Stretch ceilings today are considered a very popular material for interior decoration. It fits well into almost any interior. In addition, it is a beautiful, modern and inexpensive material. But there are buyers who say that the materials from which the canvas is made have a strong smell, as a result of the release of substances harmful to humans and their bodies into the atmosphere. Expert opinions will help us understand whether suspended ceilings are actually harmful to human health.
Manufacturers of materials for suspended ceilings claim that their products always undergo certification and quality control, and that the materials are in full compliance with modern norms and standards. So why do some consumers claim that suspended ceilings emit harmful substances into the environment? Let's give answers to all questions.
Is stretch ceiling harmful?
What are the ceiling standards?
Whether suspended ceiling materials are harmful or not to human health can only be answered by true professionals. Experts argue that materials for interior decoration must undergo tests according to certain standards and then the products must be certified.
In addition, it is worth noting that in people, due to the structure of the body, the reaction to irritants - this or that substance may differ. That is why for some people it is quite convenient and comfortable to be in a room with a suspended ceiling made of non-natural materials, while others may feel dizzy, have headaches, or even worse - allergic reactions or attacks of breathing-related diseases may begin. That is why it is impossible to say with confidence that certain components are one hundred percent safe and harmless for all people.
Scientists developed general standards and norms taking into account a large number of factors. And all manufacturers must comply with such product requirements. In other words, the norms are ISO international environmental standards. Regulations state that if a product meets all their requirements, then it is not harmful to human health. All commercially available components for installing suspended ceilings must have an environmental certificate. In addition, these documents must be provided upon request before installing suspended ceilings.
Pros and cons of PVC tension materials
The main properties of such ceilings include:
- The polymer is resistant to temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius; it does not react with acids, alkalis, or solvents.
- The components that make up PVC are not volatile at low concentrations, and therefore do not cause harm to health.
- The disadvantages of the substance are that it contains phenol and toluene, which are dangerous to human health, but in accordance with international standards they cannot cause harm to the body due to their small amount in PVC.
- Ceiling film does not emit any odor. It can only be present in the first hours after installing the stretch ceiling, because only when heated does polyvinyl chloride cause harm, releasing toxic substances present in it.
- PVC stretch ceilings do not allow water to pass through, so there will never be leaks - these are big advantages. But the harm is that the following conclusion follows from this: the material does not allow air to pass through. Therefore, rooms with such ceilings cannot be avoided without a constant flow of fresh air through cross ventilation.
Avoiding health hazards from PVC
By following a few rules when installing tension PVC materials, you can only get benefits from it. Regular ventilation of premises will help to avoid the harmful effects of chemicals on the body of people living in them. You cannot install ceilings in saunas and baths, because when heated, the material will begin to release harmful chemical fumes, leading to poisoning. Before purchasing material for stretching on a ceiling surface, you must familiarize yourself with the certificates of its production.
Damage to PVC (polyvinyl chloride) ceilings
Speaking about the health hazards of suspended ceilings, it is necessary to note the existing types of materials and components. The finishing can be made of fabric or PVC film. Each type of stretch ceiling material has its own characteristics.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film is the most popular material for interior decoration these days. This material is also superior in price to fabric sheets - it is cheaper. In addition, PVC film does not require special care, and it can easily withstand high humidity. And if your neighbors on the floor above have a flood - a pipe breaks and you are flooded, then PVC film can easily withstand a fairly large volume of water without even flooding your apartment.
But there are also disadvantages - such coating is very often counterfeited by unscrupulous manufacturers. In this case, the process of manufacturing material components does not occur according to the technology established by the standards. And it becomes more difficult to talk about the quality of such finishing.
Manufacturers of PVC film
Whether a suspended ceiling is harmful to health becomes clear only after an accurate analysis of the manufacturing features of this material. Nowadays, most products for ceiling finishing are supplied to the domestic market by Chinese manufacturers. And among these companies there are many manufacturing companies that create film according to all standards and rules. And their products meet the requirements of international standards. But, unfortunately, not all Chinese manufacturers can boast of high quality.
Once well-known European manufacturers have now significantly reduced the cost of producing ceiling materials. A few years ago their PVC film looked very smooth and shiny and had no smell. Today, their finished materials have lost their former quality.
In Russia, there are no real French, German and Belgian PVC films on our market. And if the seller says that the finishing materials were made in these countries, this is a fake. This type of film is made in China, but perhaps a European company brings it to our country.
Signs of high-quality PVC film
Whether stretch ceilings are harmful to health will also help determine the opinions of buyers and doctors. They claim that good quality products will not harm the human body. But it is not so easy to determine exactly what quality of PVC film is on sale. There are certain quality characteristics.
After installation, PVC film, which is harmless to health, either has no odor at all, or it is barely noticeable and disappears completely about a few days after installation. After installation, it is advised to thoroughly ventilate the room in which the ceiling was installed. PVC films, according to doctors, do not harm health. But when, after installation, the ceiling emits a strong chemical odor for more than a week, then, apparently, the ceiling was made of a material of average quality. Such a suspended ceiling cannot be installed in a children's room or bedroom. But in principle, such material can be used for the hallway, toilet, kitchen. And when the smell does not go away more than 2 weeks after installation, then such a stretch ceiling is considered harmful to health.
Myths about the harmfulness of suspended ceilings
The fact that all suspended ceiling coverings are harmful to health is a myth when it comes to high-quality certified coatings. Even the smell in the room a couple of days after installation is not a reason to think that the coating is harmful to health.
The only thing that doctors and specialists advise is not to install PVC sheets in rooms with high temperatures, because when heated strongly, the coating can release some volatile toxic components.
One thing can be said with confidence - fabric ceilings are completely harmless, so they can be installed in a child’s room and bedroom. Confirmation of the safety of the fabric covering is that it is officially permitted to be installed in medical and children's institutions.
Harmful components of PVC film
When analyzing the health hazards of stretch ceiling materials, it is necessary to examine the impact on the human body of those components that may be included in low-quality PVC film (the smell of which does not dissipate).
Perhaps the most toxic substance of all that is part of low-grade material is phenol . This substance is strictly prohibited from being added to the composition in many countries of the world. Phenol has a bad effect on the functioning of human organs: liver, heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Pulmonary edema, infertility and even cancer can also develop over time. In addition, phenol does not erode for a long time.
Another component hazardous to health is cadmium . This substance is difficult to remove from the body for decades. Cadmium accumulates in the kidneys, liver, and other organs, and, like phenol, can cause the development of cancer.
Toluene can also be included in the PVC film . It has a toxic effect on the body and can cause headaches and sleep disturbances. This substance is also the cause of fetal development pathologies in pregnant women.
PVC film may also contain chlorine, which, when released into the atmosphere, leads to irritation of the mucous membranes in humans. Chlorine can also cause diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract.
Stretch ceilings and human health
Why are suspended ceilings harmful to health?
However, allergies are possible not only to mold spores. More often it happens due to volatile chemical components harmful to health, which are contained in suspended ceiling fabrics produced by unscrupulous manufacturers without any reference to international ISO environmental standards.
Particularly big problems can arise when contacting craftsmen who do not have certificates for carrying out this type of work. Most often, individual entrepreneurs who “sin” are those who have worked for some time in official structures, learned the technology for carrying out such work, and then set off on their own. Yes, their prices for services are 15-20 percent lower, but in order to be more competitive, they purchase the cheapest canvases. And from such paintings the following can stand out:
- Chlorine and cadmium are substances of class II health hazard. Both are carcinogenic.
- Toluene. To make you understand its danger, it is worth saying that toluene is the strongest solvent for organic materials. It does not mix with water, but in a volatile state it mixes well with air. If inhaled, it affects the kidneys, organs of vision and hearing. In pregnant women it causes pathologies of fetal development.
- Phenol. Although it is eliminated from the body quickly, it can cause pulmonary edema. Affects the kidneys, liver, heart.
- Xylene. A very volatile and highly flammable liquid - almost impossible to extinguish. Of course, microscopic doses that can be released from low-quality film do not pose a fire hazard, but for the respiratory system, xylene is a strong allergen that can cause an asthma attack.
Compare several suspended ceiling companies, read reviews, find out the opinions of friends
Waterproof stretch ceilings
When examining how harmful suspended ceilings are, it is necessary to carefully consider such an issue as the waterproofness of PVC film. Some buyers say that this negative feature of such ceiling materials has caused the development of fungi and other harmful organisms on the base of the ceilings.
Important: PVC film also does not allow air to pass through.
But in reality, this is not such a bad drawback. If the residents of the house are attentive to arranging good ventilation in the room, then this problem can be circumvented. If there is no natural or artificial ventilation, then even without a PVC ceiling, high humidity will accumulate in such a room, which will lead to the development of fungus. That is why it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room in order to eliminate health problems in the future.
Doctors' opinions on the health hazards of suspended ceilings
If a material certified according to all ISO standards is used for a stretch ceiling, there will be no health problems for the people who installed it. In this regard, special medical and biological studies were carried out, which revealed that certified materials produced by factories with a license have a content of harmful substances within the following limits:
| Substance released | Safe norm | Fabric base | Polymer continuous film |
| Formaldehyde | 0.01 | No more than 0.003 | Max. 0.01 |
| Phenols | 0.003 | Not exceeding 0.002 | Max. 0.003 |
| Toluene | 0.6 | Less than 0.002 | Max. 0.6 |
| Xylene | 0.4 | No more than 0.006 | No more than 0.002 |
It turns out that if the manufacturing technology is not violated and ISO standards are not exceeded, according to doctors, both fabric and film ceilings are safe for health.
Fabrics
Some buyers are interested in whether fabric stretch ceilings are harmful to health. After all, this kind of material is made of polyester fabric impregnated with polyurethane in order to give the necessary rigidity. A special feature of this material is the ability to pass air through it.
That's why fabric stretch ceilings are more expensive than PVC film. And the quality of this material is much higher. This kind of canvas is always marked, and as a result, it is very difficult to purchase low-quality material. The most popular companies specializing in this material are the French Clipso and the German Descor. The composition of fabric stretch ceilings excludes the presence of substances harmful and hazardous to health. And such ceilings have no smell at all. These canvases can be installed in almost any room. They are harmless and completely safe for both adults and children.
Opinions of experts and doctors
Ceilings emit a specific odor
Each person has his own opinion regarding innovative materials, so they form whole legends. Many of them have a negative characteristic. But in order to know exactly how harmful stretch ceilings are, you need to familiarize yourself with the opinions of doctors.
- Harmful to human health. Everything that is produced and manufactured today must have supporting documents and certificates regarding quality. It is also necessary to have full compliance with international and domestic standards. Therefore, we can conclude that if the entire package of documents is available, it is impossible to unreasonably accuse the material of causing harm.
- Toxic smell. We can agree on this point, but only partially. For example, if we talk about ceilings that are produced on the basis of textiles, they do not have any odor. But PVC film emits a specific odor only for a few hours after installation. It is enough to organize high-quality ventilation to reduce the time period. If the smell does not disappear within a day or two, this means that the material has a low quality rating.
- Lack of air circulation. The almost complete tightness of the stretch ceiling structure means that it will be quite difficult for air to circulate properly. This leads to a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the room. In fact, this opinion is absolutely wrong, since the installation processes provide for the presence of gaps through which the movement of air flow will be normalized.
- Damage to fabric. It would seem, why are fabric stretch ceilings harmful? But there are also myths about this that have not been proven from a scientific point of view. Conscientious manufacturers use exclusively environmentally friendly fabric, without the inclusion of synthetic fibers, which means we can talk about their harmlessness.
Fabric ceilings
To be completely confident in the quality of the purchased product, carefully read the accompanying documentation: quality certificates, laboratory tests and technical indicators.
Doctors' opinion about the ceiling in the bedroom
When examining the opinions of doctors and doctors about whether suspended ceilings are harmful to health, it is necessary to focus on installing such a plan for finishing the room in the nursery and bedroom. It is in these rooms that residents always spend a large amount of time. That is why special requirements are put forward for the quality and composition of the finishing material for the ceiling.
Doctors say that in the nursery and bedroom it is quite possible to install ceilings made of PVC film and fabric. But their quality must remain high. It is necessary to purchase such materials only from trusted sellers and suppliers. There is a practice of falsifying quality certificates. This is why you should not trust unknown installers and companies selling products. In this case, the quality of the ceiling finish may be low.
Greenhouse effect in the room
There is an opinion that suspended ceilings impede the ventilation of the room; the “native” ceiling can become damp and become covered with fungus. We hasten to reassure you that fabric ceilings allow air to pass through perfectly. The fabric for suspended ceilings is made with complex mesh weaving and is “breathable”.
A separate issue is suspended ceilings made of PVC film. Indeed, this is practically the same film as any other, so it cannot be “breathable”. But nevertheless, those who doubt the safety of PVC ceilings do not think to look at their feet, but the linoleum on which we walk every day also does not allow air to pass through and so far no one has complained about fungus under the floor covering.
If there is poor ventilation in the room, even an ordinary concrete ceiling will become damp and collect condensation from steam or gas. The outer surface of the PVC ceiling is ventilated and dried by simple ventilation through a vent or window. And in order to expel air masses inside the tension structure, ventilation ducts are provided, which must be taken care of during the installation of ceilings and ensure that the installers carry them out conscientiously. Usually, a reputable company does not have to remind you of such a small detail; this should be included in the range of ceiling installation services. Especially when it comes to installing a tension structure in the bathroom. This is where ventilation ducts are simply necessary. It is even advisable to install a blade fan for forced, intense air circulation.
In ordinary rooms, ventilation ducts can serve as technological gaps between the walls and the canvas. These cracks are usually covered with ceiling plinths, but this does not interfere with air access.
Expert opinion and advice
When purchasing materials for suspended ceilings, you need to rely on the opinions of experts. They claim that fabric sheets should be installed in the bedroom, living room, office and children's room, since ceilings made from this material are completely harmless. In addition, they have an attractive appearance and have more color options. But materials made from PVC film will be good in wet rooms, for example, a toilet, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Fabrics in such conditions may lose their beautiful appearance. But be sure to remember that poor quality PVC stretch ceilings should not be installed in any room. If ceilings made of this kind of material were installed in a room or apartment, then it should be dismantled immediately. Smart people say that you should not skimp on your health. And if you don’t quickly take appropriate measures to remove harmful material from your home, the consequences can ultimately be the most dire. By examining the opinions of doctors and medical workers about whether stretch ceilings are harmful to health, you can easily select a safe and non-harmful material for finishing indoor ceilings.
How to identify low-quality film
As noted, the harmfulness of suspended ceilings can be identified after their installation. This is done by smell. There are three conventional types into which structures can be divided:
- Safe - after installation, vinyl has absolutely no odor or has a subtle odor that disappears after 1-3 days. It is recommended to ventilate the room during these days and not fear for your health. The film can be installed in any room.
- With limited scope. It smells like it for several weeks. It is better not to be indoors during this period and be sure to provide ventilation.
- Dangerous. You can identify them by their smell, which does not disappear after two to three weeks of use. It is quite strong and has a sweetish nuance. This is usually what phenols smell like. This system needs to be urgently dismantled.
Unfortunately, special labeling for PVC sheets has not yet been invented, which leads to the presence of a huge range of counterfeit products.
