The ceiling was already finished and painted when we discovered an important detail about the Santa & Cole Lámina 85.
The electrical point had been reinforced with plywood. But the actual suspension points were somewhere else.
There was another problem. An approximately 50 mm opening had already been made in the ceiling for the power cable, assuming that an ordinary lighting canopy would cover it.
It didn't.
The Lámina 85 uses very slim ceiling hardware, so part of the opening remained visible. The finished ceiling had to be patched and painted again.
Neither problem was particularly difficult to solve. But both could have been avoided if the actual fixture and installation drawing had been checked before the gypsum-board ceiling was closed and painted.
This is what we learned from installing the Lámina 85 on an actual interior project in Korea.
| Fixture | Santa & Cole Lámina 85 |
| Fixture weight | Approx. 3.7 kg |
| Suspension-point spacing | Approx. 860 mm |
| Position from center | Approx. 430 mm each side |
| Existing ceiling opening | Approx. 50 mm — too large to conceal |
| Preferred power opening | Approx. 30 mm or less |
| Best approach | Minimum opening needed for the cable |
| Ceiling preparation | Reinforce the actual suspension points |
| Installation crew | 2 people recommended |
| Dimming | Check driver/control compatibility |
The approximately 30 mm opening is our field recommendation based on this installation. It is not a manufacturer-specified drilling diameter.
Whenever possible, make only the minimum opening necessary to bring the power cable through the ceiling.
A Brief Look at Santa & Cole and the Lámina 85
The Lámina 85 is made by Santa & Cole, a Spanish design company associated with Barcelona.
Designed by Antoni Arola, the Lámina series uses a linear LED source together with a thin curved shade to create reflected illumination.
The fixture looks extremely simple once installed.
That simplicity, however, makes the installation details more important. There is very little ceiling hardware available to hide an oversized opening, inaccurate mounting position or unfinished surface.
According to the manufacturer's specifications, the Lámina 85 uses an integrated 31 W LED, with a 2700 K color temperature, CRI 90, approximately 1,394 lm output and a fixture weight of approximately 3.7 kg.
For us, however, the most important specification was not the wattage.
It was the mounting geometry.
1. The First Problem: A 50 mm Ceiling Opening
The ceiling at this project had been newly covered with gypsum board.
Because we had not been given the actual lighting model in advance, the electrical point was prepared much as it would be for an ordinary ceiling fixture.
The power cable was brought through an opening approximately 50 mm wide.
Normally, a ceiling canopy or mounting plate would easily conceal an opening like this.
When we unpacked the Lámina 85 and positioned its mounting hardware, however, we immediately saw the problem.
The ceiling hardware was too slim to cover the entire opening.
Part of the hole remained visible.
The painting crew therefore had to return, reduce the opening, repair the surface and finish the paint again.
Better still, we would make only the minimum opening required to pull the power cable through.
50 mm was too large on our installation.
Do not assume that a designer pendant will have a conventional canopy large enough to hide the electrical opening.
Again, 30 mm is not an official Santa & Cole drilling specification. It is our practical recommendation based on this installation.
Check the actual mounting hardware before cutting the finished ceiling.
2. The More Important Problem: We Reinforced the Wrong Location
There was already plywood reinforcement behind the electrical point.
That would normally be good preparation.
For many pendant lights, the central electrical point is also where most of the fixture is mechanically supported.
The Lámina 85 is different.
The fixture uses two additional suspension points approximately 860 mm apart — roughly 430 mm to each side of the center.
This meant we had prepared reinforcement at the center while the suspension system required support at two separate locations.
The electrical preparation was there.
The plywood was there.
But it was not where we would ideally have wanted it for the
suspension points.
This is probably the single most important lesson from this installation.
When dealing with an unfamiliar architectural or designer light, never assume that the electrical supply point and the mechanical support points are the same.
Check the mounting drawing first.
3. Was Fixing the Suspension Points to Drywall a Problem?
By the time we discovered the actual suspension arrangement, the ceiling work was already complete.
The ceiling consisted of two layers of approximately 10 mm gypsum board, and the surface finishing and painting had already been completed.
Opening the ceiling again would have meant damaging completed work and repeating several finishing processes.
The central mounting point itself was already securely fixed to the plywood-reinforced area.
The two additional suspension points also do not individually carry the entire 3.7 kg weight of the fixture. The load is distributed through the mounting and suspension structure.
Under these site conditions, we used appropriate drywall anchors suitable for the existing gypsum-board ceiling at the two suspension locations and proceeded with the installation.
Under the normal static load of the fixture, we did not observe any problem with the installation.
What we cannot determine from the normal static condition is how a drywall-only fixing would perform if the fixture were subjected to an unusual physical impact or strong pulling force.
For that reason, our preferred method for a new installation would still be different.
This does not mean that every completed drywall ceiling must automatically be opened again.
It means that when reinforcement can be planned in advance, providing it is the better construction practice and offers greater mechanical security against conditions beyond the normal static load.
What We Would Prepare Next Time
A few minutes spent checking the drawing before the carpentry stage can prevent significant rework later.
4. The Actual Installation Is Not Particularly Difficult
Once the ceiling preparation is correct, the fixture itself is not especially complicated for an electrician experienced with lighting work.
The suspension cable passes through a small opening in the supporting component, and the locking piece secures it in position.
The supplied installation instructions explain the assembly procedure clearly.
In our experience, an electrician who carefully reads the instructions should be able to understand the installation without difficulty.
The challenge is knowing what needs to be prepared before the electrician reaches the finished ceiling.
Two People Are Recommended
Although the Lámina 85 weighs only around 3.7 kg, its long and thin construction makes installation awkward for one person.
One installer needs to support and protect the shade while the other handles the suspension cables, electrical connection, height adjustment and final leveling.
This is particularly important during the final adjustment.
With a long linear pendant, even a small difference in suspension height can be visually noticeable.
The issue is not simply the weight.
It is the size, shape and need to protect the thin shade while accurately adjusting both suspension points.
5. One Unexpected Issue: Dimming Noise
After completing the installation, we encountered another issue.
When the Lámina 85 was connected to the dimmer installed at this site, the fixture produced vibration and audible noise.
We therefore removed the dimming function and operated the fixture with a conventional switch.
This does not mean that the Lámina 85 is inherently non-dimmable.
Santa & Cole specifies dimming and control options for the Lámina 85 depending on the product version and market.
We did not independently determine the exact electrical cause of the vibration and noise at this site.
For that reason, we will not attribute it to the fixture, LED driver or dimmer without measurement.
If dimming is required, confirm the exact fixture version, LED driver and specified control method before selecting or connecting the dimmer.
In our case, conventional switching eliminated the problem.
6. The Finished Result
After the ceiling opening was repaired, the suspension points installed and the fixture carefully leveled, the final result was clean and minimal.
The Lámina 85 does not look like a conventional pendant light.
Its linear light source directs light toward the thin curved shade, producing reflected illumination and giving the fixture its distinctive appearance.
The same minimal design that makes it visually attractive also makes accurate ceiling preparation more important.
There is nowhere to hide a large opening.
There is little tolerance for visibly misplaced mounting points.
And because the fixture is long, poor leveling is easy to notice.
What We Would Do Differently Next Time
If another Lámina 85 arrived on site tomorrow, we would not start by looking at the wires.
We would look at the ceiling.
Before any gypsum board or painting work, we would:
- Confirm the exact fixture model.
- Check the manufacturer's installation drawing.
- Mark the two suspension locations approximately 860 mm apart.
- Prepare structural reinforcement at the actual suspension points.
- Keep the electrical opening as small as practical.
- Confirm the required dimming/control method before selecting the wall control.
- Plan for two installers during mounting and leveling.
None of these steps is particularly difficult.
The problem is that they become much more difficult after the ceiling has been finished and painted.
1. Where does the power enter?
2. Where is the fixture actually supported?
3. What part of the ceiling will remain visible after installation?
For this Santa & Cole Lámina 85 installation, those three questions would have prevented almost every problem we encountered.
The electrical connection itself was not the difficult part.
The important work should have happened earlier — during coordination between the lighting plan, electrical work, carpentry and finishing work.
This article documents an actual Electric Korea field installation in Korea. Site conditions, ceiling construction, anchors, electrical systems and product versions may differ. Field observations in this article should not replace the manufacturer's installation instructions or an assessment of the actual supporting structure.
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