OWA Ceiling Tiles Guide: Sandila/N, Mezz Pro and CLIQ 24 Grid
OWA is one of the best-known names in mineral fibre suspended ceiling tiles, and the OWAcoustic premium range is a popular choice for offices, shops, schools and mezzanine floors. We stock two OWA tile ranges, Sandila/N for general use and Mezz Pro for fire-resistant ceilings under steel mezzanines, plus OWA's CLIQ 24 exposed grid to hang them from. This guide explains what each one is for, using OWA's published datasheets, and how to put a complete ceiling together.
Quick answer
- Choose OWA Sandila/N for a standard office, shop, classroom or commercial ceiling. It is a 15mm white mineral fibre tile with a sand covered, needle perforated finish, Class C sound absorption (αw 0.60) and A2-s1,d0 reaction to fire.
- Choose OWA Mezz Pro only where you need a fire-resistant ceiling under a steel mezzanine. OWA rates it at REI 60 in its specified mezzanine system.
- Use OWA CLIQ 24 grid if you want to keep to one brand. Both tiles are 600 × 600mm modules for a 24mm exposed tee grid.
OWA Sandila/N: the general-purpose tile
OWA describes Sandila/N (part of its OWAcoustic premium collection) as a high quality, cost-effective Class C tile for general use, particularly offices, retail and education, where it lowers reverberation times in moderately noisy areas. We stock it in two edge types:
- Sandila/N E3 square edge: lies flat in the grid and is the quickest to fit. Box of 12 tiles (4.32m²), £51.80 ex VAT.
- Sandila/N E6 tegular 24: a rebated edge that drops the tile face below the grid for a semi-concealed look. It is for 24mm grid only. Box of 10 tiles (3.6m²), £48.50 ex VAT.
Per square metre that works out at £11.99 for the E3 and £13.47 for the E6, but remember the boxes hold different areas, so price the whole room rather than comparing boxes.
OWA Mezz Pro: the mezzanine tile
Mezz Pro is a 15mm painted, perforated, sand covered mineral tile made for spaces where a ceiling under a steel mezzanine has to resist fire for 60 minutes, such as shops, warehouses and storage areas. OWA's datasheet gives a fire resistance of REI 60 minutes under a steel mezzanine (tested to BS 476: Part 21), and says this depends on the system, dimensions, soffit and other specific factors. It also states that the tile is only certified as a complete OWA system, so if you need the fire rating, speak to OWA and your building control body before you substitute any part of the ceiling. We stock OWA Mezz Pro E3 in boxes of 12 (4.32m²) at £49.95 ex VAT, which is £11.56 per m².
Sandila/N vs Mezz Pro: the data
Figures are from the OWA Sandila/N datasheet (OD374, Jan 2026) and the OWA Mezz Pro datasheet (OD377, Jan 2026).
| Sandila/N | Mezz Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 15mm classic mineral, painted, sand covered, needled | 15mm performance mineral, painted, sand covered, perforated |
| Edges we stock | Square (E3), Tegular 24 (E6) | Square (E3) |
| Module | 600 × 600mm | 600 × 600mm |
| Sound absorption | αw 0.60, Class C | αw 0.55, Class D |
| Sound insulation (room to room) | Dnfw 31 dB | Dnfw 31 dB |
| Reaction to fire | A2-s1,d0 | A2-s1,d0 |
| Fire resistance | Depends on system, dimensions and soffit | REI 60 under a steel mezzanine, in OWA's specified system |
| Humidity | Up to 95% RH | Up to 95% RH |
| Light reflectance | 87% | 87% |
| Weight | Approx. 4.3 kg/m² | Approx. 5.4 kg/m² |
| Recycled content | 44% | 55% |
| Cleaning | Vacuum only | Vacuum only |
| Tile warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
Two things in that table are easy to mix up. Reaction to fire (A2-s1,d0) describes how the tile burns and is the same for both. Fire resistance (REI 60) describes how long a whole ceiling construction holds back a fire, and only Mezz Pro is published with that rating, in a specific mezzanine system.
What the figures mean for your room
Absorption and insulation
Sound absorption (αw, Class A to E) controls echo inside the room, and a Class C tile like Sandila/N suits offices, shops and classrooms with moderate noise. Sound insulation (Dnfw) is how well the ceiling stops sound travelling over a partition through the void into the next room, where both OWA tiles publish 31 dB. If you want a Class A tile for a noisy open-plan space, see our comparison of Rockfon vs OWA ceiling tiles.
Humidity
Both tiles are rated by OWA up to 95% relative humidity, so they are suitable for normal commercial interiors. They are cleaned by vacuuming only, so they are not the right choice where you need to wipe the ceiling down.
Square edge or tegular?
Square edge tiles are the cheapest and quickest to fit, and OWA's datasheet lists them for 24mm or 15mm tee grid. Tegular 24 tiles (E6) sit with the face below the grid and need a 24mm grid. Where a tegular tile is cut to fit at the perimeter, the cut edge needs a new rebate on site so it sits level with the full tiles.
OWA CLIQ 24 grid
OWA's CLIQ 24 is an exposed, demountable grid with a 24mm face. The main runners and cross tees are galvanised steel with a white finish and click together with connectors at the ends. For a 600 × 600mm layout you need main runners, 1200mm cross tees, 600mm cross tees and a perimeter trim. We stock:
| Component | Box | Price (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| CLIQ 24 main runner, 3600mm | 20 lengths (72m) | £97.90 |
| CLIQ 24 cross tee, 1200mm | 60 (72m) | £97.90 |
| CLIQ 24 cross tee, 600mm | 60 (36m) | £48.95 |
| OWA 51/32G perimeter trim, 3000mm | 30 lengths (90m) | £114.95 |
OWA's system sheet gives a minimum suspension height of 75 to 100mm depending on the existing soffit, and recommends 120mm or more for easy access to the void. Allow for hanger wire and fixings too: our suspended ceiling calculator works out the boxes of tiles, grid, wire and fixings for your room size. To add thermal and acoustic insulation above the tiles, see our ceiling insulation.
Worked example: a 20m² office
For a 20m² room with square edge Sandila/N tiles, 20 ÷ 4.32 = 4.6, so you need 5 boxes of E3 (21.6m²). That is 5 × £51.80 = £259.00 ex VAT for the tiles. Always round up to whole boxes because tiles are sold in full boxes only, and the cuts at the walls use up some of the extra tiles. The grid, hanger wire and fixings are on top of that, and the calculator above gives the full list.
Frequently asked questions
Are OWA ceiling tiles fire rated?
Both Sandila/N and Mezz Pro have A2-s1,d0 reaction to fire. Only Mezz Pro is published with a fire resistance (REI 60 under a steel mezzanine in OWA's specified system). For any fire-resisting ceiling, check the specification with your designer or building control.
Can I use OWA tiles in a different brand of grid?
For general use, a 600 × 600mm tile made for a 24mm exposed grid fits any standard 24mm exposed grid, and keeping to one grid brand within a ceiling helps the components click together properly. For the Mezz Pro fire rating, OWA says the tile is only certified as a complete OWA system.
Do you sell 1200 × 600mm OWA tiles?
OWA makes Sandila/N in 1200 × 600mm on request, but it is not a UK stock size, so we list 600 × 600mm online. Call us for a quote on 1200 × 600mm.
Can I buy single tiles?
No. OWA tiles and grid are sold in full boxes only.
Do OWA tiles come with a warranty?
OWA gives a 10 year warranty on the tile. Its datasheets mention a longer installed-system warranty that is project specific and needs a signed warranty document, so ask OWA if you want that.
Order OWA ceiling tiles and grid
Browse the full OWA range, all ceiling tiles and ceiling grid. Prices are shown ex VAT. We are delivery only (no collection) and deliver to mainland England. Suspended ceiling orders (tiles, grid and hanger wire) have a £350 ex VAT minimum and free delivery (see delivery information). Call us on 03330 908479 (Mon–Thu 8am–5pm, Fri 8am–12pm), email sales@insulationwarehousedirect.co.uk, or order online.
Sources: OWA Sandila/N datasheet OD374; OWA Mezz Pro datasheet OD377; OWA CLIQ exposed demountable system sheet. Prices ex VAT and correct at the time of writing.