Ceiling Plans in Architectural Drafting

Ceiling Plans in Architectural Drafting

• A ceiling plan is a drawing showing the overhead interior surface of a room, outlining the ceiling.
• Purpose of Ceiling Plans:
  • Heat Prevention: Prevents heat penetration from the sun.
  • Aesthetic Enhancement: Improves the building's interior appearance.
  • Thermal Insulation: Provides thermal insulation.
  • Lighting Fixture Placement: Allows for hanging or placing lighting fixtures.
• Types of Ceiling Plans:
  • Ordinary Ceiling Plan:
    • Shows Ceiling Board
    • Shows Partitions
    • Shows Ventilation
    • Shows Labels denoting ceiling material types.
    • Shows Dimensions
  • Reflected Ceiling Plan:
    • Shows a view of the ceiling as if reflected onto a mirror on the floor.
    • Designed to display ceiling features from a floor perspective.
    • This plan has the same orientation as the floor plan.
    • Often used by Interior Designers.
    • Shows Lighting Fixtures
    • Shows Ventilation
    • Shows Smoke Detectors
    • Shows Wood Molding
    • Shows Ceiling Board

Key Considerations for Designing Ceiling Plans

• Distance from Floor to Ceiling: Consider the spacing between the floor line and the ceiling line.
• Three-Dimensional Aspects: Analyze the 3-D aspects of volume and space.
• Materials and Finishes: Explore the use of unconventional materials and finishes.
• Light Reflection & Sound Absorption: Understand the impact on light reflection and sound absorption.

Ceiling Heights in the National Building Code of the Philippines (PD 1096) Section 805

• Habitable rooms with artificial ventilation:
  • Minimum ceiling height of 2.40 meters from floor to ceiling.
  • First storey minimum height: 2.70 meters
  • Second storey minimum height: 2.40 meters
  • Succeeding storeys minimum unobstructed head-room clearance: 2.10 meters
• Mezzanine floors:
  • Minimum clear ceiling height of 1.80 meters above and below the floor.

Drafting a Ceiling Plan: Steps

• The ceiling plan is typically created in outline form using the floor plan as a reference.
• Steps:
  • Prepare and Analyze Floor Plan: Start with a ready-made floor plan; examine its size and shape.
  • Transfer Dimensions: Transfer crucial dimensions from the floor plan to the ceiling plan.
  • Draw Outline of Ceiling: Create the outline of the ceiling based on the floor plan.
  • Add Ceiling Features: Add elements like lighting fixtures, ventilation, smoke detectors, partitions, etc.
  • Label and Dimension: Label and dimension all elements in the ceiling plan.
  • Check for Accuracy: Ensure the ceiling plan is accurate, drawing to scale and following standards.