suspended ceiling

[ju]

410.16 means of support. Can I use tie wire to support a 2x4 luminaire. I don't want to use art:410.16(c). BY the way tie wire is the wire use for tieing rebar together.I'm sorry if I wasn't clear about the suspended ceiling. I have a electrical contractor who hung the fixtures, sorry luminaires,by tie wire. I just wanted to know if anybody knows if tie wire is ul listed.

[ June 09, 2003, 09:40 PM: Message edited by: ju ]

 

[tom baker]

Re: suspended ceiling

Support of the luminaire is different from support of cables from the suspended ceiling support wires as described in 410.16(C). the lay in luminares have to fastened to the grid, with listed clips or similar. Support of, and type of wires used is typically enforced by the building offical. Ususally 12 gage wire is used, and tie wire I don't belive, would be allowed. In any event check with your AHJ.

 

[roger]

Re: suspended ceiling

Can you elaborate on your statement "I don't want to use art:410.16(c)." 410.16 (c) doesn't require the fixture to be supported beyond the grid assembly, as pointed out by Tom. Are you as an inspector asking if there is another restriction? The answer is no as far as the NEC, and there are no UL assemblies that require independant supporting of the fixtures as far as fire rated assemblies. See the UL orange books.

Roger

 

[a.wayne3@verizon.net]

Re: suspended ceiling

Tie wire never !!!!!!! We use the same ceiling grid wire that is used for the grid itself ,tied to the building steel and either we can use clips or screw it directly to the grid work.

 

[jbw]

Re: suspended ceiling

Applying Art 412.16(c) requires fixture to be supported to the suspended ceiling framing members by approved methods, screws, bolts, rivets. listed clips. No requirement for additional support in NEC. However, State of Ohio plan examiner, local and
stateAHJ,Architects and Engineers have applied ASTM c636-96 as the requirement for additional supports for fire protection or sesmic conditions. My inclination is that this conflicts with NEC. If a fixture has an additional support to the structural members as a protection for the failure of the ceiling framing then at some point the fixture itself becomes a support for the ceiling. I know of no fixture that is UL approved for that purpose. It is not a situation of "two nails are better than one".

 

[jbw]

Re: suspended ceiling

Please excuse my typo that was to read Art 410.16(c) Sorry

 

[ryan_618]

Re: suspended ceiling

Living in Utah we are required to use the CISCA 3-4 document for suspended ceilings, because of our siesmic design category. The CISCA spells out #12 wires for the support of fixtures, or, as stated before, the same wire the grid guy is using.

 

[caj1962]

Re: suspended ceiling

in some areas I have worked they require the screws or clips referanced in the previous posts and also an indepent means of support so if the grid falls or fails the fixtures won't come tumbling down. It was explained to me that in the case of a fire and the fire guys started jerking the ceiling pads down they would not have to worry about the fixtures falling.

These were schools and hospitals.