The installation of suspended ceiling framing follows a standardized construction process. Combined with the light steel keel content you previously reviewed, the complete installation steps and key points are as follows:
1. Preparatory Work
Tools and Materials: Prepare light steel or aluminum alloy keels, hanger rods, expansion bolts, connectors, impact drill, laser level, hand-held cutting machine and other tools. Check in advance that the keels are free from bending, deformation and rust.
Site Conditions: Ensure the construction area is dry and well ventilated. All pipelines inside the ceiling cavity shall be installed. Protect finished works to prevent damage to completed decoration during subsequent construction.
2. Core Installation Steps
Marking-out and Positioning: Snap ceiling elevation lines along the perimeter of walls, with horizontal tolerance controlled within ±5 mm. Mark grid lines for transverse and longitudinal keel layout according to keel spacing and mark all hanger points.
Drill and Fasten Hanger Rods: Drill holes at marked hanger points and fix hanger rods to the floor slab with expansion bolts. For non-accessible ceilings, the spacing of hanger rods shall be 1200–1500 mm; for accessible ceilings, 900–1200 mm. Hanger rods must be vertical and firmly secured.
Install Perimeter Keels: Fix perimeter keels along the wall elevation lines using concrete nails or expansion bolts to form the edge reference for the whole framing system.
Install Main Keels: Connect main keels to hanger rods via hangers. Adjust the level and elevation of main keels. Joints of main keels shall be staggered and must not converge on the same hanger rod. The spacing of main keels ≤1200 mm.
Install Cross Keels: Cross keels intersect main keels perpendicularly and are fastened to main keels with special hangers. Normally cross keel spacing is 400–600 mm, which can be adjusted as required for shaped sections.
Leveling and Reinforcement: Recheck the level of the entire framing with a laser level. Fine-tune deviated positions through the elongated holes on hanger rods. All connectors and screws must be fully tightened to ensure the whole frame is free of looseness and warpage.
3. Construction Precautions
Hanger rods and keels must never be fixed to ventilation ducts or other equipment, to avoid safety hazards caused by load transfer.
All exposed iron components and nail heads shall be coated with two layers of anti-rust paint to prevent rust stains contaminating ceiling panels in later use.
After suspended ceiling framing installation, load bearing inspection shall be carried out. Confirm the whole structure is stable without shaking before proceeding to panel installation.