Background
False ceilings are widely used in buildings to improve aesthetics and conceal utilities such as HVAC ducts, fire safety sprinkler lines, plumbing, electrical wiring, and trays. These lightweight, non-load bearing panels are suspended from the structural concrete ceiling slabs.
While false ceilings enhance the visual appeal of a space, they can pose challenges during inspections, particularly when there are suspected issues with the systems concealed within the plenum (the space between the false ceiling and the structural ceiling). To conduct a thorough visual inspection and identify problem areas, ceiling panels must often be removed, which can be both costly and time-consuming, especially if the space is high and difficult to access, even with standard ladders.
The Elios 3 Confined Space UAV provides a more efficient and cost-effective solution for performing inspections within the plenum space, eliminating the need for extensive manual labor and reducing downtime.
Case Study: Inspection of Plenum Space in False Ceiling of a Shopping Mall Using the Elios 3
The VISCOY team recently conducted an inspection using the Elios 3 UAV to inspect the plenum space above a 20-meter stretch of false ceiling in the service corridor of a local shopping mall. Facility management suspected a water leakage issue within the wall inside the plenum but struggled to pinpoint its exact location. The situation was further complicated by the large volume of plenum space—3 meters between the concrete ceiling and the false ceiling.
Under conventional methods, inspecting the entire 20-meter service corridor would require the removal of all false ceiling panels. Manual inspections would necessitate the use of scaffolding, allowing inspectors to reach the high plenum space. This approach would result in significant downtime, estimated to last at least one week.
Instead, the VISCOY team proposed using the Elios 3 for a comprehensive visual inspection of the plenum. To facilitate access, three ceiling panels were removed, allowing the UAV to enter the plenum space.
The Elios 3 is designed for stable flight in GPS-denied environments and can perform contact-based flights, enabling it to navigate safely within the congested plenum space, which was filled with HVAC ducts, fire safety sprinkler lines, plumbing, and electrical wiring.
The entire inspection was completed in just 30 minutes, successfully locating the water leak. Additionally, the UAV identified and documented other areas of concern, capturing high-resolution images of potential issues during the inspection.
Key Benefits of Using the Elios 3 Confined Space UAV:
- Speed: The Elios 3 UAV completed the inspection in just 30 minutes, drastically reducing downtime in the service corridor compared to the anticipated one-week downtime using conventional scaffolding methods.
- Safety: The Elios 3 UAV eliminates the need for operators to work at heights, significantly improving safety during inspections.
- Comprehensive Documentation: High-resolution images of identified defects are captured and tagged, creating a detailed, verifiable record that can be referenced for future analysis.
- Ease of Deployment: The UAV system can be quickly deployed in challenging or hazardous environments, minimizing operational downtime and enhancing overall efficiency.
Repeatability: Inspections can be consistently repeated with high precision, ensuring reliable and reproducible results over time.
Conclusion
The Elios 3 Confined Space UAV proves to be an invaluable tool for inspecting plenum spaces within false ceilings. By offering a safer, faster, and more efficient alternative to conventional inspection methods, it allows building managers to address maintenance issues promptly, minimize disruptions, and ensure the long-term integrity of critical systems.
