On Mon, 27 Jan 2014 21:28:30 -0800, Kate wrote:

I had an electrician come in and remove a florescent light fixture, and
install a standard interior light fixture that hugs the ceiling. It uses
one standard 60 watt bulb. This is in my pantry.

It did not have an electrical box, so he cut through the drywall and put
one in.

After he left, I noticed that he did not use the metal mounting bar that
came with the fixture.

Is this OK, or could this present a problem down the road. I worry
about electrical fires, etc.

Thank you!

Kadee

It sounds fine to me.

That bar is for times when someone wants the fixture between two joists,
too far from either for the box to be attached to one. I'm sure that
was not the case here, that the original light was next to a joist. And
the electrciian left the bar behind because it was included with the box
and you paid for it.

But let's say someone brings home Bonzo for the weekend and he spends
his time swinging from the light fixture. The worst that will happen is
that Bonzo pulls the fixture down, that pulls the box connected to it
down, through the ceilng, but it will still have the wiring enclosed
properly in the box/fixture, with no fire hazard. Even if the box is
below the ceiling now.

Don't forget that Bonzo weighs a lot more than he seems to, at least 100
pounds. Unless it has a glass shade that breaks from the weight, anyone
lighter swinging from the light probably won't do anything to it, .