Help required - ceiling lights & joists (new build)

alx

alx

alx

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Hoping you guys can help!

I moved into a new build last September, but have only just got round to replacing the pendant light fittings in my lounge with something a bit better. When removing the pendants I found they have just been screwed into the ceiling plasterboard and not into any sort of joist - is this normal? Problem is my new lights are significantly heavier than a pendant so it's highly unlikely the 2 existing pasterboard screw fixings will hold the weight (especially as they're just either side of the hole for the wire).

From speaking to a few people, including an electrician, ceiling light fittings should really have some sort of joist present to allow for a variety of lights to fitted if required and it seems the developer has taken a bit of a short cut in this instance.

I've fired off an email to the developer complaining, but do I have much of a leg to stand on if they refuse to do anything?

Thanks
 
Having moved to a new built last December, I can confirm that my pendant lights were just screwed onto the plasterboard on the ceiling. The plasterboard itself though is quite thick so can hold my new light fixtures with ease.

How heavy are the fixtures you are trying to install?
 
A joist is preferable but I suppose just into plasterboard could work, it's not how I'd do it. I assume they've used these? They're not rated to a huge amount of weight, if a joist is not possible and it's expected to bear a significant amount of weight I'd recommend a hollow wall anchor like this.
 
M1k3H said:
Having moved to a new built last December, I can confirm that my pendant lights were just screwed onto the plasterboard on the ceiling. The plasterboard itself though is quite thick so can hold my new light fixtures with ease.

How heavy are the fixtures you are trying to install?
Click to expand...

~5kg - this is the light: http://www.diy.com/departments/kamara-tube-white-3-lamp-pendant-ceiling-light/588382_BQ.prd

Kiyoshi said:
A joist is preferable but I suppose just into plasterboard could work, it's not how I'd do it. I assume they've used these? They're not rated to a huge amount of weight, if a joist is not possible and it's expected to bear a significant amount of weight I'd recommend a hollow wall anchor like this.
Click to expand...

The main issue is that the 2 existing screw holes are either side of the hole for the wire and are relatively close to it, which doesn't inspire confidence. The electrician didn't seem to think it would hold and was recommending a joist being installed, but maybe he was overreacting.
 
In our new build all the pendant lights are just off from where the joists are so when new fittings have been put up I have screwed straight to the joists.
 
I'm kind of surprised their isn't a standard for load beaing capacity for ceiling light connections.

Something like one connection per room must be able to support up to 5kg within diameter of 50mm to 150mm of the electrical supply situated within 200mm of the room centre.

I have lathe and plaster ceilings so they are significantly more load bearing but I have lived in other houses and thought why isn't there a wooden joist or support for the ceiling rose to be connected to.
 
The electrician had a good root around and couldn't seem to find any joists nearby.

The developer has come back to me and basically washed their hands with it and said as I'm now the owner if I need more support for light fittings I'll have to sort it myself, bah.

So either I try and screw it into the plasterboard and hope it doesn't fall down or get someone to fit some form of joist. I know other flats have lights similar to mine installed, so either they were lucky with a joist or the plasterboard is strong enough.
 
With good toggles you'll be fine and there are some large toggles available now.

If you want to be even more cautious:

In my first house I has a situation like that and was concerned about toggles and there was less choice at the time. So I got two pieces of hardwood about 20x20mm and 250mm long. I then drilled pilot holes for screws, enlarged the current wiring hole and pushed them them through.

Once centred back across the light fitting I screwed the fitting to them with the wiring in the middle. With hindsight it was overkill of course but it did spread the weight over a large area!
 
My first house was a nightmare regarding fixings! Bloody cowboy builders! Brand new build but pathetic design regarding fixings!
 
Simon42 said:
With good toggles you'll be fine and there are some large toggles available now.

If you want to be even more cautious:

In my first house I has a situation like that and was concerned about toggles and there was less choice at the time. So I got two pieces of hardwood about 20x20mm and 250mm long. I then drilled pilot holes for screws, enlarged the current wiring hole and pushed them them through.

Once centred back across the light fitting I screwed the fitting to them with the wiring in the middle. With hindsight it was overkill of course but it did spread the weight over a large area!
Click to expand...

Thanks, was thinking about something like this, cheers!

Hobbsie said:
the loft is above right? why not put a piece of wood up there?
Click to expand...

It's a flat, so no loft unfortunately.
 
If it's a flat then it will be a concrete floor slab directly behind the plasterboard ceiling. I'm not sure what the rules are on drilling into party...floors(?) but it would definitely take the weight.
 
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