Suspended ceiling rules and regs

Are there any specific rules/regulations/guidelines for hanging stuff from suspended ceilings? Illuminaires, ceiling speakers, fire sensors all just mount on the tiles or clip into the latticework but I want to know about heavier things.

Reason I ask is that I occasionally work for a bloke who always wants to do jobs on a budget of a fiver[1] so corners are trimmed enthusiastically. The jobs are to hang 3kg devices off ceilings, be it plaster, beams or suspended. When it comes to suspended ceilings everyone else does it by going up to the "real" ceiling above and attaching a long pole which drops down through a tile.

The "Oh we've always done it this way method" is to place a square of ply the size of a ceiling tile above one, and mount to that, making a

600mm2 sandwich. I don't like doing it that way, but it does work.

I don't like being ignorant and I don't do crappy bodges[2] so what does the team think?

[1] I suspect the only work that comes in is because he's so desperate to be the cheapest going. This works for Tesco but not for specialist installation. [2] I do inspired, inventive uk.d-i-y type bodges that you'd all be proud of!
Reply to
Scott M
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Don't know about any rules and regulations but its a pound to a pinch of sh*t, that if any of these ceilings collapses and causes injury to anyone, and this guy has your name and address, then it will be your arse that will be on the line. Even if you ask him for written instructions he'll most likely plead ignorance and claim you said you knew what you were doing, so he just let you get on with it.

michael adams

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Reply to
michael adams

Complete luminairs are frequently held by the ceiling lattice - and those will run to several kg typically.

So 3kg with a board to spread the load (it does not need to be the same size as the tile, but it helps if it spans the ali struts each side) will be fine.

(I have hung a video projector from one in the past, and even had a small form factor PC in another)

If you get to wanting to hang a complete TV or something, then that will require more substatial support.

Reply to
John Rumm

They are universal in commercial buildings and hide many services. There are various types. They are cheaper to install than plastering etc There are special light fittings to fit into the ceiling grid. If there's anything heavy to hang on them,there are extra suspension wires installed around the object.

Light objects, a hole can be cut in the tile & mounted on the tile Heavy objects, a tile can be backed with ply. Really heavy objects, suspended from the roof above.

The tiles may need clips in windy places. (Stops them blowing away)

Reply to
harryagain

On 05/03/2014 17:11, harryagain wrote: ...

Clips may also be required to achieve fire resistance; it stops an updraft from a fire from lifting fire-retardant tiles.

Colin Bignell

Reply to
Nightjar

Nightjar wrote in news:oNadnUueWIBJdYXOnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

I think they must harbor germs and bugs in hospitals. I don't like the way some of them "pant" when doors open and close.

Reply to
DerbyBorn

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