ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues can lights (fasteners)

I like the built-in roofing nails on the Halo boxes. There's no shortage of room to put in other hangers, but man, can't get much easier, and 4 nails in shear to support 1 small can is plenty of support. It's amazing how nice those IC cans are for just $5.

Roofing nails are not only for roofing. Building code and UL listings call out roofing nails for a number of other applications, too. Windows, for instance, almost always require roofing nails. Engineering-wise, they're used whenever a small diameter nail with a large head is required. They're perfect for lightweight light-gage steel fixtures like this.

Big question regarding the tabs is what did the instructions say? If the instructions say it's sufficient, that's one thing, but I'd still never use the tabs alone.

I guess you folks don't have a wind code. You sure can't use roofing nails for windows in Florida.

Here is what roofing nails are very useful for. When you install strips of sheet metal to cover a notch with a nm cable in it, you can secure it without penetrating the sheet metal by alternating roofing nails along the sides so that the heads overlap the strips.

gfretwell, roofing nails meet the wind-load codes around here. It depends on the window and the wind loading, but 1 2" roofing nail in every other slot is good to 110mph exposure B here.

If you're in southern florida, you have 150mph codes that just get ridiculous.

They don't seem that ridiculous when you actually get that wind. I doubt you could even use roofing nails up in Orlando where they have a minimal code. I never see stick built houses around here and the CBS house gets about 20 1/4" TapCons into the block per window.

I use romex staples. Seems it takes 5+ minutes to find a nail in most of our houses.