Lab Ceilings

Q: Are the ceilings in hospital laboratories required to be caulked? Or, can they be gasketed and clipped?

A: The Life Safety Code does not require ceilings to be caulked, gasketed, or clipped. When required, the term NFPA uses is the ceiling must resist the passage of smoke. How that is accomplished is up to the manufacturer of the ceiling assembly, or the UL listing if it is a rated ceiling assembly.

Also, other codes and standards, such as the IBC, may require ceilings to be caulked, gasketed, or clipped. And the state code of regulations may have something to say about that.

So, it would be best for you to ask your state and local authorities that question as they may have other regulations.