installing batwings on slack wires?

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scwirenut

scwirenut

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Sumter, South Carolina
I live in a D1 seismic zone, we are required by building code to install "slack wires" to (2) corners of a 2x4 troffer in a suspended ceiling . Can these slack wires also be used for support for wiring. can they serve "double duty"?
 
scwirenut said:
I live in a D1 seismic zone, we are required by building code to install "slack wires" to (2) corners of a 2x4 troffer in a suspended ceiling . Can these slack wires also be used for support for wiring. can they serve "double duty"?
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Thats what I do.

300.11 Securing and Supporting.
(A) Secured in Place. Raceways, cable assemblies, boxes, cabinets, and fittings shall be securely fastened in place. Support wires that do not provide secure support shall not be permitted as the sole support. Support wires and associated fittings that provide secure support and that are installed in addition to the ceiling grid support wires shall be permitted as the sole support. Where independent support wires are used, they shall be secured at both ends. Cables and raceways shall not be supported by ceiling grids.
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In my neighborhood that'd be a No. The straping wire is for light only and needs to be flagged, ie marked.
A individual wire needs to be also flagged for circuit suspension as well, and that has to be a continual wire from ceiling grid to upper structure, bat wings optional.
I beleive where IBC...
 
cadpoint said:
In my neighborhood that'd be a No. The straping wire is for light only and needs to be flagged, ie marked.
A individual wire needs to be also flagged for circuit suspension as well, and that has to be a continual wire from ceiling grid to upper structure, bat wings optional.
I beleive where IBC...
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Now that is just outright a waste of time and money.
 
cadpoint said:
In my neighborhood that'd be a No. The straping wire is for light only and needs to be flagged, ie marked.
A individual wire needs to be also flagged for circuit suspension as well, and that has to be a continual wire from ceiling grid to upper structure, bat wings optional.
I beleive where IBC...
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Sounds a bit anal, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
 
Mostly heavy here, and most spec's (not all) call for a strap on the light, 2x2 or 2x4, depends on which city or even county...
 
cadpoint said:
In my neighborhood that'd be a No. The straping wire is for light only and needs to be flagged, ie marked.
A individual wire needs to be also flagged for circuit suspension as well, and that has to be a continual wire from ceiling grid to upper structure, bat wings optional.
I beleive where IBC...
Click to expand...


Does it need to be labeled also " This wire is for the sole support of lighting fixture, and not to be used for any other purpose. Violates will be prosecuted." :)
 
I'm sorry bu this is one of the dumbest rules in the code. If we can't tie to the support grid wires what good does it do to run essentially another support grid wire. Oh that's right it's different because I put a pretty tape flag on it. I say hang it independent of the ceiling altogether or hang it on anything that is atttached to the ceiling and the sttructure but the way we do it now is just plain STOOPID.
 
I've seen some installations where there were a dozen MC's on the ceiling wire. Each time a bat wing is installed, it bends the support wire a little bit and with 12 MC's on a wire, it pulls the ceiling up out of level. Tiles, lights, and air registers don't sit right.

We usually just get a bundle of tie wire and spray paint it when it shows up on the job. A little quicker and easier than putting a flag on it.
 
blueheels2 said:
I'm sorry bu this is one of the dumbest rules in the code. If we can't tie to the support grid wires what good does it do to run essentially another support grid wire. Oh that's right it's different because I put a pretty tape flag on it. I say hang it independent of the ceiling altogether or hang it on anything that is atttached to the ceiling and the sttructure but the way we do it now is just plain STOOPID.
Click to expand...

I agree. What does the manuf of the grid say? How is their grid wire fastened to structure? In summary, if the way their grid and tiles are supported it may allow electrical to be supported......all about weight and gravity. Also, Myth#1Fire dept. due to hooking up on grid and pullig it down......that is what I hear from different jurisdictions....:confused:
 
I had one inspector shoot me down for using tie wraps to secure the m/c to the grid wires, but he would allow bat wings. I was thinking that with the tie wraps it wouldn't contort the grid wires.......He said the wraps are not listed for m/c support. I read right on the package "cable ties" I was thinking what is m/c if it aint cable?
 
2005nec , cable ties are mentioned

330.30 Securing and Supporting
(A) General TypeMCcable shall be supported and secured
by staples, cable ties, straps, hangers, or similar fittings or
other approved means designed and installed so as not to
damage the cable.
 
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