Removing office lighting

coffeeinmyveins

I have started on a small project to expose the industrial aspects of an office space by removing the drop down grid ceiling. My question pertains to the office light fixtures and how to remove them safely.

All of the fixtures are connected to junction boxes (as pictured). Can I remove the fixtures safely by disconnecting them at the junction box as long as I am certain that the fixtures aren't on ( read: turned off at the light switch)?

I could possibly find and flip the breakers off, but this is an office building with other businesses in operation, so I would hate to cause someone any stress by flipping the wrong breaker. The breaker box is not labeled and is not just for the space that I am occupying.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Kind Regards,
Cody

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k_buz

I've been wrong in a some cases before, but I highly doubt you can do any sort of electrical work on a commercial property.

coffeeinmyveins

Thanks for the reply. I hadn't really considered that, but a very valid point. I was looking at it as demolition since I was just removing the old fixtures from the junction box and not messing with circuit loads or rerouting anything. I was wanting to have a clean slate for the crews to work with when renovations begin, but if I'm asking, maybe it is a job best left to someone who knows...

Kind Regards,
Cody

andrew79

Most likely a 3 phase system. Could be 120v or 347v/600v(not sure on u.s equivalent 277v/480v?). You really don't want to mess around with that stuff unless you've got all the power off. Turning switches off isn't going to cut it if they shared the neutrals. Being completely honest If you don't know what your doing with a 3 phase system or qualified to work on it you should be anywhere near it. You don't just get a tingle off those larger voltages, you get off clean if your real lucky, hospital if your a little lucky and you don't want to know what happens if your lucks all gone for the day.

And no your not allowed to work on it legally.

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coffeeinmyveins

Thanks for solidifying my decision, I will leave it as is until the certified electricians come in.

Kind Regards,
Cody