Which environments are suitable or unsuitable for installing seamless acoustic ceilings?

Seamless acoustic ceilings is a wide expression which covers basically everything from perforated stretched polymer to acoustic plaster covered absorbents, so we need to narrow it down a little bit.

The long and the short of it is that a seamless acoustical ceiling is a very versatile component in interior design and the ways to use it is almost infinite. There are a few things to keep in mind though:

Seamless acoustic ceilings are for indoor use

Basically all types of seamless acoustic ceilings are designed for indoor use. This means that they should be installed in a climate controlled environment. For example the Fellert Even Better and Styjl Straight Up systems are designed for a temperature range between 15ºC – 32 ºC and a maximum relative humidity of 70%. This controlled environment should be kept at all times during and after the installation. Pay extra attention to areas like pool or spa areas which usually comes with both high temperature and humidity, but also in atriums with glass roofs or glass facades where the temperature and humidity near the roof can be very different from what you have on floor level.

Seamless acoustic ceilings are for dust free environments

The surface of a seamless acoustic ceiling is almost always porous. This is necessary for it to be able to absorb the sound energy and convert it to heat. A porous surface does not go so well with dust. There are millions of cavities where dust can build up and the over time, the appearance can become quite scruffy. Even if most ceiling surfaces are anti-static  and can be vacuumed clean, you have to expect to perform regular maintenance on such an installation.

Seamless acoustic ceilings should be installed out of reach.

Many type of seamless acoustic ceilings are sensitive to hard impact and can break. And even if they can be spot repaired with a good result like the Fellert Even Better or Styjl Straight Up, you many times ned special skills to be able to pull such a repair off. But even if the surface is strong and appears to be resilient, the porous surface makes it difficult to keep clean. You cannot simply wipe it off with a damp cloth, when you discover dirty finger-marks on it. Such a wet wipe will damage the surface. It is recommendable to keep the seamless acoustic ceiling out of reach and work with more sturdy materials similar in color and texture to make the transition as delicate as possible.