According to the National Fire Protection Association, Standard 13 for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems,
§3.3.61.1.1, a drop-out ceiling is “a suspended ceiling system, which
is installed below the [fire suppression] sprinklers, with listed
translucent or opaque panels that are heat sensitive and fall from their
setting when exposed to heat.” A drop ceiling allows fire suppression
sprinklers to be located above a suspended grid ceiling, out of sight
but still fully functional.
Fire and life-safety is a concern for
anyone owning or operating a building. Certain types of occupancies
require fire suppression sprinklers, which are usually quite visible. In
places with suspended grid ceilings, sprinklers are often seen poking
through holes in the centers of ceiling panels. The installation of
these penetrating sprinklers, especially in coordination with ceiling
installation, is an expensive and time-consuming process. The
pass-through heads add to the visual clutter of the ceiling and
complicate cleaning and above-ceiling maintenance work.