KRAFT Deckensysteme
Guide

How to install a suspended ceiling

Six steps from setting out the level to laying the tiles, the tool list, eight layouts and quantities per m². The method is the same for Nova and Fortis.

Quantities per m²About the KRAFT grid
Order of work

Six steps

  1. Step 01

    Set out the ceiling level

    Find the level round the perimeter with a laser or water level and snap a line on every wall. The minimum drop from the structural slab is 120 mm — allow more if recessed fittings or services are going in.

    Setting out the ceiling level with a laser level
  2. Step 02

    Fix the wall angle

    Fix the L or W angle to the snapped line at no more than 500 mm centres. Square-edge tiles take the L angle; tegular tiles take the W angle.

    Fixing the wall angle around the room perimeter
  3. Step 03

    Put in the hangers

    Mark the main runner lines at 1200 mm centres. The first hanger goes no more than 600 mm from the wall, the rest at 1200 mm along the runner. Anchor into the slab, then hook wire, spring clip and eye wire.

    Fixing the system hangers to the soffit
  4. Step 04

    Hang the main runners

    Drop the 3600 mm runners into the hangers with their ends resting on the wall angle. Clip them end to end in a straight line. Adjust the springs until the whole plane is level.

    Fitting the main T-profiles into the hangers
  5. Step 05

    Clip in the cross tees

    Push the 1200 mm cross tees into the slots in the runners until the lock clicks. Add the 600 mm tees if your layout calls for them. Check the diagonals on a few openings.

    Fitting the cross T-profiles into the grid cells
  6. Step 06

    Lay the tiles and fittings

    Tilt each tile through the opening and lower it onto the profile flanges. Anything over 250 g needs its own hangers back to the slab; KRAFT LED fittings do not.

    Laying the ceiling tiles into the finished grid
Before you start

Tools you will need

  • laser or water level
  • tape measure and chalk line
  • hammer drill with a bit for the anchors
  • cordless screwdriver
  • tin snips
  • mitre box or square for cutting profile
  • knife for trimming tiles
  • stepladder or a tower
  • gloves and safety glasses
Tools for installing a suspended ceiling
Schemes

Eight installation layouts

The layout follows from the tile size and the load you need to carry. Smaller openings or heavier loads mean a denser grid and more hangers.

Scheme 1: 600×600 tile · standard
Scheme 1600×600 tile · standard
Scheme 2: 600×600 tile · reinforced
Scheme 2600×600 tile · reinforced
Scheme 3: 600×600 tile · extra hangers
Scheme 3600×600 tile · extra hangers
Scheme 4: 600×1200 tile · standard
Scheme 4600×1200 tile · standard
Scheme 5: 600×1200 tile · reinforced
Scheme 5600×1200 tile · reinforced
Scheme 6: 600×1200 tile · staggered
Scheme 6600×1200 tile · staggered
Scheme 7: 1200×1200 tile
Scheme 71200×1200 tile
Scheme 8: 1200×1200 tile · staggered
Scheme 81200×1200 tile · staggered
Quantities

Material quantities per m²

How many of each component go into one square metre, layout by layout. Treat these as a guide — a real take-off also allows for perimeter cutting and 5–7 % waste.

Component consumption per m² by installation scheme
LayoutMain 3600Cross tee 1200Cross tee 600HangersTiles
Layout 1 · 600×6000,2321,401,400,702,78
Scheme 2 · 600×600 reinforced0,464—2,801,402,78
Layout 3 · 600×600 with extra hangers0,464—2,801,402,78
Layout 4 · 600×1200 · standard0,2321,40—0,701,39
Scheme 5 · 600×1200 reinforced0,464—1,401,401,39
Scheme 6 · 600×1200 staggered0,2320,70—0,701,39
Layout 7 · 1200×12000,2320,70—0,700,69
Scheme 8 · 1200×1200 staggered0,2320,70—0,700,69

Wall angle is counted separately, off the room perimeter, allowing for joints in the 3000 mm lengths.

Calculate in Onliner
Video

Installation on video

The whole job, from setting out to the last tile.

Documents

Documents to download

Need a document that isn't listed? Mention it in your request.

FAQ

Installation FAQ

The minimum drop from the structural slab is 120 mm — the depth of the grid plus room to adjust the hangers. If fittings, ductwork or cable trays are going in the void, take the deepest of those as your figure.

Main runners at 1200 mm centres. Hangers at 1200 mm along the runner, with the first no more than 600 mm from the wall. Layouts with extra hangers tighten that up — see the quantities table.

On the common 600×600 mm layout — 0.70 hangers per square metre. Hangers run along the main runner at 1200 mm centres, with the first no more than 600 mm from the wall. Layouts with extra hangers use more: all eight are set out in the quantities table on this page.

The hanger anchors into the slab and holds the runner through its hole, so it does not depend on the lock design. Building the ceiling itself from different makers' profiles will not work, though — each has its own lock geometry. If you are only replacing hangers in an existing ceiling, check they suit the height of your runner.

On the common 600×600 mm layout: 0.232 main runners of 3600 mm, 1.40 cross tees of 1200 mm, 1.40 cross tees of 600 mm, 0.70 hangers and 2.78 tiles per square metre. All eight layouts are in the table on this page.

Anything over 250 g hangs on its own wires back to the slab — one to four of them, depending on size and weight. KRAFT LED fittings sit on the grid itself and need none.

KRAFT locks come apart without damage, so you can strip part or all of the grid and put it back — for access to the services, a change of layout, or a move.

Cut the profiles with tin snips and the tiles with a knife against a straight edge. The cut edge sits on the wall angle, so it never shows.

Enquiry

We will price the bill of materials for your project

Send us the floor area and the type of space — we will pick the profile, the layout and work out the full take-off.

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