I am installing some can fixtures in a residential dropped ceiling.I would like to use NM-B wire to connect the fixtures together.There will be appro 4" of space to the wood floor joist so i can support the wire within proper distance to the fixture I usually use mc whips but was hoping to save some time and money.I plan on running the wire thru the floor joists to get to each fixture.Any thought on this?
can fixtures in resi drop ceiling
- Thread starter sjspad
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
There should be no problem using nm in the ceiling for the cans as long as it is a dwelling unit.
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
I concur, for resi. your all right. Not commercial, though.
JohnJ0906
Senior Member
- Location
- Baltimore, MD
334.12(a)(2), FWIW
Karl H
Senior Member
- Location
- San Diego,CA
A "Drop ceiling" in a house? That is strange to me. To each his own I guess.
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
Thier common in a basement.
Karl H
Senior Member
- Location
- San Diego,CA
Why? Is there a reason? Just curious I've never seen one in a house.
Is that a Mid West, East Coast thing? We didn't have basements in the South
or on the West coast. I should say, in Houston or San Diego.
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
It makes future access a lot easier. I've seen them in Indiana and Carolina.
Some of these houses built on a hill. These basements cielings we have wired recently. These can have 15' high cielings before the drop cieling goes in.
Very common in rental units ...the property owner may not want to spring for the sheet rock rip-out/replacement...slap a drop ceiling in.
c2500
Senior Member
- Location
- South Carolina
We have them in South Carolina. Not alot of drop ceilings, but they tend to be cheap and easy to install.
c2500
Hendrix
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
In some cases it would be impractacle to install a drywall ceiling to an addition in a basement due to accessability of j-boxes and plumbing fittings.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
In my area it's almost unheard of, as far as I know. I've only seen one, and that was an electrician's house that he did himself with snagged parts. 
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
In my area it's almost unheard of, as far as I know. I've only seen one, and that was an electrician's house that he did himself with snagged parts.
I got one in my basement simply because I wanted access for any remo work in the future. I bought my parts but traded the labor for the work to hang the ceiling.
mikeames
Senior Member
- Location
- Gaithersburg MD
- Occupation
- Teacher - Master Electrician - 2017 NEC
I got one in my basement simply because I wanted access for any remo work in the future.
Same here.
Jim W in Tampa
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa Florida
Its a cheap fast fix and no mess. My entertainment room is 800 sq feet and that what i wanted. Has made life easy for changes.
Karl H
Senior Member
- Location
- San Diego,CA
can fixtures in resi drop ceiling
Commercial ok in Massachusetts, look at Ma. amendments,334.12(A)(2) revised.There are restrictions on how it is installed.
Commercial ok in Massachusetts, look at Ma. amendments,334.12(A)(2) revised.There are restrictions on how it is installed.
Jim W in Tampa
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa Florida
800 sq. ft Entertainment room? Well, There goes my self-esteem, again.
Thanks.
Don't let it get to you. Just outside of that room 500 foot screened room with hot tub and pool table. We have parties every saturday night ,so has DJ booth ,sound system and 20 switches to control everything,huge bar,dance floor and a pole and lights. What can i say ,GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN.
Real reason to use this as ceiling is it requires so little time and goes over anything. Also as mentioned leaves access. That and paneling can finish a room in a weekend, simply cant frame ,drywall,texture,paint a room that fast.
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