Hung Ceilings in Monolithic Domes
May 15, 2005
by David B. South
In a number of our Monolithic Domes we have used a standard hung ceiling that can be purchased from a variety of manufacturers. A hung ceiling features many benefits for Monolithic Domes. It provides storage for placement of air conditioning, heating ducts, electrical and wires. It's easily accessible and yet stored items are not visible from below. A hung ceiling can also help with sound absorption.
A hung ceiling is an excellent place to put light fixtures, either in the ceiling itself or attached to the bottom side. Several Monolithic gymnasiums have used this method for noise control and lighting. If you put a white hung ceiling over a gym floor with the lights in the ceiling it really spotlights the gym floor.
Don't Disturb the Thermal Battery
A hung ceiling should not be used to separate the dome from air flow in the building. It is tremendously important to allow air to circulate throughout the building. The dome is the thermal battery. If a hung ceiling is hung tight or too close to the shell with no air penetrations then the roof of the dome, which is the most efficient part of the thermal battery, will be isolated and not function as it should.
Without the hung ceiling, peak heat loads are handled by the dome itself. So, air needs to move both above and below the ceiling so the air "washes" against the roof of the dome, loading and unloading our thermal battery.
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- Gladiator Coliseum -- Italy ISD Multipurpose Center
- Brooksville Assembly of God
- Interior Surfaces of the Monolithic Dome
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