Suspended ceiling - how do you run lighting calbles ? ? ?

**mikex79** · 25-04-2009

Hi I need to run cables in a suspended ceiling (grid made of aluminium tees and mineral fiber ceiling tiles, suspention wires are fixed directly to the concret ceiling so there are not wooden beams that I could clip the cables to) the luminaires are already fit so what I need to do is just run the cables. What I have always seen was twin and earth PVC cables laid directly on the ceiling tiles and grid but I just have a feeling that this practice is not right there is something that is telling me that if there is an insulation fault even due to cable rubbing the main beam and tees the whole grid will become live.
My question is if there is any special method of suspending the cables so they will not touch the metal grid od should I clip them directly to the concret ceiling and just drop the cables to the luminaires? do the grid have to be earthed?
all suggestions would be much appreciate

**irishsailor** · 25-04-2009

I would not suggest just running the cables straight on the tiles! Would recommend you try and clip as best you can. Irish

**Sparky-Tom** · 25-04-2009

Hi,

Im not in the commercial sector, so I dont have any experiance of this sort of thing? But how about conduit mounted on the girders/ the concrete ceiling (Im assuming there is a concrete ceiling) and then use Kliks fo each of th lghts?

Just off of the top of my head, although I dont know if this is excepted practice?

**scotsparky** · 25-04-2009

Wire it up in Conduit,Wire armour,Trunking whatever to one of these or simmilar

Kilk - Lighting Distribution System Hager

Then flex drops to the fittings.

**matt456** · 25-04-2009

you should be looking at a hilti type nail gun and cable fixings just tack the cables on to the floor section above. This is what everyone is doing now. Very easy and very quick

**mikex79** · 25-04-2009

Originally Posted by matt456

you should be looking at a hilti type nail gun and cable fixings just tack the cables on to the floor section above. This is what everyone is doing now. Very easy and very quick

the main ceiling above is a solid concret ceiling so nailing with a hammer and clips is not that easy but i have not tried a nail gun though

**scotsparky** · 25-04-2009

sounds rough i still have a bit of pride in my job. Besides what do you do if you want to change the layout of the lights?? with my method its unplug move lights then plug in.

**mikex79** · 25-04-2009

Originally Posted by scotsparky

Wire it up in Conduit,Wire armour,Trunking whatever to one of these or simmilar

Kilk - Lighting Distribution System Hager

Then flex drops to the fittings.

do you mean to lay trunking, conduit etc directly on the tiles and grid or fix it to the mainconcrete ceiling?

**scotsparky** · 25-04-2009

Fix to the ceiling

**matt456** · 25-04-2009

Originally Posted by scotsparky

sounds rough i still have a bit of pride in my job. Besides what do you do if you want to change the layout of the lights?? with my method its unplug move lights then plug in.

All the big companys do it, if you want to make money you have to throw it in unfortunately the days of hyper neat working that is not going to be on show is over. at least in commercial anyway. If you think thats rough you want to have a look above the ceiling in some shops!!!!!
im working at a school for bk's i will take a couple of photos of whats above the ceiling there, its a modular installation. Those of you that have worked on this type of install will know what i mean!