Ceiling Heating & Ceiling Cooling in Drywall Construction

Available drywall systems and their specific advantages

Heating and cooling ceilings in drywall construction score points for their simplicity and speed of installation. Drywall construction standards predefine procedures and dimensions. Whether the heat exchangers are integrated into the drywall panels or mounted on top, the thermal activation of a suspended ceiling requires minimal additional effort compared to standard installation.

When retrofitting ceiling heating in existing and old buildings, it is particularly advantageous if rooms and office spaces are available again in a short time and no long drying times have to be taken into account. A constantly growing selection of materials and surface structures ensures creative ceiling designs.

BEKA manufactures a range of dry construction systems for water-based ceiling heating and cooling, along with the necessary components. Depending on the area of application and requirements, capillary tube mats, copper pipe coils or 10 mm single-pipe systems are installed as heat exchangers. The table comparing the specific features provides an initial guide to help you choose the right system.

Which drywall board is suitable for heated-chilled ceilings?

The thermal conductivity of drywall panels positively affects the performance achievable with climate ceilings. The standard installation is ceiling heating with plasterboard panels. Adding graphite can further improve the thermal conductivity of the drywall elements. Using thermal conduction profiles and insulation materials above the panels provides additional heating and cooling capacity. Drywall elements with integrated capillary tube mats or PE-RT pipes are most effective when installed as close to the surface as possible.

Smooth or perforated acoustic plasterboard panels can be used for installation (see photos). By choosing the materials and surface finish, architects and specialist planners can specifically control the costs, performance and appearance of the ceiling heating and cooling system. A growing range of materials can be used in combination with our capillary tube mats in drywall construction to create varied and attractive ceiling surfaces.

What are the advantages of ceiling heating in drywall construction?

  • Standardised procedure
  • Few installation steps
  • Short drying times
  • Prefabricated ceiling elements
  • Good heating and cooling performance
  • Recommended for retrofitting in old buildings

Retrofitting ceiling heating without extra installation steps

The procedure for installing suspended ceilings is determined by standardised installation regulations and instructions from drywall system manufacturers. Heating and cooling ceilings in drywall construction take advantage of this high degree of standardisation.

Thanks to prefabricated elements that adapt to drywall construction specifications and dimensions, installing thermally activated ceiling elements involves little more than connecting individual panels to heating circuits and the heating circuit distributor.

The interfaces between drywall construction and air conditioning installation are clearly and unambiguously defined. Installation times are easy to plan. Surprises on the construction site are rare. The previously calculated heating and cooling capacities are reliably achieved.

Ready-to-install plasterboard panels with integrated heat exchangers

In the standard version, the water-carrying heat exchangers are located on the top of the drywall panels and are hydraulically connected in the ceiling cavity. Good contact with the panels is crucial for heat transfer. To enhance the effect, the 10 mm PE-RT or copper pipes are mounted in heat conduction profiles on the plasterboard. Additional insulation materials further improve the energy efficiency and control behaviour of the drywall ceiling heating and cooling system.

As an alternative with a higher degree of prefabrication, we manufacture plasterboard panels with milled capillary tube mats or 10 mm PE-RT pipes, which achieve particularly good heating and cooling performance due to the heat exchanger's proximity to the surface. We also manufacture drywall panels with integrated capillary tube mats and an insulating layer as a sandwich solution.

Ready-to-build elements for heated-chilled ceilings [PDF]

 

Buildings with BEKA drywall heating and cooling ceilings

Drywall systems and ceiling design

Drywall ceilings can be thermally activated with relatively little effort using top-mounted capillary tube mats or other thin-tube systems manufactured by us. To maximize energy efficiency, it is crucial that the tubes are installed close to the surface and that there is good thermal contact between the heat-conducting tubes and the drywall panel.

Which drywall ceiling heating suits my project?

 Drywall ceiling with capillary tube matsDrywall ceiling single pipe with heat conducting profilesSingle pipe drywall ceiling integratedDrywall with copper pipe
Less planning effort
Heating / cooling capacity
Low assembly effort
Substructure according to dry construction guidelines with standard profiles
Interface to other trades
Components pre-assembled at the factory
Suitable for mixed installation (metal and plastic)
Flexibility / adaptable on building site

Drywall ceiling product types