Randall Mearns
Member
How many support wires are required to hang a 2 x4 fixture in a suspended ceiling?
Hanging 2 x 4 lay-in fixture
- Thread starter Randall Mearns
- Start date
- Status
John120/240
Senior Member
- Location
- Olathe, Kansas
Two wires on opposite corners is what I would do.
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Agreed. I think it's automatically assumed that lay-in lights need independent support regardless of whether they are required or not.
Opposite corners works well.
It is required by the mass electrical code, but not the NEC.
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
You sure about that? I thought it was required by the Mass. building code.
Yup,410.36(B) in the 2011 mass electrical code.
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
:thumbsup:
Basically in most instances it is a Building Code issue that states you do not need support wires if the ceiling manufacturer approves the installation for support of the light fixtures.
I have not found a ceiling manufacturer that will approve the light fixtures in their ceiling without support wires.
Some old code references (I haven't updated them) regarding support wires {2000 IBC 1621.2.5 & 1997 UBC section 25.213}
I have not found a ceiling manufacturer that will approve the light fixtures in their ceiling without support wires.
Some old code references (I haven't updated them) regarding support wires {2000 IBC 1621.2.5 & 1997 UBC section 25.213}
Last edited:
Stevareno
Senior Member
- Location
- Dallas, TX
The way I read 410.36 (B), all that is 'required' is 'securely fastening' the fixture to the ceiling grid.
Any requirement beyond that is either a locally adopted elecrical code or a city building code.
Around here, most cities require a tek screw (or equivelent) on each end of the fixture. Some are good with just using the clips built into the fixture.
I've only been on one job in a city that required having to independently support 2 x 4 fixtures, and they were good with just 2 wires on opposite corners. And you still had to screw the fixture to the ceiling grid because of 410.36 (B). :roll:
Any requirement beyond that is either a locally adopted elecrical code or a city building code.
Around here, most cities require a tek screw (or equivelent) on each end of the fixture. Some are good with just using the clips built into the fixture.
I've only been on one job in a city that required having to independently support 2 x 4 fixtures, and they were good with just 2 wires on opposite corners. And you still had to screw the fixture to the ceiling grid because of 410.36 (B). :roll:
- Status