Lighting in suspended ceiling

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mtnelectrical

Senior Member
Location
Essex, New Jersey
Is there any building code concerning on the installation of luminaries in suspended ceilings? What gauge of steel wire to use for the luminaries in suspended ceiling? how many supports? ( each corner or just two?)
 
Pierre C Belarge

Pierre C Belarge

Senior Member
Location
Westchester County, New York
In general, this is not addressed in the building code. There may be local codes, but not in the ICC.
I spent hours looking for it in all of the documents of the codes, there are 8 books.

It is addressed in the NEC. Typical suspended ceilings are listed to support the fixtures and other appurtanances, such as speaker, vents, etc...
If the ceiling is listed (99% are), then securing the fixture to the ceiling grid as per 410.36(B)- '08 NEC, 410.16(C)-'05 NEC is all that is required.


*Remember local codes may supercede the NEC*
 
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Karl H

Senior Member
Location
San Diego,CA
Here in California it's based on weight. Fixtures weighing less than 56LBS.
To be supported with (2) slack 12GA. safety wires at diagonal corners.

Fixtures weighing more than 56LBS support with (4) independent taut 12GA.
wires attached to the structure above. Each wire must be capable of
supporting (4) times the weight of the fixture.
 
cowboyjwc

cowboyjwc

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Simi Valley, CA
You need to look at the CISCA standards (Guidelines for seismic restraint for direct hung suspended ceiling assemblies).

To answer your question:

Fixtures weighing less than 10 pounds shall have one #12 gage hanger wire.

Fixtures weighing more than 10 pounds, but less than 56 pounds shall have, in addition to the requirements outlined above, two #12 gage hanger wires.

Lighting fixtures weighing 56 pounds or more shall be supported directly from the structure above by approved hangers.
 
K

Karl H

Senior Member
Location
San Diego,CA
cowboyjwc said:
You need to look at the CISCA standards (Guidelines for seismic restraint for direct hung suspended ceiling assemblies).

To answer your question:

Fixtures weighing less than 10 pounds shall have one #12 gage hanger wire.

Fixtures weighing more than 10 pounds, but less than 56 pounds shall have, in addition to the requirements outlined above, two #12 gage hanger wires.

Lighting fixtures weighing 56 pounds or more shall be supported directly from the structure above by approved hangers.
Click to expand...

Didn't I just say that in post #5? :D
 
K

Karl H

Senior Member
Location
San Diego,CA
mtnelectrical said:
What about securing the wiring? Bat wings is what we use but Have your ever see wiring secured to the steel wire by cable ties?
Click to expand...

We use "Bat Wings" here,BUt we are only allowed to support the fixture's
circuit or E-ballast circuit to the the fixture wires. Everything else gets it's
own wire attached to the structure above and to a "Banna" clip to the
grid.
 
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