A TERM PAPER ON THE RECOMMENDED CEILING HEIGHT FOR RESIDENTIAL

BUILDINGS IN AKURE

BY

AJAYI, OLUFUNKE ROSEMARY

ARC/10/3118

SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE,

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE, ONDO STATE.

LECTURER: PROF.OLU OLA OGUNSOTE SEPTEMBER 2011

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INTRODUCTION

The importance of ceiling height in residential building speaks a lot depending on its use and

what purpose it will serve and in respect to the climatic condition of that particular area.

For different reasons, there are serious variations on the ceiling height used in residential

buildings and upon careful investigation it would be found that the reasons are no where near the

standards set by building regulation bodies. In most cases its in the bid to reduce the cost of

running several more courses of block work that results in building owners having varied ceiling

heights.

STANDARD CEILING HEIGHT IN NIGERIA

Depending on the climatic condition of a place, the ceiling height will vary slightly in the

different parts of the country, but the acceptable ceiling height used is 2850mm. in most

residential buildings, varied height are used depending on the function of the space and also the

kind of furniture and fittings that will be installed within the space, of course also taking into

account human scale which include the average height of a human being standing upright with

hands stretched vertically.

IMPORTANCE OF USING THE RECOMMENDED CEILING HEIGHT IN

RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

i. To improve the rate air movement within the building.

ii. To improve the thermal quality within the building.

iii. It creates psychological balance within a space.

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Eight foot ceiling have been the pattern for homes throughout most of the 20th century, but from

1995 - 2004, 9feet ceiling (2700mm) became the new standard height in newly constructed

homes, though many new homes have 10 feet ceilings. Ceiling height tops the list of desires that

home buyers at the beginning of the 21st century want in a home. Ceiling heights usually vary

based on the function of the space, while the higher ceilings are used in the living spaces.

CEILING HEIGHTS

The ceiling height is the height measured from the finished floor level to the underside of any

slab, false ceiling or suspended ceiling. Ceiling height is one of the first architectural factors that

influence ones perception of a space when entering. Meyers-levy and Zhu (2007b) were the first

to show that ceiling height actually primes concept that affect how people process information.

Their 3 studies supported the theory that a high versus low ceiling can prime the concept of

freedom versus confinement.

The ceiling height of rooms and spaces shall not be less than 2400mm, but some people choose

up to 3000mm and this can give the house a feeling of space, grandness and elegance, but it will

be at the same add to the building cost. Having varied ceiling heights in the different parts of a

building say a lower ceiling in the bedroom and adding height in the living spaces but higher

ceiling will require more heating or cooling depending on the weather condition of that time of

the year and the circulation systems to spread the heat and air evenly.

Note that the requirement for ceiling height being not less than 2400mm does not apply to the

following.

i. Corridors and lobbies

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ii. Localized areas within a room or space where there is a drop in ceiling height due to

physical constraints such as a structural beam or building service.

MINIMUM HEIGHTS

Habitable rooms, hallways/ lobby, foyer, corridors, bathroom, toilet, laundry rooms and the

basement shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7feets, and the required height shall be

measured from the finished floor to the lowest protection from the ceiling.

Rooms with sloped ceilings at least 50% of the floor area must have a ceiling height of at least

7feet and no portion shall have a ceiling height of less than 5feet.

EXCEPTIONS

i. Beams and girders spaced not less than 4feet on center may project not more than 6

inches (152mm) below the required ceiling height.

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ii. Ceiling basement without habitable spaces may project to within 6feet; 8 feet (2032mm)

of the finished floor; and beams, ducts or other obstructions may project to within 6 feet,

4 inches (1931mm) of the finished floor.

iii. Not more than 50% of the required floor area of a room or space is permitted to have a

slopped ceiling less than 7feet (2134mm) in height with no portion of the required floor

area less than 5feet (1524mm) in height.

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iv. Bathroom shall have a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches (2036mm) over the

fixture and at the front clearance area for fixtures. A shower or tub equipped with a

shower head shall have a minimum area of 30 x 30 inches (762 x762mm) at the shower

head.

HEADROOM AND CEILING

There are instances where the ceiling height of a particular area in the house is not as high as

others, also the function and the human scale defines the headroom of a particular space e.g.

i. An attic room

ii. Equipment and plant room

iii. The underside of a staircase

iv. Toilets, bathrooms or lavatories

v. Store rooms and utility rooms, wash areas and the likes

THE INFLUENCE OF CEILING HEIGHT ON OCCUPANTS

There appears to be a wide spread belief that ceiling height can affect the comfort condition of

the inhabitants. Fischl and Garling (2004) found that ceiling height ranked among the three

architectural details that influences people’s psychological wellbeing. Bivins (1997) reveals that

a home development company that uses design ideas inspired by the guru of the trancental

mediation maintains that homes with higher ceiling induce clearer improved thinking, more

energy and better health among residents.

It is seen that with high ceiling it is freedom- related and low ceilings heights is confinement-

related but on the other hand, in terms of heating up or cooling a building especially in composite

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climates where during some months of the year (between November to Febuary) when harmattan

is experienced, and the ceiling is high, this will mean more energy will be needed to cool the

building and vice versa during the hot months of the year.

SOME THOUGHTS WHY 9.5 FEET CEILING IS THE STANDARD CEILING HEIGHT

The standard ceiling height can vary from place to place and over time. In the 1970’s, the

average ceiling height was 7feet 9inches, but today a standard ceiling height is 9.5 feet. In a

duplex house, the first floor can have a ceiling height of 9.5feet on the first floor and 8feet on the

upper floor. Upscale houses have a standard ceiling height of 10-12feet.

The under listed are some thoughts why 9.5feet (2850mm) is the standard ceiling height.

i. Older homes had very high ceilings and there were no closets built, so ceilings needed to

be high enough to accommodate wardrobes.

ii. Lower ceilings are more energy efficient and newer homes are being built with higher

ceilings because it is a prestigious thing.

iii. 9feet ceiling heights are also comfortable for most adults without feeling too cramped

from the ceiling.

iv. A higher ceiling height makes homes appear more spacious but it will only mean more

space to heat and cool.

PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CEILING HEIGHTS IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Higher ceiling tends to allow for more freedom of occupants in terms of thought process etc.

while low ceiling tends to give a feeling of confinements. Ceiling is not so much about physical

comfort as about a desire for everyday grandeur, because people feel’ you get a very warm

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feeling when you walk into a home with a higher ceiling.’ 9.5 feet ceiling has discovered to be

more acceptable in living space and a high ceiling improves the proportion of a room and

architecture is all about proportion, balance, scale etc. It is also about details too so that after the

mechanical systems are done, a lowered ceiling can be avoided. In cases where the ceiling height

is low, decorators advised the use of dark floors to make that plane recede and vertical

accessories like floor-to-ceiling curtains are used to maximize the appearance of height.

Psychologically, even interior designers feel comfortable when asked to work in a residential

apartment with a low ceiling; they feel a higher ceiling helps to maintain the right proportion.

CEILING TYPES

i. Conventional ceiling

ii. Cathedral ceiling

iii. Shed ceiling

iv. Vaulted ceiling

v. Core ceiling

vi. Tray ceiling

TYPES OF CEILING MATERIALS

i. Asbestos ceiling

ii. Acoustic fibre tiles ( they have good sound insulation)

iii. Corniced Plaster of Paris (POP) board.

(POP ceilings are good insulators against the heat that pass through the roof in other words the

comfort condition within the building will be good)

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Figure 1 above showing the corniced POP board ceiling. Source: photograph by Ajayi (2011).

iv. POP tiles

v. PVC strips (Polyvinyl chloride)

vi. Wooden ceiling

vii. Fibre boards

Figure 2 above showing an example of fibre boards. Source: photograph by Olabiwonu (2011).

Cement troweled concrete ceiling

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viii. Bamboo ceiling

THE IMPORTANCE OF CEILING MATERIALS

A careful choice of ceiling materials will go a long way to enhance the comfort condition of

occupants in a residential house. The modern day ceiling is not just a simple cover over the

house to protect the individual from the harsh weather condition of the environment; it also has

panels which create false ceiling and also conceals the obscurity of fittings or architectural

blunders to help create an acoustic and thermally comfortable perfect home. Thus materials used

for ceiling have a great variety of usage and in great demand. It is also important to relate the

choice of ceiling materials to the climatic condition of the place of usage so that it fulfills the

best thermal purpose in hot and cold seasons.

CASE STUDY OF SOME RESIDENTIAL HOUSES IN AKURE

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Figure 3 above showing the ceiling height of a residential building at Aule GRA, Akure.Source:

photograph by Ajayi (2011).

Ceiling height = 2700mm

Figure 4 &5 above showing the ceiling height of a residential building height around cassava

area, off FUTA road, Akure. Source: photograph by Ajayi (2011).

Ceiling height = 2700mm

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Figure 6 &7 above showing the ceiling height of a residential building height around cassava

area, off FUTA road, Akure. Source: photograph by Ajayi (2011).

Ceiling height = 2700mm

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Figure 8 &9 above showing the ceiling height of a residential building height around Agape area,

off Obasanjo road, Akure. Source: photograph by Ajayi (2011).

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Figure 3 above showing the ceiling height of a residential building height around Agape area, off

Obasanjo road, Akure. Source: photograph by Adegbenro (2011).

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REFERENCES

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061205183827

http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=7068&star

http://www.designingyourperfecthome.com/blog/2009/06/ceiling

www.about-home-design.com

http://www.informedesign.org/Rs-detail.aspx?rsId=3387

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/realestate/22nati.html

http://ceiling-help.net/ceiling-materials.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dropped_ceiling

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