Suspended-ceiling grid anatomy — mains, cross tees, wall molding, hanger wire, and tile
The parts of a drop ceiling: main beams 4 ft o.c. perpendicular to the joists, 4-ft and 2-ft cross tees filling between them, wall molding around the room, tiles dropped in, and 12-ga hanger wire at 4 ft o.c. holding the mains to the joists.
What this diagram shows
A plan view of one corner of a suspended-ceiling grid with each part named. Heavy horizontal lines are the main beams, which run perpendicular to the joists on 4-foot centers and ship in 12-foot lengths. Vertical lines between the mains are the 4-foot (48-inch) cross tees, and lighter horizontal lines splitting each cell are the 2-foot (24-inch) cross tees that create a 2-by-2 pattern. A frame around the grid is the wall molding, which rings the room in 12-foot lengths, and one shaded square is a lay-in ceiling tile. A section callout above shows a 12-gauge hanger wire zig-zagging up from a main beam to an eye-lag screwed into a joist, spaced 4 feet on center with the ends kept within 8 inches of the walls, and labels the plenum as the space above the grid.
Drop Ceiling Calculator
Free drop ceiling calculator: full and border tiles, main beams, cross tees, wall angle, and 12-ga hanger wires for a suspended T-bar grid. No signup.
