Mounting T8's flush into ceiling

[btlegacy]

I have some recessed T8 fixtures that were previously hanging by chains in a drop ceiling. I am looking to mount them in my ceiling and then drywall and insulate the ceiling. Based on what I have read, I decided to build a box out of 5/8in fire safe drywall and then caulk the seams in the drywall with fire safe caulk. Here is a pic of the one I put together today. Once the drywall is complete I plan to blow in cellulose insulation over the top. What do you guys think?

 

[southalabama]

Gonna be a lot of heat build up. Looks like your taking steps to prevent fire.

Interested to see what the electricians in the bunch think.

 

[btlegacy]

I am trying to make it fireproof so that it does not get in contact with insulation.

The space from the top of the fixture to to top of the box is about 4 inches and there is 2 inches of space on each end from the fixture to the sides of the box

 

[yeldogt]

How are you going to insulate above? Looks like you are going to have a lot of air gap potential.

Are you doing this because you don't have the height to hang them.

What do the fixture say? .. and stickers saying anything about insulation?

 

[shawhite]

Why not just attach them to the underside of the ceiling after you sheet rock. What are u saving 3-4 inches at most. Seems like a lot of extra work for that little bit of space and also what if u decide to add light or move lights later.

 

[jhelrey]

Don't get that fire caulking on anything that you don't want red. It will wipe off of painted metal but forget it if you get it on drywall, doors, flooring, workbench, etc.

 

[btlegacy]

I am planning to blow in cellulose insulation up top. I am doing it to not lose any height in the ceiling.

Unfortunately, the fixtures are freebies that I got that were pulled and do not have any tags.

The ballasts do show that they have internal thermal protection but nothing about insulation.

I am modeling the drywall boxes after this design: http://www.tenmat-us.com/fire-product-ff130-2x4.html

 

[TheEquineFencer]

How much were the ballast?

 

[btlegacy]

I was able to reuse some of the ballasts that were with the fixtures so I only needed to get 3 of the 4 bulb ballasts. These are the ones I have ordered:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Electroni...598?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f12fcaee

 

[TheEquineFencer]

I was able to reuse some of the ballasts that were with the fixtures so I only needed to get 3 of the 4 bulb ballasts. These are the ones I have ordered:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Electroni...598?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f12fcaee

Not a bad price for three. I know at Lowe's they are within $5 of a new fixture,

 

[JT-3]

Well, at least it will look clean. Interesting idea.

 

[btlegacy]

I am almost done with the boxes. Have started running wire now and sealing them up: