Reading room ceiling report sept2010

Reading Room Ceiling
In July 2010 the Reading Room Working Committee consulted user groups and individual residents regarding whether or not a replacement suspended ceiling should be installed in the Reading Room. A simple survey was circulated to village groups and was made available on the village web site (www.helmdon.com).
5 village organisations responded (Women’s Club, WI, Churchyard, PCC and WEA).
Of these organisations 3 were in favour of reinstating the ceiling and 2 were against.
Responses were received from 7 individuals, 2 of whom were in favour of reinstating the ceiling and 5 were against.
By counting all the individual responses as a virtual organisation response, and taking the majority view, the result is 3 for, 3 against.
For
Against
Of the responses in favour of reinstating a suspended ceiling the main reason was to improve acoustic performance, followed by improving energy efficiency.
The conclusion is that opinion is divided very evenly between reinstating a ceiling and leaving it open.
Leaving the ceiling open is the more expensive option:
New Suspended Ceiling Left Open
– £4,000
Decoration of hall £3,300 £4,600
Cost of suspended ceiling £2,350 –
Cost of concealing wiring – £1,175
£5,650 £9,775
Insulation
Total Cost
Running costs would also be higher with the ceiling left open as there would be additional cleaning costs (to reach those high cobwebs!) and potentially higher heating costs.
Recommendation
The Reading Room Working Committee, having considered all the options and having consulted the users of the Reading Room and individual residents, recommends that a suspended ceiling be reinstated in the Reading Room.

The Reading Room Working Committee obtained two quotes* for a suspended ceiling and recommends Mezzstore (www.mezzstore.com). The quote (£1,998 +
VAT) is for the supply and installation of a 60m 2 suspended ceiling system with 600 x
600 mm white acoustic-grade tiles with a white aluminium grid frame. The ceiling will be insulated with 200mm fibre glass insulation above. All materials used to be compliant with current building regulations and safety specifications.
The Reading Room Working Committee believes this will provide the required energy and acoustic performance to suit the users of the Reading Room. A sample tile has been requested and will hopefully be available to view at the Reading Room
Management Committee meeting.
It is therefore proposed “That the quote from Mezzstore of £1,988 + VAT
for a suspended ceiling for the Reading Room be accepted. The work to be carried out as soon as can be arranged.”
The Reading Room Working Party
September 2010
*The second quote was from Tapper Interiors for £1,623 + VAT. Whilst this quote was the cheaper of the two quotes received the Reading Room Working Committee considered the
Mezzstore quote to represent better value for money in terms of quality of workmanship, service and reliability.