Help with a drop ceiling

[Hurricanes]

Does anyone know if I have to use a insultation box when putting up pot light in a drop ceiling in the basement ? Can I suspend the light from the joist without the box to make it even to the ceiling height ? I have insulation throughtout the basement ceiling secondary to infloor heat (above on main floor). Could I just remove the insulation around the pot light ??? Thanks

[psicodude]

I did my basement with drop ceiling just a few months ago, so I am quite familiar with what you are talking about. Assuming you are living in Alberta (code is different for other provinces)....

You only require an insulation box if there is going to be insulation in the same floor joist as the light. This is to prevent you from burning your house down, as the insulation can ignite if it gets hot enough. There are pots lights with boxes that are specially made for drop ceilings. The actual light part can extend down beyond the box a good 4 inches or so and won't pull up on the ceiling tiles.

Yes, you can just remove the insulation around the light, but I can't remember the minimum distance it has to be from the light. 18" on each side rings a bell, but you should try to look it up yourself just to be sure.

I wouldn't suspend the light from the joist directly. I haven't seen a light that is even designed to do that, and it sounds dangerous.

[4X4]

In floor heat (assuming it's water) is not at all dangerous to igniting insulation - a pot light is. If you're rigging it up yourself, back far away from putting insulation near a pot light. Far, far away. I'm gonna up psicodude's recommendation by at least 6". Insulation is flammable and pot lights get really hot.

[lucky1]

Home depot sells the pot light/box assembly, you just extend some 'feet' and they rest right on the suspended ceiling metal braces. The boxes are certified and you can run insulation right to the box edge..I think they are about $50.00 per fixture....

[nickerjones]

just because i am curious .... Are you using the term drop ceiling meaning a suspended or Acoustical ceiling ? What do you use to make the ceiling .... Ceiling grid? Main tees, Cross tees and ceiling tile?