What Kinds of Lights Do I Put in a Suspended Ceiling?

How Lights Are Supported in a Fixed Ceiling

• To understand the process of installing a fixture in a suspended ceiling it is helpful to understand how a fixed ceiling supports a light fixture. The electrical box used for the installation of a light fixture on a fixed ceiling is designed to support a certain amount of weight, usually about 40 pounds. When they are installed during original construction they are often attached directly to support members in the ceiling, either to floor joists from the floor above or to rafters if there is not an above floor. Fixtures installed after construction are generally done with retrofit boxes. These will have a metal crossmember on them that clamps between two support members in the ceiling, also offering a great deal of strength.

Strength in Suspended Ceilings

• The strongest point in a suspended ceiling is the web of metal cross tees. When properly installed, this web is attached to the actual structure using wire in many different locations and is capable of supporting a lot of weight. This structure can be leveraged to safely support many different types of light fixtures.

Recessed Fixtures

• Recessed light fixtures are common in suspended ceilings. They are relatively lightweight, modern and fast to install. When purchasing a recessed light for a suspended ceiling, make sure that it is labeled for IC, or insulation contact, even if it won't be contacting insulation. Exposing suspended ceiling tiles to high levels of heat can cause damage and a risk of fire.

  If the recessed fixture does not include a support bar, one can be purchased separately at a home improvement or lighting store. This support bar will be of adjustable length and will attach on both ends to the metal cross tees supporting the ceiling. The actual light fixture then attaches to the support bar, which provides ample support for the fixture.

Surface Mount Fixtures

• Often times it is desirable to have surface mount fixtures such as fans, chandeliers and track lighting installed on a suspended ceiling. All of these are possible, but they require some additional support beyond what is needed for recessed lighting.

  In the case of track lighting, there are multiple mount points for the track. The easiest and most secure way to support this is to cut several sections of 2-by-4, one per track mounting location, to a length slightly longer than the distance between two of the metal cross tees in the ceiling. The 2-by-4 can then be set across the cross tees and attached with wire. From the bottom of the suspended ceiling a hole can be drilled through the ceiling tile and into the 2-by-4, thus providing a strong, supported mounting surface for the track.

  The process for chandeliers and fans is very similar. 2-by-4s are still used to provide a sturdy screw location, but chandeliers and fans can be much heavier than track and recessed lighting, and in the case of fans, their motion can cause the suspended ceiling to move as well. In these cases additional supports can be run directly from the 2-by-4 support pieces to the actual structure above the suspended ceiling. These supports should be either heavy gauge wire, similar to what supports the suspended ceiling, or more 2-by-4s if room allows.