Feeder above drop ceiling

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cavejumper

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Hello! I'm bidding on a job that involves running a feeder in EMT above an existing drop ceiling (2x4 tiles). I want to strap the conduit to the bottom of the roof girders, which are about 6 feet above the ceiling. The ceiling is about 8 - 9 feet off the floor. What would be the best (easiest, fastest) way to get up in the ceiling to run the conduit? I have 6' and 8' stepladders, as well as scaffolding I can set up on the floor. I'm sure this is not an uncommon situation. Thanks for your help!
 
cavejumper said:
What would OSHA require?
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Mostly not standing on the top steps of a ladder, guardrails on staging, maybe fall protection.

I might be inclined to get a light weight extension ladder just long enough reach the steel and snake it up through the grid.

You might have to pull one cross T out to fit your body and the ladder though the ceiling.

This would actually be OSHA compliant assuing you use the ladder properly.
 
I usually use a 12ft A frame ladder in these types of situations. It's a huge pain setting up with 2×2 ceiling tiles but you should be good with a 2×4 tiles. Heavy, expensive and awkward but a safe and stable.
 
Work at 15 feet.

Work at 15 feet.

Let me make sure I got this right. The ceiling is quoted at 8-9 feet and the steel roof supports are at 6 feet above the ceiling. That equates to a working height of approximately 15 feet AFF. Both extension ladders and a 12 foot A-frame would get the job done with an electrician safely working at an acceptable working height on the ladder but IMO, a "Gorilla-type" or similar ladder would be perfect. Unless you have a 12 ft. extension ladder, anything larger would be awkward and the "A" frame might be difficult to maneuver in a 2' x 2' grid. Any supply store should have a 6 foot (5-1/2) version that you can open to the straight position and extend to the steel supports. Last one I bought was around $100 and supported 300lbs. I am not in the "replacing ceiling grid" business due to damages. Good Luck.
 
Yeah thats tough. Getting thru the grid is a pain, been there.......Maybe a 10 foot ladder would get you high enough. Some variability with legality and your comfort level. I was using a 12 today - I see that being a real bear and difficult to meneuver. Kinda hate to propose this as it seems kinda hack...but what about a scaffold that just stays under the grid and a 4 foot step on top of that? Something like this, but not quite as absurd ;)
 

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cavejumper said:
Hello! I'm bidding on a job that involves running a feeder in EMT above an existing drop ceiling (2x4 tiles). I want to strap the conduit to the bottom of the roof girders, which are about 6 feet above the ceiling. The ceiling is about 8 - 9 feet off the floor.
Click to expand...

iwire said:
I might be inclined to get a light weight extension ladder just long enough reach the steel and snake it up through the grid.
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If the ceiling is 9' then I have used a 10' step ladder. You have to stick it up through the opening before you open the ladder but an ALuminum ladder is not that hard to deal with. If you eat your wheaties you can do it with a fiberglass ladder ( I don't like wheaties ).

At other times I do the work on a weekend and just get on the top step.I have never seen OSHA around on weekends (government job).
 
iwire said:
Oh, a little giant.

Screw that, way to heavy to move in and out of the grid. :)
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Yeah, I can't stand them. Only time I'll fuss with one is on a stair case where I can extend one leg out longer, and even then if I can rest a normal extension ladder somewhere I'd rather do that.
 
jaylectricity said:
Yeah, I can't stand them. Only time I'll fuss with one is on a stair case where I can extend one leg out longer, and even then if I can rest a normal extension ladder somewhere I'd rather do that.
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I have a Wagner combo ladder (aluminum) that converts between extension and step and offers a stair step ladder configuration with the two halves at unequal extension.
Not as versatile as Little Giant, but a lot cheaper.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
jaylectricity said:
Yeah, I can't stand them. Only time I'll fuss with one is on a stair case where I can extend one leg out longer, and even then if I can rest a normal extension ladder somewhere I'd rather do that.
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For sure.

For stairs they are great, other than that not so much.

Also the company I work for will not buy aluminum ladders so the little giants are fiberglass and weigh a lot more.
 
Why not strap the EMT to the walls a foot or so above the ceiling grid vs the deck? No space there or what? You're making a lot of extra work for yourself going that high thru a grid.

kwired said:
To be OSHA compliant in such a lift don't you have to remain on the platform floor? If you do leave the platform floor or removed the side rails for any reason you should need fall arrest protection.
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sounds about right.
 
Depending on what can be used as a fastener to the structural ceiling, maybe one of those screw guns with extension on it, shoot a threaded rod hanger into the structural ceiling and screw in a threaded rod long enough to reach from only a six or eight foor ladder and a pipe hanger on the bottom end?
 
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