New Test Bench for Punching Failure Tests on Self-Supporting Suspended Ceilings

Real tests for real safety

In Italy, a large portion of the building stock is old and features deteriorated or damaged floor slabs, which require quick and effective interventions to prevent punching failure. During renovations, it is therefore essential to find solutions to secure soffits with dedicated systems, and increasingly, self-supporting suspended ceilings are used to avoid any interference with the existing slab structure.

To address this concrete need, we have developed a new test bench specifically designed for testing self-supporting suspended ceilings, capable of realistically simulating the fall of detached masses from the slab.
With years of experience in punching failure tests and load tests on suspended ceilings, we can now simulate extreme conditions in a controlled, realistic, and repeatable way.



 

Test Methodology

The tests are carried out according to an internal laboratory procedure.
The suspended ceiling section is assembled by the client onto the support structure and subjected to the impact of clay falling elements. Each impact is performed using up to 12 falling elements of identical weight, arranged in a 6 × 2 matrix, covering a total surface area of 2.2 m².

During each impact, where possible, the progressive deflection under load at the center point of the impacted area is recorded using a dial gauge.

Depending on the testing objectives, the procedure may involve:

• multiple low-energy impacts on one or more areas, to verify service conditions;

• or a single high-energy impact, to assess resistance capacity under safety conditions.

At the end of the test, a visual assessment of the observed damages (cracks, detachments, fractures, indentations) is performed, along with the recording of the measured deflections at the impact points.
 

  
Photos taken during the execution of the tests for Saint‑Gobain

Main technical features of the test bench

• Adaptable test bench for self-supporting suspended ceilings with spans up to 8 meters. A large surface to test small and large elements up to a maximum area of 3 x 8 meters.

• Mass release system. Masses are released simultaneously and in a controlled way over a wide 2.2 m² area and can be dropped at any point within the test surface.

• Clay block masses with variable density. It is possible to simulate the real behavior of punching failure by selecting clay block masses with different densities.

• Drop height. The distance between the top side of the suspended ceiling and the mass release point is defined by the client, allowing for customized tests based on the type of building.

• Measurement of soffit deflection. The bench is equipped with precision instruments to monitor soffit deflection, useful for assessing the risk of failure.

Who the service is for

• Suspended ceiling manufacturers: to test self-supporting systems under real stress conditions.

• Renovation and installation companies: to validate design solutions before installation.

Advantages of our test bench

• High flexibility: tests on small and large areas with free mass positioning.

• Customized configuration: adjustable drop height based on the actual slab conditions to be simulated.

• Realism: clay block masses for tests that accurately reproduce actual punching failures.

Visit the Security & Safety Laboratory page to learn about all the tests it can perform.