Luminares in suspended ceilings

[gray roberts]

An inspector told me that lights in suspended ceilings are required to be wired to the building structure independent of the ceiling grid support. He said that can lights are required to have 1 wire & 2X4 lay-ins are required to have 2 wires. I know that 410.36(B) covers fixtures in suspended ceilings but it doesn't require separate fixture support wires, only that he grid be adequately supported, locked together and the fixtures be fastened to the grid. Is there another section that covers it?

 

[infinity]

NEC requires fastening only to the grid, anything further would come out of the building code.

 

[mgookin]

NEC requires fastening only to the grid, anything further would come out of the building code.

Or fire code and it could come via NFPA 101 or a local or state amendment. Logic is fire dept comes in with an axe to find fire above a ceiling. They don't want your 2x4 fixtures coming down with the ceiling.

 

[GoldDigger]

NEC requires fastening only to the grid, anything further would come out of the building code.

However, depending on how you are wiring to the luminaires, you may need to put in additional support wires anyway, just not to suspend the luminaires themselves.

 

[roger]

An inspector told me that lights in suspended ceilings are required to be wired to the building structure independent of the ceiling grid support. He said that can lights are required to have 1 wire & 2X4 lay-ins are required to have 2 wires. I know that 410.36(B) covers fixtures in suspended ceilings but it doesn't require separate fixture support wires, only that he grid be adequately supported, locked together and the fixtures be fastened to the grid. Is there another section that covers it?

Ask the inspector what code he is referencing.


Roger

 

[infinity]

However, depending on how you are wiring to the luminaires, you may need to put in additional support wires anyway, just not to suspend the luminaires themselves.

True, I should have emphasized that the building code is the only possible requirement.