Fluorescent Lighting Power

[urssynovec]

I have a lighting installation that I don't like and need to know if its code compliant.

Fluorescent light strips have been hung in an open ceilng Parts Storage Room. The strips have been suspended from the deck using chain with the strips about 12' apart. The strips are about 8' above the floor. The strips were used as raceways for the luminaires. Power to the strips was run perpendicular to the strips using one EMT run from a wall at the same height as the luminaires. The conduits run from strip to strip with connections in on J-box at the end of each strip.

I would have preferred the conduit run on structure above and pigtails dropped to the luminaire J-boxes. I could not find anything in the code support or deny the actual installation method. Does anyone know of anything in the code that applies to this situation?

I am pushing for at least the first conduit run from the wall to the first strip to be partially run in flex. I feel the EMT should be used to protect the conductors but not to be the only resistance to lateral movement if the fixtures are hit by a forklift or parts room personnel. Does the code give me any provisions to require this?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Fluorescent Lighting Power

How is the conduit supported?
don

 

[tom baker]

Re: Fluorescent Lighting Power

Don is correct the emt has to be supported with in 3 ft of each connector. I suspect it is not. If the lights get hit the end plate will come out of the strip light. An easy way to wire these is to flex down to the first light from the ceiling.

 

[frenchelectrican]

Re: Fluorescent Lighting Power

i been installing alot of flourescent strip lighting system and myself i will stay away from emt because of flexibity and end cap will come off and some case the lamp holder socket can actally come loose and the bulbs do drop so i use flex cord to first fixure then run the normal wires inside of the strip but if the flourescent strip is RIGID supported then can use the emt to hook up other wise per nec required support or bracing at first 3 feet .


merci marc

 

[urssynovec]

Re: Fluorescent Lighting Power

The conduits are supported from the structure with all-thread rods and hangers. There are insufficient supports to satisfy the code and this contract's specificed installation criteria.

The lighting strips are perpendicular to the long axis of the room. A J-box was fastened to one end fixture in each strip. The conduit runs between the j-boxes, parallel to the long axis of the room (i.e. perpendicular to the light fixture strips).

Two circuits provide power to the lights. One is fed from the structure above a J-box on one of the light strips in the center of the room. The other comes directly from the last fixture strip near the door, running in the open ceiling at the same height as the fixures to the nearest wall.