How to pass inspection w/drop ceiling wiring
#1
03-17-04, 04:12 PM
How to pass inspection w/drop ceiling wiring
Hi,
I am going to be installing a drop ceiling in my basement in which I will be installing recessed lights, accent lights, and a wired smoke detector.
My question is, How do I leave the wire for my rough electrical inspection. Am I just going to be leaving the wire (with excess) attached to the ceiling joists in the approximate location of the recessed cans with the grounds connected? The drop ceiling will be 14" lower than the ceiling joists.
Along the same lines, I will be installing some surface mount outlets on a drywall wall. Would I just leave the wire coiled up at the approximate location of the outlet?
Thanks for any help
Lou
I am going to be installing a drop ceiling in my basement in which I will be installing recessed lights, accent lights, and a wired smoke detector.
My question is, How do I leave the wire for my rough electrical inspection. Am I just going to be leaving the wire (with excess) attached to the ceiling joists in the approximate location of the recessed cans with the grounds connected? The drop ceiling will be 14" lower than the ceiling joists.
Along the same lines, I will be installing some surface mount outlets on a drywall wall. Would I just leave the wire coiled up at the approximate location of the outlet?
Thanks for any help
Lou
#2
03-17-04, 04:28 PM
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It really depends upon what the inspector in your area wants to see.As far as the ceiling goes I would leave the whole thing {or at least most of it} open with the hi-hat drops as you said. Obviously any temporary splices made must be done safely. Call the inspection dept. well before the scheduled inspection day to see what is required.
#3
03-20-04, 05:39 AM
thanks for the info, i will give the inspector a call next week. One more question,
Since the lights will be below the floor joists above, the electrical wire going down to the fixture....must that be in conduit or that flexible metal tubing? Or can it be just regular romex going down 10" to the light from the floor joists above it?
Since the lights will be below the floor joists above, the electrical wire going down to the fixture....must that be in conduit or that flexible metal tubing? Or can it be just regular romex going down 10" to the light from the floor joists above it?
#4
03-20-04, 07:58 AM
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I'm assuming the Romex for the lights is new in which case it alone will be fine. When you get the requirements needed for the inspection make a punchlist of them and double check your work{ some inspectors can be nitpicky}. I hope I have given you all the info you need to have a green stciker {passing inspection in my neck o' the woods} on your panel,good luck.
#5
03-20-04, 08:03 AM
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One very important thing is to make sure ALL the wiring is properly supported & not sitting on the ceiling. If it can't be stapled there are products that will support it from the droprods.
#6
04-03-04, 06:52 AM
thanks for the info ampz. The thing is that i am not going to have the ceiling grid installed at the time of rough inspection because i would need to dry wall the walls first. So DO I just have the wire in the locations of where I want lights to be and hve them coiled up and attached to the floor joists above for the rough inspection?
#7
04-04-04, 01:22 PM
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Sorry it took sooooo long to get back. Although most inspectors do things a little differently,that should be fine. Are these wires you mentioned presently connected to temp/work lighting or HOT for some other reason? If so make sure the splices are neat,secure & supported. Good luck.
#9
04-04-04, 01:55 PM
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You should be in good shape,if you are not present for the inspection make sure whoever is knows what the wires are for so they can explain to the inspector.Post back after the inspection let me know how it went.
#10
04-04-04, 02:03 PM
Thanks for the info ampz. Do you know anything about running the wire across the bottom of joists when I am going to have a suspended ceiling installed?? Is it allowable under code to do this?
I would bore holes through all the joists but IU do have some ductwork between joists so it would be hard to run wire through these cavities. It would be much easier to run the romex across the bottom of the joists. The only thing I could find in the NEC was section 334.15 which says to use a runing board to attach the cable in exposed areas. Is the area above a suspended ceiling considered exposed and is this allowable?
Thanks for any help.
I would bore holes through all the joists but IU do have some ductwork between joists so it would be hard to run wire through these cavities. It would be much easier to run the romex across the bottom of the joists. The only thing I could find in the NEC was section 334.15 which says to use a runing board to attach the cable in exposed areas. Is the area above a suspended ceiling considered exposed and is this allowable?
Thanks for any help.
#11
04-04-04, 02:29 PM
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It sounds like you have a codebook,since its almost time for dinner & I dont want to put you off lookup Art.300.4 #1,2.I would mount the board to be on the safeside.
#12
04-04-04, 02:44 PM
thanks for the info ampz.
It looks like I should be able to run the cable across the bottom of the joists. I will use a 1x3 backer though so I do not get a clothesline effect when crossing joists perpindicularly.
Thanks again.,
lou
It looks like I should be able to run the cable across the bottom of the joists. I will use a 1x3 backer though so I do not get a clothesline effect when crossing joists perpindicularly.
Thanks again.,
lou
