanger wires. The grid creates a framework of interlocking T-shaped metal runners that hold acoustical tiles in place. It's the most common ceiling type in commercial construction, and for good reason.
The system gives you easy access to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems hidden in the plenum above. Need to run new data cables? Pop a tile out. HVAC issue? Same thing. That accessibility alone saves building owners thousands in maintenance costs over the life of a building.
How It Works
The grid hangs from the deck above using threaded rod or wire. Main runners span the length of the room, cross tees connect between them at 2-foot or 4-foot intervals. Tiles drop into the grid — either laying on the flanges (lay-in) or clicking into place (snap-in). The whole system is engineered to stay level and support the weight of the tiles, light fixtures, air diffusers, and anything else mounted in the ceiling plane.
Grid comes in two standard face widths: 15/16" (standard) and 9/16" (narrow). Narrow-face grid gives a cleaner, more modern look. Both work with 2×2 and 2×4 tile formats.
Commercial Applications
- Office buildings — Standard in virtually every commercial office. Open plan and private offices both benefit from high-NRC tiles that absorb conversation noise.
- Healthcare — Hospitals and clinics need tiles that meet hygiene standards (cleanable, antimicrobial) plus high CAC ratings for patient privacy.
- Education — Schools need good speech intelligibility. The right tile helps teachers be heard without shouting.
- Retail — Big box stores, strip mall tenants, and showrooms all use T-bar for cost-effective ceiling coverage.
- Government — Federal, state, and municipal buildings. Often spec'd to GSA standards.
Benefits
- Sound control: Tiles rated NRC 0.50 to 0.95+ depending on the product. Pick the right tile for your noise problem.
- Cost-effective: T-bar is the most economical ceiling system for commercial spaces. Materials are reasonably priced and installation is fast.
- Access: Full access to the plenum above. Tiles lift out by hand. No demolition needed for maintenance.
- Fire rating: Most tiles are Class A fire-rated. The plenum acts as a fire barrier when rated tiles and grid are installed correctly.
- Light reflectance: White tiles bounce light around the room, reducing the number of light fixtures you need.
- Replaceable: Damaged tile? Pull it out, drop a new one in. Five-minute fix.
Manufacturers We Work With
We install T-bar systems from the three biggest names in the business:
- Armstrong — Cortega, Ultima, Total Acoustics, Calla, Fine Fissured. The widest product line in the industry. Their Prelude grid system is the standard we hang most often.
- USG — Radar, Halcyon, Mars, Frost. USG makes the Donn brand grid, which is the other major grid system. Solid products across the board.
- CertainTeed — Baroque, Symphony, Adagio. CertainTeed (now part of Saint-Gobain) focuses on high-performance acoustics with their Ecophon line for premium applications.
Specs and Ratings
| Product | NRC | CAC | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong Cortega | 0.55 | 33 | Budget-friendly offices, retail |
| Armstrong Ultima | 0.70 | 35 | Conference rooms, private offices |
| Armstrong Total Acoustics | 0.70 | 40 | Healthcare, confidential spaces |
| USG Radar | 0.55 | 35 | Standard commercial |
| USG Halcyon | 0.90 | 35 | Premium sound absorption |
| CertainTeed Baroque | 0.55 | 35 | Standard commercial |
Installation Overview
We start by shooting laser levels to establish the ceiling height. Then we install wall angle around the perimeter — that's the L-shaped metal trim that supports the grid edges at the walls. Hanger wires go up to the deck, spaced per engineering requirements (typically 4-foot centers).
Main runners clip to the wires and get leveled. Cross tees snap into the mains at 2-foot intervals. Once the grid is level and square, tiles drop in. Light fixtures, air diffusers, and sprinkler escutcheons get installed in their respective openings.
A typical 5,000 sq ft office takes our crew 2-3 days from bare deck to finished ceiling. Larger projects scale accordingly.
Get a Quote
New construction or tile replacement, we'll spec the right product for your space and budget. Contact us for a free estimate.
Related Products
- Metal Ceilings — for moisture-prone or high-end spaces
- Felt Baffles — for open ceilings where T-bar won't work
- Armstrong Soundscape Baffles