What Makes Ceiling Hung Suspended Grids Earthquake Resistant?

In seismic regions, ceiling hung grids must resist lateral movement and prevent panel collapse. Our earthquake-resistant system uses reinforced main runners with deformable steel inserts that bend under stress without fracturing. Hangers attach to structure with seismic clips that allow vertical movement while restraining horizontal displacement. Cross-runners are fixed with positive-lock clips that secure panels under shaking, meeting ASTM C635 seismic design category D requirements. Additionally, we install perimeter wall angles with continuous anchorage to distribute forces evenly. Lateral bracing cables—tensioned between opposite grid edges—form a stabilizing mesh that limits drift to under L/240. Aluminum panels feature interlocking bevel edges, ensuring they remain in place even with grid distortion. For façade soffits, we add expansion joints at regular intervals to decouple thermal movement from seismic loads. Full system testing simulates accelerations up to 1.0 g, verifying no panel dislodgement. This robust design provides building owners and occupants confidence that ceiling planks and tiles remain secure during and after earthquakes.