Drop ceiling light support requirements?

[SarcasticDwarf]

I have ended up with another unplanned project...replacing the lighting in the tv room half of our basement.

It has a low (~6'-2") ceiling and has a typical ceiling grid *except* that the ceiling tiles are 1"x2'x4' insulated fiberglass panels. This will be inspected. Assuming the tiles themselves can support the weight, can/should I use the sealed "clip" retrofit kits that would be supported only by the tiles? If so, are there any other requirements (such as ceiling grid support) I will run into? I plan to add a lot more support wire to the grid regardless.

The only other option I have found is to use the cans, but I want to avoid for a number of reasons (open lights=bugs, cost, etc.) Drop in light panels are also out as it will be difficult/impossible to get the right light levels.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you're not using drop in panels or can lights, what are you using?

There are LED drop in panels these days that are very thin and lightweight, plus I think you can get them with a dimmable feature so the light level can be adjusted to suit.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

If you're not using drop in panels or can lights, what are you using?

There are LED drop in panels these days that are very thin and lightweight, plus I think you can get them with a dimmable feature so the light level can be adjusted to suit.

I have not dealt with lighting much, but i was thinking canless, something along the lines of this. The box would be mounted to the joists above.

The grid is older and made of wood. It would (probably) support panel lights but even lighting is going to be a major issue (a major issue with the four Costco Feits down there now).

 

[cybrdyke]

They're commonly referred to as wafer lights.
You can get them as small as 2" diameter now...and in tons of colors & finishes, with or without gimbal (the swivel part). They weigh very little, so the tile should have no problem supporting them.
As for the driver part, you'll have to ask your local inspector what his local rule is. In most cases, if the project is considered new construction, the driver needs to be mounted to something. In a retrofit application, it does not need to be supported, it can just lay in the plenum space.
Good luck,
CD

 

[Zeke]

Raise that ceiling up as high as you can and still get lighting. You said it would be inspected. You should study minimum ceiling height requirements. Generally speaking the min is 7' 6" but some rooms can have 7'. There is an exception formula for rooms with sloped ceilings and dormer vaults.

"1.For rooms with sloped ceilings, the required floor area of the room shall have a ceiling height of not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) and not less than 50 percent of the required floor area shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm)."

"3.Beams, girders, ducts or other obstructions in basements containing habitable space shall be permitted to project to within 6 feet 4 inches (1931 mm) of the finished floor."

You can find similar wording in the IBC section 1208.2 Also any doorway to any room must be 78" from finish floor.

 

[DieselNut88]

I would look at LED wafer cans or panels. They are very thin and lightweight. You can get many different kelvin values( the color) and they are dimmable which would probably be nessesary for such a low ceiling height.

 

[Bert_]

When someone asks for cans or a box for a standard light in a drop ceiling I often cut plywood for support. Usually cut 2'x2'. Usually works much better than the brackets made for the purpose. If the fixture is very heavy extra support wires should be added, doesn't sound like you'll have to worry about that though.