Ceiling and Absorbers Working Group

What does the FIS Ceiling and Absorbers Working Group do?

The FIS Ceilings and Absorbers Working Group was formed to address issues that were common to those working in the ceilings sector.   The core aim is to bring the supply chain together to help maintain and develop standards, address common problems and opportunities and ultimately to set members up for success.

The objectives of the group are to:

• Develop technical standards as required
• Promote best practice in the market, underpinning quality and the requirements of compliant and safe installations
• Educate and inform clients and specifiers about ceilings
• Promote the products and skills of FIS members in this field
• Shape the market so that the correct standards are developed, recognised and adhered to by all to the benefit of clients
• Develop relevant training and routes to demonstrate competency
• Monitor commercial and legal issues

What are the key issues that the group is looking to address?

A pivotal role of the group has been to look at issues such as Ceiling Collapse and ensure that any findings are interrogated and communicated.  As a direct result of this work, Best Practice Guidance has been developed to support the specification of ceilings and the selection of ceiling fixings (see Key Resources section below).  The group has a number of workflows being led through small subgroups (these are made up of members of the working group, the FIS team and, where appropriate external stakeholders and experts).  Current live projects include: 

• Reviewing the current site guides and transition of all technical guides to e-learning.
• Create a quality check list for site installation.
• Reviewing BS EN 13964 Suspended ceilings. Requirements and test methods.
• Addressing Occupational Safety Concerns.
• The development of appropriate competency frameworks and training.
• Sustainability in the sector including a review of the current SKArating good practice measure for Ceilings and Absorbers and supporting FIS Project Re-Use, which is focussed on the re-use of ceiling tiles and luminaires.

The Chairman of the FIS Ceilings and Absorbers Working Group is Marcus Coates of Cipriani (UK) Ltd

Working Group Meetings

Meetings are open to all members of the FIS and invited guests (prior confirmation of attendance is essential). 

Minutes of previous meetings are available to members on request via email to info@thefis.org