MC Support Above Drop Ceiling.

[Lumas]

Thank you in advance for the feed back and guidance. Looking for a clear NEC code on hanging MC above a non fire rated drop ceiling, I know from past you can not use the grid support wire as a means of support, but and please let me know if I’m incorrect, I should be within NEC code with my own support wire separate from the ceiling structure for support, and be ok with running multiple branch circuits into the same raceway, with proper distancing of my wire support along that raceway?

 

[tom baker]

Per code, you install your own support wires and they need to be identified-lay the wires on the floor and spray paint some color.
Caddy makes a neat clip that goes on the T bar and clip floats the wire so its not tight and you keep the ceiling installers happy

 

[Lumas]

Thank you for feedback Tom, I know theirs a ton of mc clips and hangers out their and ive mainly used bat wings and such, however it’s a unique situation in what’s considered a commercial space with pre existing wood joist above drop ceiling I have no steel to clip a clip to or hanger and make it as clean as I would like, however inspector is being hard on all aspects of wiring which I can understand due to the condition of wiring and panel work done previously over the past 25 years which had to all come out. I know ceiling guys and they have given me free rain to do what I need to and willing to work around me as it’s been a tough one. I guess without getting to complicated and being able to just get my HR’s back to box, which require multiple branch circuits that I can reasonably run into raceway, would I be good with NEC to do a simple ihook into deck with wire (color distinguishing) and do like a simple hook bundle loop on the end of tie wire with maybe like 5 runs in each raceway, or maybe you have something along lines that is sufficient along those lines, again thanks just not one I have ever run across in what’s being considered like half residential half commercial application.

 

[hillbilly1]

There are many commercial buildings that are wood framed, it’s just the fire rating that determines wether it has to be non-combustible. If the ceiling is rated for structural support, separate wires are not required, but most are not. Eye screws are most common for support in wood. Same as what the ceiling guys are using.

 

[Lumas]

Thanks hillbilly, not 100 percent sure on structural support rating but I do know after clearing out every circuit in two, two hundred amp overloaded panels and 2 sub panels and probably 20 years of stuff abandon and never striped, what I’m putting back up is probably two ton less than what was up their think that’s what I’m going to go with just some simple eye hooks with some color identifying tie wire with a simple hook loop bent on end keep my run numbers low in each raceway and run them in, any other suggestions I should take heed you or anybody has to keep everything up to nec and inspectors anticipated issues that I might be missing please feel free to comment.

 

[tom baker]

You mention raceway, are you running EMT or MC?

 

[tom baker]

So you have a drop ceiling with a ton of stuff? Overloaded panels?
Future electricians thank you for cleaning it up

 

[LarryFine]

Look up "mc cable bridle rings"

 

[tom baker]

Yep for MC bridle rings, that’s why I asked about MC

 

[Lumas]

Yes MC, but the area getting used and renovated is only half the space I had to clear out and strip out, I’m actually consolidated back to 1 two hundred amp new panel that I won’t even fill, kept one two hundred existing, striped it and pulled everything out on that one, probably run rooftop and one or two other circuits off that. And straight took one two hundred out and a few subs, one being buried behind a wall and striped it all out, probably the worst I have ever seen, hands down, if I showed you pics of the pile I have you wouldn’t believe it take some tomorrow, problem is expected it to be bad but not that bad and it raised a lot of eyebrows, so everything everything is under a microscope. I mean raceways Becsuse I can for the most part get my branches together in couple good clear runs back just not real use to running mc with the wood structure without having the Steal to attach my runs snd I need to be hundred percent nec on it, drop ceiling that’s not up yet so I have free rain and their working around me, a rare change of events.

 

[LarryFine]

Do searches for Caddy and Erico electrical.

 

[hillbilly1]

Here is the anchors for wood, it has a tool to drive them into the wood also.

 

[tburdick]

You are planning on attaching your support wire to ceiling grid ?

 

[Lumas]

You are planning on attaching your support wire to ceiling grid ?

No!

 

[Lumas]

Here is the anchors for wood, it has a tool to drive them into the wood also.

Thanks hillbilly, got a kit already thinking that’s my easiest fastest solution for this application and work around

 

[jap]

How far is the wood structure above the drop ceiling?
I'm not a fan of running anything on support wires.

If the structure is too high above the layin ceiling, maybe install a trapeze in a strategic place for your pipe runs hung off the wood structure before the new lay in ceiling goes in to get you most of the way there.

Just a thought.

JAP>

 

[Hitschamp]

Your supposed to tie your support wires to the ceiling grid. They just need to be your own wires they’re just for the purpose of supporting your electrical raceways or MC you cannot attach to the ceiling wires that are there to support the T-bar ceiling. You can also use threaded rod to support your raceways threaded rod and catty clip to the rod or use the threaded rod and hardware and strut to make a trapeze
They have these wood screws that screw into your wooden beams and the threaded rod inserts into the screw you have them in quarter inch or three eights depending on what size Rod u want to use


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[hbiss]

I think the first questions that should be answered is how high above the floor are the wood joists that you want to use as support and has the drop ceiling (and T bar) been removed to give you access.

Barring a 20 foot height, there is no reason that you can't staple your cables and strap your conduit to the wood joists. Just because there is a dropped ceiling doesn't mean you have to use dropped ceiling support methods if you have another available.

Looking for a clear NEC code on hanging MC above a non fire rated drop ceiling,

As for the NEC, all it cares about is that you don't use the ceiling support or grid to support your cables or raceway. They also can't be supported by any other system like plumbing, sprinkler or HVAC. Beyond that you can do as you pretty much want.

-Hal

 

[Lumas]

Your supposed to tie your support wires to the ceiling grid. They just need to be your own wires they’re just for the purpose of supporting your electrical raceways or MC you cannot attach to the ceiling wires that are there to support the T-bar ceiling. You can also use threaded rod to support your raceways threaded rod and catty clip to the rod or use the threaded rod and hardware and strut to make a trapeze
They have these wood screws that screw into your wooden beams and the threaded rod inserts into the screw you have them in quarter inch or three eights depending on what size Rod u want to use


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks hitchamps that does sound pretty smooth use to using the plate and rod but If I can pick those up local I might just do that with a trapeze for my raceways and tie wire and j hook for my single cable runs out of proximity of raceway. Plus I have rod already, deck is up pretty high so I just really want my stuff down off deck a little, rod accomplishes that with the trapeze.

 

[Lumas]

I think the first questions that should be answered is how high above the floor are the wood joists that you want to use as support and has the drop ceiling (and T bar) been removed to give you access.

Barring a 20 foot height, there is no reason that you can't staple your cables and strap your conduit to the wood joists. Just because there is a dropped ceiling doesn't mean you have to use dropped ceiling support methods if you have another available.



As for the NEC, all it cares about is that you don't use the ceiling support or grid to support your cables or raceway. They also can't be supported by any other system like plumbing, sprinkler or HVAC. Beyond that you can do as you pretty much want.

-Hal

It’s up their pretty good Hal enough to where I want to come down off the deck a little to make my life and future life easier for myself and others.