bighills
Member
- Location
- Mooresville NC
I need to run EMT up a column and thru a drop ceiling tile. Any NEC. issues with this? Or Fire code violations? Maybe seal with fire caulk? Thanks fot the help. Im in Charlotte, NC.
Emt thru drop ceiling tiles
- Thread starter bighills
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Pierre C Belarge
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
The column is penetrating the ceiling tiles, is it not?
I do not see any NEC issues. There may be an issue with the firemarshal if the ceiling is fire rated.
I do not see any NEC issues. There may be an issue with the firemarshal if the ceiling is fire rated.
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
They make kinda white fire chalk...
tyha
Senior Member
- Location
- central nc
there are no issues except for fire rating. And drop ceilings are rarely fire rated. They used to be alot of times. Or let me rephrase that. Alot of older buildings needed them to be so when you go back and renovate you have to fire rate them. a way to check for this is to see if either all holes coming out the top of the walls around the ceiling are fire sealed or the top plate stud of the wall has a sheetrock "cap" on it on top of the wall. you need to seal if your in a commercial kitchen as well.
You may want to check on that, just about all ceiling tiles have a fire rating, and there are specs that range all over the place, so you really have to be careful and check on the fire requirements, for each installation, as they may differ.
If it is a plenum ceiling with "milk crate/ grille tiles" for return air, then I can't imagine the 1/8" or less around your conduit will be an issue. If it is a kitchen with drywall tiles, return air ducts (non plenum ceiling) you might be wise to consult the ahj.
There is another consideration, depending on the seismic zone that you are in. In seismic design categories D, E, and F, ASCE 7 which is referenced by the IBC requires among other things:
"Except where rigid braces are used to limit lateral deflections, sprinkler heads and other penetrations shall have a 2 in. over size ring, sleeve, or adapter through the ceiling tile to allow for free movement of at least 1 in. in all horizontal directions." (ASCE 7, 9.6.2.6.2.2 e.)
This is to allow for side to side movement of the ceiling grid in a earthquake. I think the EMT might be considered to be an "other penetration". In my area at least, rigid braces are not typically used.
"Except where rigid braces are used to limit lateral deflections, sprinkler heads and other penetrations shall have a 2 in. over size ring, sleeve, or adapter through the ceiling tile to allow for free movement of at least 1 in. in all horizontal directions." (ASCE 7, 9.6.2.6.2.2 e.)
This is to allow for side to side movement of the ceiling grid in a earthquake. I think the EMT might be considered to be an "other penetration". In my area at least, rigid braces are not typically used.
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