If not well attached and supported, ceiling lights, suspended ceilings and hanging fixtures can fall down in a natural disaster, with serious consequences

• Secure ceiling lights to supports using safety cables.
  
  
  • Use a chain strap or a minimum 14-gauge wire to attach each of the light fixture's four corners to a nearby ceiling support. Locate the support visually or use a stud locator. Be sure to leave the safety cables slack; they should not support the weight of the lights under normal circumstances. See Figure 10 for details.
    
    
  • If the ceiling light has a cover, keep it from falling during an earthquake or windstorm by fastening it to the fixture itself or to the permanent structure.
    
    
  • Pay special attention to the fluorescent lights. Installing plastic sleeves over the fluorescent light tubes will keep the glass from scattering if they break. As an alternative, consider using Teflon fluorescent lights, which are shatter resistant.

 

Figure 10: Secure Ceiling Lights to Supports with Safety Cables

• Using safety cables, attach suspended or false ceilings permanent structural members every few feet.
  
  
  • Use chain straps, plumber's strapping or heavy wire (minimum 14-gauge) to secure suspended or false ceilings. See Figure 11.
    
    
  • Screws, bolts or other appropriate fasteners should be used to attach the safety cables to both the suspended ceiling and the permanent structural members.
    
    
  • In order to prevent upward movement, adjustable compression struts can be installed.
    

   

  Figure 11: Attach Ceiling Safety Cables

  

  
  

• Make sure ceiling fans, plants and other suspended fixtures are safely secured to permanent structural members.
  

• All items suspended from the ceiling need a safety cable to connect the fixture to a strong support. The safety cable should not support the weight of the item under normal circumstances. Instead, it should remain slack.
  
  
• Keep in mind that hanging items may sway easily. Make sure these objects will not collide with anything if they should begin to swing.
  

Necessary Tools and Materials

	Safety cables, chain straps, heavy wire or plumber's strapping	______	quantity
	Fasteners	______
	Screwdriver	______
	Plastic sleeves for fluorescent lights	______
	Light covers	______
	Stud locator	______
	Variable speed drill and bits	______