Fire resistant ceiling furring system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A fire resistant ceiling furring system comprising: support joists in generally parallel alignment having a bottom surface and a side surface; furring clips attaching furring channels to the joists, said clips having a flat body portion with upper joist engageable means fastened to said joists and lower furring channel engageable means engaging furring channels, said upper engageable means comprising at least one tab bottom extending from an upper edge of said body portion and said lower engageable means comprising a flange extending at generally righ angles from said body portion, said flange having end folds at opposite ends thereof, said end folds rebent under said flange to opposingly face and create opposing slots engaging flanges of a furring channel; furring channels in generally parallel alignment at substantially ring angles to said joists thereby forming a generally grid-like configuration, said furring channels connected at grid intersection points to said joists by means of said furring clips wherein said furring channels have a lower attachment surface and upper sideward extending flanges engaged by the slots of said furring clips for supportive engagement and wherein at least one flange is screw-attached to the furring clip; first resistant gypsum ceiling panels affixed to the lower attachment surfaces of said furring channels by mechanical fastener means; and, mineral fiber insulation provided for substantially the full expance of the ceiling and being disposed above, and supported by, said furring channels forming a continuous layer beneath said joists and having a thickness no greater than the depth of the furring clip body portion; whereby upon exposure to heat from below the furring channels continue to support the mineral fiber insulation and remain engaged to said ceiling panels during heat distortion by means of said furring clips retaining the sideward extending flanges of the furring channels, wherein the fire resistant ceiling panels are held in place and retard cracking and contraction from said heat, whereby said mineral fiber insulation reduces heat transmission to said joists thereby retarding harmful distortion to said joists to inhibit flame spread and heat damage to uppoer building portions above said fire resistant ceiling furring system