Hanging ceiling hooks from concrete beams above drywall ceiling

Question

I'm hoping to hang two aerial yoga hooks from the ceiling in my apartment (I'm on a middle floor in a ten-story building). I popped out a light fixture to take this picture, and I want to make sure I understand what I'm looking at:
A: Is the support beam holding up the floor above me -- it feels like concrete to the touch.
B: There appear to be two thin boards attached to the bottom of the beam -- what are these for?
C: Is a lightweight steel frame holding up the drywall of my ceiling
D: Is the drywall of my ceiling
E: Is another steel frame, holding up the ceiling framing
Am I correct in thinking that I'd need to mount the hooks into the concrete beams (A)?
I want the hooks to sit flush against the drywall ceiling and there's a gap of about 3 inches between the top of the drywall and the beam: Naively, I'm imagining drilling ~6-inch wedge anchors through the drywall and into the bottom of the beams.
Am I being an idiot and/or overlooking any complicating factors here?

JackOfAllMasterOf2 · Accepted Answer

You should not mount anything to the beam (A) by drilling in to it. Under load the bottom is under tension and the width of the hole reduces how much the beam can manage. Think of it as cutting a strand in a rope.
Theoretically you could saddle the beam with a strap, rope, chain, and cut out a section of sheet rock to allow for play, or have a brace made to provide a stiff point at ceiling level. This however is done at the expense of compromising the fire resistance of the beam and ceiling since you would be removing some fire barrier and adding a heat conducting medium saddled around a major structural component. A likely violation of your rental, lease, or association agreement in addition to your local building codes.
Consider having an assembly made that can be assembled below the ceiling. Something like either an A frame or a heavy gauged post mounted to a plate assembly. (Like much of the equipment at a gym)

Ted Mittelstaedt · Answer

I don't actually think you have concrete beams in a 10 story building.  Concrete is strong but it is not flexible and if you really had a 10 story tall concrete structure the slightest shake would crack the heck out of it and it would come crashing down.  I can't see it meeting quake codes.
I think you have regular steel I beams that are covered in insulation which is probably spray on nasty stuff full of silica and such then covered with drywall to keep the residents from complaining about air quality, etc.  After 911 everyone who wasn't previously doing it started to spray on thick layers of fire retardant on their steel frame buildings during construction.
The only anchor point in that you can trust is the floor of the person above you and people take a dim view of drill bits erupting in the middle of their floor and toggle bolts coming up through the holes.  All that sheet metal you see is just barely able to hold up your own ceiling.

Hanging ceiling hooks from concrete beams above drywall ceiling

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