Recessed lights in 16 story condo building

[Greg1707]

I received a call about installing recessed light fixtures in the living room and dining room of a condominium unit. The building is 16 floors and was built in 2007. I have been considering the issues involved. Beyond the obvious parking and access issues there are NEC and maybe IBC issues? I am not familiar with this type of construction. Is there typically sufficient space for cans and fishing wire? Is the ceiling considered fire rated? I assume I would use MC cable?
Any insights would be appreciated.

 

[petersonra]

I received a call about installing recessed light fixtures in the living room and dining room of a condominium unit. The building is 16 floors and was built in 2007. I have been considering the issues involved. Beyond the obvious parking and access issues there are NEC and maybe IBC issues? I am not familiar with this type of construction. Is there typically sufficient space for cans and fishing wire? Is the ceiling considered fire rated? I assume I would use MC cable?
Any insights would be appreciated.

my first question would be why they called you in the first place? Maybe their current EC has not been paid?

 

[mgookin]

I received a call about installing recessed light fixtures in the living room and dining room of a condominium unit. The building is 16 floors and was built in 2007. I have been considering the issues involved. Beyond the obvious parking and access issues there are NEC and maybe IBC issues? I am not familiar with this type of construction. Is there typically sufficient space for cans and fishing wire? Is the ceiling considered fire rated? I assume I would use MC cable?
Any insights would be appreciated.

You're going to have to go out to the site and see what's out there. Yes there's going to be fire rating but you may be working on a non-rated suspended hard ceiling below the rated deck. Having access to the construction drawings would be best and most diligent. Finding the guy who worked on it 6 years ago would help too. Last thing you want to do is take a shot in the dark and end up with an unintended liability.

If that ceiling is popcorn sprayed on the underside of a post-tension deck, they're not getting recessed lighting in that living room unless you build a bulkhead to recess them in.