Is shielding is available for lights in a drop ceiling?
Michael writes from Sandy Hook, Connecticut: “I am insulating a drop ceiling in a commercial building. If my lighting fixtures are not “IC” rated (I am told none exist for drop ceilings). What shielding is permitted and how, or does national building code allow me to keep insulation a certain distance from the fixtures?? Are there pre-made “shields” to be installed over the fixtures?” Answer: Owens Corning does not make shields for non-IC-rated lighting fixtures. Lighting companies may make them but I am not aware of any on the market. Shields are typically fabricated on the job with metal or rigid wire mesh. The recommended clearance for non-IC light fixtures is three inches.
