ᐅ What’s underneath there?

We bought this house built in 1978, and today I fiddled with one of the fake beams since it was already sagging a bit. These "beams" feel like styrofoam, and underneath there seems to be a steel girder. At least that’s what I think, as I haven’t removed the beam yet.
Does anyone have any idea what might be hidden underneath? And if anyone has suggestions for alternatives to styrofoam beams, please share. Good suggestions will be rewarded with Belgian beer. 😉

Hello Dirk,
Thanks for your reply!
Yes, there is indeed a steel beam under that one element. I have read several times that a special fire protection cladding has to be installed there. Is that correct? I can’t imagine that was done in 1978. At least in the living room, it was covered with wood for a really rustic feel.
Best regards, Jules

Hello,

I can well imagine that fire protection needs to be considered here, as steel beams suddenly lose their strength in the event of a fire. So either a fire protection coating (special paint) or covering with drywall panels.

Regards

One more thing. Please make sure for your own safety that the material is asbestos-free before you start tearing it down. The year of construction, fire protection, and other factors make me cautious.

Yes, I looked at the cladding today and will proceed with it as planned.
However, the issue with asbestos is now weighing on my mind. I thought it was just ugly polystyrene foam...
Thanks for the warning!

Ok, I recently had an inspector come by who gave the all-clear. It’s really just an unattractive cladding. You can even order these panels online if anyone is looking for a rustic look. I will have a new U-shaped cladding made from these fire protection boards, and that will be fine.
Thanks to everyone, those were helpful suggestions.