Hanging 4' T8 Fixtures

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A/A Fuel GTX

A/A Fuel GTX

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WI & AZ
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Electrician
I'm installing 4' T8 fixtures in an automotive service bay. The fixtures are about 22# each. The ceiling is the typical ribbed steel with exposed steel beams. I need to keep the fixtures above the bottom of the beams. I'm thinking of using eye bolts with toggle wings into the rib and coming down with fixture chain or cable to the fixture hangers. Any opinions?
 
A/A Fuel GTX said:
I'm thinking of using eye bolts with toggle wings into the rib and coming down with fixture chain or cable to the fixture hangers. Any opinions?
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More parts, less labor: Slide sections of shallow strut between the ribs, over the bar joists, eyebolt down from there.
 
A/A Fuel GTX said:
I thought about that Larry but how would I fasten the strut?
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To the bar joists? 1/4-20 strut spring-nuts in the strut and screws with fender washers screwed up into the nuts.

Use all-thread (or longer screws) and nuts instead if you can't find the right length screws.

Attach 1/4-20 eyebolts with spring-nuts and fender washers and nuts, too.
 
Gotcha.....I like the idea but it will raise the bid somewhat with the strut and all but IMO it is a better install than the Eye Bolt/Toggle method. This economy has got me looking for cheaper methods but it goes against my better judgement.
 
When we did the lights in a Home Depot, we spanned the steel trusses with a 3/4 emt using a beam clamp to secure it to the truss. Minerallac straps were attached to the 3/4, jack chain hung from that.

EDIT: Just noticed how heavy your fixtures are, I don't think emt would support that very well at all.

EDIT 2: Can you screw into the ribbed decking? If so, I'd look into those Sammy anchors, basically a large self drilling screw that you can thread a 3/8 rod into. That'd probably be the cheapest.http://www.sammysuperscrew.com/sammyxpress.htm
 
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I believe there is a section stating you can not use EMT to support fixtures. Maybe under EMT? (dont have book in front of me)
 
sammy screws are awesome and work great

the section that says that you cant use EMT to support stuff doesnt apply if there is no wire in the EMT. If there is no wire, then it is just pipe- just another building material.
sliding emt up between the 'deck' and barjoists and wrapping jack chain around them to hang lites is done often. especially in warehouse storage-type areas such as in Target's storage areas.
and jack chain hung from 3/4 emt that is supported every 5 feet (typical bar joist arrangement) would be fine for 25 pound fixtures

i have also used ramset (powder actuated anchor) to shoot ceiling wires up to hang exposed light fixtures
 
izak said:
sammy screws are awesome and work great

the section that says that you cant use EMT to support stuff doesnt apply if there is no wire in the EMT. If there is no wire, then it is just pipe- just another building material.
sliding emt up between the 'deck' and barjoists and wrapping jack chain around them to hang lites is done often. especially in warehouse storage-type areas such as in Target's storage areas.
and jack chain hung from 3/4 emt that is supported every 5 feet (typical bar joist arrangement) would be fine for 25 pound fixtures

i have also used ramset (powder actuated anchor) to shoot ceiling wires up to hang exposed light fixtures
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thanks for clearing that up for me :smile:
 
I, too, was thinking of Sammy's when I was reading your post. They also come in 1/4"-20 threads. I've been using the heck out of them on my current job. They have an installation tool that makes it a snap.
 
sammys are cool

ramset would be ALOT faster however (if you have one or access to one)
you could just shoot the clips that usually hang grid wire and then hang chain from them
alot of the guys i work with would use 5/16 self-drillers to screw jack chain directly to the deck
 
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