Ceiling system

A support runner for use in a suspended ceiling system, said support runner comprising:

• a decorative trim member having a lower decorative surface and an upper holding surface, said upper holding surface comprising longitudinal grooves along the upper outside portions and extending longitudinally the length of the decorative trim member;
• and, a spline member having upper and lower holding surfaces, said lower holding surface comprising longitudinal grooves along the inside of opposing vertical wall portions capable of engaging the longitudinal grooves on the upper outsides of the decorative trim member, and said upper holding surface being a slot comprising upwardly then inwardly extending flanges extending from the opposing upper outside edges of the spline capable of engaging the flange portion of the inverted-T runner and said spline comprising a material which loses its structural integrity at a temperature of from about 200.degree. to about 450.degree. Fahrenheit thereby allowing the decorative trim member to drop away from the support runner and allowing the support runner to increase its supportability of the ceiling and an upper supporting member comprising an inverted-T runner capable of supporting ceiling panels and having spline engaging means movably engaging the upwardly then inwardly extending flanges of the spline member along the inverted-T runner, said inverted-T runner having a length sufficiently short that expansion due to heat exposure will not cause deformation due to contact with other runners in an installed ceiling system.

A suspended ceiling in which suspended ceiling panels are retained in place even though an exposed supporting ceiling runner is exposed to heat sufficient to cause deformation of the exposed portion and loss of structural integrity by the spline portion, said ceiling comprising a plurality of interconnected support runners connected to a supporting structure and being ceiling panels resting on the support runners, said support runners comprising a decorative trim member having a decorative lower surface and an engageable upper outside surface, and a spline member having an engageable lower inside surface and an engageable slotted upper surface wherein said spline comprises a material which loses its structural integrity at a temperature of from about 200.degree. to about 450.degree. Fahrenheit thereby allowing the decorative trim member to drop away from the support runner and allowing the support runner to increase its supportability of the ceiling;

• and an inverted-T runner supportingly and movably engaged by the engageable slotted upper surface of the spline and extending along the spline a distance sufficiently less than the length of the decorative trim to prevent heat distortion of the inverted-T runner;
• whereby when the ceiling system is exposed to heat the inverted-T runner continues to hold the ceiling even though the spline loses structural integrity and disengages from the inverted-T runner and even though the decorative trim drops away upon disengagement from the spline.

A suspended ceiling in which suspended ceiling panels are retained in place even though an exposed supporting ceiling runner is exposed to heat sufficient to cause deformation of the exposed portion and loss of structural integrity by the spline portion, said ceiling comprising a plurality of interconnected support runners connected to a supporting structure with ceiling panels resting on the support runners, said support runners comprising a lower decorative trim member having a length sufficient to connect with other decorative trim members to provide a continuous ceiling trim design, said lower decorative trim member being engaged by a spline member extending substantially along the full length of the decorative trim member, said spline member being supportable by an inverted-T runner movably attached to the top of the spline member, said spline comprising a material which loses its structural integrity at a temperature of from about 200.degree. to about 450.degree. Fahrenheit thereby allowing the decorative trim member to drop away from the support runner and allowing the support runner to increase its supportability of the ceiling;

• said inverted-T runner being capable of supporting ceiling panels and said inverted-T runner having a length sufficient to prevent distortion due to horizontal compression upon exposure to heat whereby when the ceiling system is exposed to heat the inverted-T runner continues to hold the ceiling even though the spline loses structural integrity and disengages from the inverted-T runner and even though the decorative trim drops away upon disengagement from the spline.

A suspended ceiling in which suspended ceiling panels are retained in place even though an exposed supporting ceiling runner is exposed to heat sufficient to cause deformation of the exposed portion and loss of structural integrity by the spline portion, said ceiling comprising a plurality of interconnected support runners connected to a supporting structure with ceiling panels resting on the support runners, said support runners comprising a decorative trim member having a lower decorative surface and engageable upper outside surfaces, said upper outside holding surfaces comprising longitudinal grooves along the upper outside portions and extending longitudinally along the full length of the decorative trim;

• and a spline member having upper and lower holding surfaces, said lower holding surface comprising longitudinal grooves along the inside of opposing vertical wall portions, and said upper holding surface being a slot comprising upwardly then inwardly extending flanges extending from the opposing upper outside edges of the spline member, said spline comprising a material which loses its structural integrity at a temperature of from about 200.degree. to about 450.degree. Fahrenheit thereby allowing the decorative trim member to drop away from the support runner and allowing the support runner to increase its supportability of the ceiling;
• and an upper supporting member comprising an inverted-T runner capable of supporting ceiling panels and having spline engaging means engaging the upper holding slotted portion of the spline member in a manner which allows for movement of the inverted-T runner along the spline member, said inverted-T runner having a length sufficiently short that expansion due to heat exposure will not cause deformation due to contact with other runners in an installed ceiling system.