[darren]

Doing some work on the basement and would like to add some lights in the stairs. The only way I have to get into the wall is to drill through the sistered(4) 2x8 beam. In the picture below I want to drill on an angle next to the blue 2x4 into the basement ceiling space to get the wire through. Any issues with this plan.

 

[ront02769]

Hard to see from the pix but doesn't look to me like you have to touch the beam at all.....just that top plate. Going through that at an angle would get you to the space on the right. But hard to tell where you want to run the wire. Ron

 

[darren]

Here is a picture with a red line showing my path I would like to go. Coming out the top plate may work but the first two joist to the right of the wall is the ceiling of the basement that the drywall be attached to.

 

[Mingledtrash]

Doing some work on the basement and would like to add some lights in the stairs. The only way I have to get into the wall is to drill through the sistered(4) 2x8 beam. In the picture below I want to drill on an angle next to the blue 2x4 into the basement ceiling space to get the wire through. Any issues with this plan.

Ya your drilling through the most critical zone of the beam. This the tension side. generally you dont want to mess with the top 2" or the bottom 2" but you can drill in the center on a horizontal plane. Size of the hole also is a big factor.

IRC residential code I bolded the relevant part.

R502.8.1 Sawn lumber.
Notches in solid lumber joists, rafters and beams shall not exceed one-sixth of the depth of the member, shall not be longer than one-third of the depth of the member and shall not be located in the middle one-third of the span. Notches at the ends of the member shall not exceed one-fourth the depth of the member. The tension side of members 4 inches (102 mm) or greater in nominal thickness shall not be notched except at the ends of the members. The diameter of holes bored or cut into members shall not exceed one-third the depth of the member. Holes shall not be closer than 2 inches (51 mm) to the top or bottom of the member, or to any other hole located in the member. Where the member is also notched, the hole shall not be closer than 2 inches (51 mm) to the notch.

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/irc/2012/icod_irc_2012_5_par026.htm

You will have to find a way to get into the ceiling without drilling the beam

 

[ront02769]

From here, you don't need to drill through the beam. Top of the plate is at the level or bottom of joists, looks like there are one bye threes across the joists....meaning that you have plenty of room to get the wire in there without messing with the beam.....all that said, if you take a small chunk out of the corner of the bottom of that beam....which is sitting on a wall....no worries. Ron

 

[gregzoll]

Either go above if there is space, or find another way to go around that center beam to do it. I cannot see that beam going all of the way to the sub-floor, unless it was put in later to increase head height for the Basement.

 

[Gary in WA]

I think the beam was built before the wall was added, or they wouldn't need the beam... as Ron said, IF the ceiling drywall is getting furred down, no need to drill at all, just notch a little top plate for cavity run.

Gary

 

[jeffmattero76]

If i am seeing this correctly it appears that there is a 1x or possibly 2x to the right of your red line, running perpindicular to the joists. If that is correct it seems to me that you will have to pack down the sistered beam to create a flat plane for the ceiling drywall
If so, pack down with 1x's or 2x's (to match what is already there, but rather than one long packer, use two shorter ones seperated by a space to run your wire. Use a nailing plate to bridge that gap so the drywallers don't run a screw into your wire.

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