Forum Title: Falling ceiling
So my 7 year old son I are working in our finished basement room last night. He's helping me install some wire for a switch above my drop ceiling in my office. We've got a few tiles moved and the wire stapled up. I went to the garage to get my fishtape and I hear the sounds of a crash.The main in the grid wires came off the hook and brought 12-15 tiles and bars down with it including one lay-in light sitting on the floor, romex still connected. Yes, Yes, I know the light is supposed to be independently supported and the grid wires through holes not hooks.I called the builder and electrician to complain and get it repaired. It doesn't work so well when I am both. This will be a fine example of doing it right the second time.
Category: General Electrical Discussion Post By: Oscar Winston (Alta, UT), 03/23/2017
scheniman:From the 2008 NEC: 410.36 (B)(B) Suspended Ceilings. Framing members of suspended ceiling systems used to support luminaires shall be securely fastened to each other and shall be securely attached to the building structure at appropriate intervals. Luminaires shall be securely fastened to the ceiling framing member by mechanical means such as bolts, screws, or rivets. Listed clips identified for use with the type of ceiling framing member(s) and luminaire(s) shall also be permitted.Local building code may require independent support of lay-in fixtures, or job specs, but not the NEC.

- Edwin Salazar (Warm Beach, WA), 03/25/2017

I was changing out the lights in a lodge a few years ago in a drop ceiling. I popped out the first light in the grid and the surrounding ceiling buckled. It turned out the ceiling was supported by speaker wire and some of it failed. The only thing that kept it from falling was the light and tension.

- Richard S (Creve Coeur, MO), 03/25/2017

I spent the evening reinstalling my grid correctoly and wiring my lights to the joists. I even found some tools that I had lost last time I was up there.

- Allen Garza (Dodge, OK), 03/25/2017

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