suspended ceilings

[binky]

I seem to remember the NICEIC now recommend cabling above a suspended ceiling should all be strung off catenary wire, does anyone do this or do most of you run cables across the ceiling as per normal custom and practice?

 

[batty]

I never have.

Batty

 

[green-hornet]

I always run it in trunking above suspended ceilings, I never did like wire pain in the proverbial sometimes.

One of the main reasons for supporting the cable above a suspended ceiling is maintenance and the risk of entanglement under fire conditions or flood that could bring the ceiling down

 

[Badger]

arr but what happens if the cables run through walls and over girders the weight isnt as much across the ceilings then

 

[binky]

The irritation with this particular site is various beams running across the void space that would mean striging about twenty short cables to cover what I want. Also there are so many cables running across ceiling that it seems a bit pointless, but that's not really a good excuse. Was thinking of using short lengths of trunking, but even that's awkward because of the grid being in the way (its an existing suspended ceiling) which makes getting to ceiling difficult even with my long arms.

 

[Andy™]

All round band made into loops screwed to ceiling

 

[NozSpark]

I've just attached some loops of T&E offcuts and fed through them in the past!!

 

[Andy™]

I've just attached some loops of T&E offcuts and fed through them in the past!!

your starting to sound like a plumber there! (but then they dont always use 'offcuts'....)

 

[Evans Electric]

The NICEIC always frowned upon cables lying on the ceiling grid, I can't remember if it is actually a Reg or not. They considered a fault could make the grid live, hence you will see the grids supp. bonded, ( Now deemed to be unecessary) We used to fix a few lengths of steel conduit and tywrap T/E to it but its expensive now. As Andy says , fix loops of T/E .

 

[NozSpark]

Plumbers don't have offcuts,,,,, just joints ; ) ; )

:coat

 

[Andy™]

Plumbers don't have offcuts,,,,, just joints ; ) ; ) :coat

and often leaky joints!

 

[Badger]

and often leaky joints!

thats very true :^O :^O:^O :coat

 

[binky]

The NICEIC always frowned upon cables lying on the ceiling grid, I can't remember if it is actually a Reg or not. They considered a fault could make the grid live, hence you will see the grids supp. bonded, ( Now deemed to be unecessary) We used to fix a few lengths of steel conduit and tywrap T/E to it but its expensive now. As Andy says , fix loops of T/E .

Was planning to use flex because of the thicker insulation to avoid issues with grid, but this grid is old style stuff with very blunt edges so can't see cutting and shorting to cable being an issue in this instance, especially as it hasn't manages to do it in twenty years to the existing cables. Was considering cable tying conduit to steel support wires, but will ponder some more tonight.

 

[aidanb19]

I'd be sacked if I left cables running on top of the grid. Have to use the knock-in mounts and tie wraps on concrete ceilings or the screw in bases on timber.

 

[Evans Electric]

Was planning to use flex because of the thicker insulation to avoid issues with grid, but this grid is old style stuff with very blunt edges so can't see cutting and shorting to cable being an issue in this instance, especially as it hasn't manages to do it in twenty years to the existing cables. Was considering cable tying conduit to steel support wires, but will ponder some more tonight.

I take your point Binky, the T-bars do have blunt edges and I've never seen or heard of cables shorting down to the grid, I would gues that T/E would lie there forever with no problem. I also thought that cross bonding the T-bars was ridiculous !!

Deke

 

[binky]

I'd be sacked if I left cables running on top of the grid. Have to use the knock-in mounts and tie wraps on concrete ceilings or the screw in bases on timber.

In a large commercial set-up I wouldn't consider anything else, but this a small social club converted from a house hence ceilings aren't that large, joists run across the void, Plaster is falling off walls / ceiling, and running wires would be a complete pain as the old grid is staying up, being painted and being re-used. On top of that there are more cables - fire alarm, tv, telephone etc than you can shake a stick at drapped all over the grid already, and spacing between lights is @ 1m. I would end up using more cable vertically than horizontally. So overall its not an ideal situation to be working in.

Incidentally if my apprentice cut corners without permission I'd sack him too

 

[Badger]

In a large commercial set-up I wouldn't consider anything else, but this a small social club converted from a house hence ceilings aren't that large, joists run across the void, Plaster is falling off walls / ceiling, and running wires would be a complete pain as the old grid is staying up, being painted and being re-used. On top of that there are more cables - fire alarm, tv, telephone etc than you can shake a stick at drapped all over the grid already, and spacing between lights is @ 1m. I would end up using more cable vertically than horizontally. So overall its not an ideal situation to be working in. Incidentally if my apprentice cut corners without permission I'd sack him too

:^O :^O:^O:coat

 

[anndahl90]

Suspended ceilings are nowadays getting more in demand just because they cover lots of flaws and are easy to install.

 

[Andy™]

well that was a fail at spamming the forum....

 

[Sharpend]

Maybe it's a two part statement?