I live in a building that was built around 1950, the ceilings are plaster, and there is radiant heat in the ceiling, above the plaster. My apartment’s plaster ceiling was in horrible shape so it had to come down. Since plaster tends to crack, I would prefer a drywall ceiling. (Plaster usually cracks because the building sways a lot, especially in winter when it’s windy).

I’m wondering whether the radiant heat in the ceiling could cause drywall to fail. I’m not quite sure how hot the radiant heat fins get in the middle of winter….but they are probably pretty hot given that the heat can be felt in the floor above (which is about 16” above the radiant heat fins, and through a metal deck and concrete).

Here are photos of one of the radiant heat fins. The framing that was used for the plaster’s metal lath is pictured in the photos. That would need to be removed and replaced with a ceiling suspension system for drywall. That means that the 5/8” drywall would be about 2”-3" below the radiant heat fins.

If you have any thoughts or insight, thank you in advance!