What siniat furring channel clip spacing for ceiling?

[bh619]

I am about to be installing a clip and furring channel system to get a level surface for re-hanging my ceiling.

The easiest way to get a level surface would be to use the Siniat 80mm direct fix furring clip drop screwed into the vertical face of the existing truss beams. These truss beams are spaced at 1040mm between each one, and I am wondering if that distance is too far between clips that are supporting the same channel?

(I will be installing furring channels at 450mm centre spacing).

[JacobZ]

Hi @bh619,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Unfortunately that would be too far between clips to comply with Siniat's design considerations.

In the Siniat Plasterboard Installation Guide, you can see the relevant span tables for Siniat furring channels. Having a look at the spans shown on pages 32 and 33, to span that distance, you would need to use these Siniat 22 x 6100mm 0.42bmt Cyclonic Battens.

For these battens, you would need to use these Siniat 150mm Direct Fix Ceiling Batten Clips as opposed to the furring clips you've mentioned.

Let me know what you think, and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[bh619]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly Jacob - would I be able to use the Siniat 80mm direct fix ceiling batten clip drop (see attached pic)? I see that Bunnings no longer stock that item, but if I can find elsewhere it would better for my needs I think (if it’s suitable for this project) - so I don’t either drop the ceiling too low, or have the tops of the clips poking up above the trusses too high for walking around in the ceiling in future. 

 

edit:

I was just looking a bit more, and I don’t think that the cyclonic battens are made to fit into that clip system? I think the cyclonic battens are directly fixed to the underside of the truss beams via their large flange?

If that’s the case, then they wouldn’t be suitable for my project, as I know the truss beams are not perfectly level, and need the clips to create a new level surface.

Is there another clip and channel system that can be spaced at 1040mm between clips? (I live in Perth - if that’s makes a difference with wind zones etc.)

[JacobZ]

Hi @bh619,

Apologies, you are correct that those batten clips would not work with the cyclonic batten.

It's getting pretty complicated at this point, but you could use Siniat 25 x 3600mm 0.75bmt Top Cross Rails with the below clips (Code - C66), then connect the Siniat Furring Channel to the top cross rails with Siniat Furring Channel to Cross Rail Clips. You can account for the different height of the trusses with the Top Cross Rail clips, then you'd just have to set them out, so they are spaced within the span capacity of your chosen furring channels.

You will end up with the top cross rails running perpendicular to the trusses and the furring channels running perpendicular to the top cross rails, which would be parallel to the trusses. This kind of ceiling is pretty common in commercial applications, so there are plenty of resources out there, but it is fairly complex.

Outside of Siniat's system, there is the Rondo KEY-LOCK® Direct Fix Ceiling System, which we can order from our supplier, CSR. This option would likely be better because the Gyprock CSR 16mm Rondo® 308 Furring Channel can span that distance when using the Gyprock CSR Rondo® 394 Direct Fix Clip For Furring Channels.

Of the two options, the Rondo system would be much simpler, and I have a decent amount of experience with that system if you have further questions about it.

If you'd like to explore this option, you'll have to speak with your local store's Trade Desk or Special Orders desk for assistance.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[bh619]

Thanks Jacob,

I think I’ll go with the rondo system - thanks for your help!

[garryjoz]

Hi Jacob,

Maybe this could be looked at again.
I have been looking at this for my own garage reno project.

The tables you linked to refer to spacing requirements for the Siniat domestic batten, which is not the same as the furring channel. The furring channel is stronger.
The span tables for the Siniat 18mm and 28mm furring channels can be found on the Siniat site here https://media.siniat.com/pi831318/original/-40710647/siniat-blueprint-v4_2025-april_section-5.1-ceil...
See the explanation of spans and channel spacing on page 566 and tables for 28mm and 18mm channels on the following pages. .
It would appear that the original questioner bh619 may be in luck because the allowable spans are significantly greater for the furring channel, especially if the channel is clipped to more than one ceiling frame over its length, the 28mm channel is used rather than the 18mm channel, and the channels are closer (eg 450mm rather than 600mm).
Cheers,
Garry

[JacobZ]

Hi @garryjoz,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Apologies for the error, you are absolutely correct, the span tables shown in Siniat's Blueprint V4 2025 Section 5.1-ceilings show that in specific situations their furring channels can span 1040mm like in the original question.

I appreciate you reaching out to clarify. Allow me to tag @bh619 so they are notified of this information.

Jacob