Are Flourescent Tube Protectors Required?

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davedottcom

Senior Member
I'm talking about the clear plastic tubes that slip over the fluorescent lamps when the lamps are exposed.
I know I've seen them used in restaurants all the time but never gave it much thought if they were actually required by the NEC or Health Inspector or if they are even required at all?
Then I started noticing lots of public places that don't use them at all... so what's the deal?
And why just fluorescents? Why not recessed lights?
 

mcclary's electrical

Senior Member
Location
VA
I'm talking about the clear plastic tubes that slip over the fluorescent lamps when the lamps are exposed.
I know I've seen them used in restaurants all the time but never gave it much thought if they were actually required by the NEC or Health Inspector or if they are even required at all?
Then I started noticing lots of public places that don't use them at all... so what's the deal?
And why just fluorescents? Why not recessed lights?

Public recessed lights should be a PAR bulb, which is essentially it's own cover. I believe the tube covers are required in USBC, not NEC.and only for public access.
 

ed downey

Senior Member
Location
Missouri
In any food service area that has open food like a salad bar you are required to protect the lamp from shattering and dropping pieces of glass into the food. This can be accomplished with the tubes you are talking about or a lense on the fixture either 2x4 fixture lense or can light lense.

They also make an incandescent lamp that has a coating on the outside that will not shatter. I have used those in the past in a couple of casino restraunt areas. They are kind of fun to throw at a wall
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davedottcom

Senior Member
Health Dept... ok... does anyone have a copy of the actual requirement? I'm curious as to what the restrictions are. For instance... fluorescents only, or any lamps, or is there a height limit or a certain distance horizontally from a food prep area?
 

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
Health Dept... ok... does anyone have a copy of the actual requirement? I'm curious as to what the restrictions are. For instance... fluorescents only, or any lamps, or is there a height limit or a certain distance horizontally from a food prep area?


They're like electrical codes.... they vary by state, city, county, parish, burg, village, hamlet........
 

cschmid

Senior Member
look at your states department of health requirements. this is where you will find the regulation. yet it does have requirements that are more then just to food related establishments. they also make a bulb that has shrink wrap on them and they actually hold up better then the cheap plastic tubes which seem to always have one end missing which makes it no longer compliant and are always yellowed and reduce the light out put.
 

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
FDA REGULATION Regulation issued from Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration; Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Part 128, Title 21 ? ?Light bulbs, fixtures, skylights, or other glass suspended over exposed food in any step of preparation shall be of the safety type or otherwise protected to prevent food contamination in case of breakage."
 

roger

Moderator
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Location
Fl
Occupation
Retired Electrician
FDA REGULATION Regulation issued from Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration; Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Part 128, Title 21 – ‘Light bulbs, fixtures, skylights, or other glass suspended over exposed food in any step of preparation shall be of the safety type or otherwise protected to prevent food contamination in case of breakage."

That pretty much bleaches out any gray area. :)

Roger
 

davedottcom

Senior Member
Thanks Dennis!

But, Not so fast Roger!

"...over exposed food in any step of preparation..."

Hmmm, does that include the area the waitress travels until she reaches your table? or what about those heat lamps that keep the food warm until she gets back from a break!?

:roll:
 

roger

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Fl
Occupation
Retired Electrician
Thanks Dennis!

But, Not so fast Roger!

"...over exposed food in any step of preparation..."

Hmmm, does that include the area the waitress travels until she reaches your table? or what about those heat lamps that keep the food warm until she gets back from a break!?

:roll:
IMO yes, the heat lamps over the food definitely.

Roger
 

RETRAINDAILY

Senior Member
Location
PHX, arizona
here is another

FDA food code:

"...light bulbs shall be shielded, coated, or otherwise shatter-resistant in areas where there is exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; or unwrapped single-service and single-use articles."

Chapter 6, Section 202.11 Light Bulbs, Protective Shielding
 

davedottcom

Senior Member
here is another

FDA food code:

"...light bulbs shall be shielded, coated, or otherwise shatter-resistant in areas where there is exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; or unwrapped single-service and single-use articles."

Chapter 6, Section 202.11 Light Bulbs, Protective Shielding

Where there is exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; or unwrapped single-service and single-use articles."

Wow! Exposed food...That's pretty much the ENTIRE place! Is the food considered to be protected After you eat it? :D
 

muckusmc

Senior Member
Location
Roebling, NJ
Thanks Dennis!

But, Not so fast Roger!

"...over exposed food in any step of preparation..."

Hmmm, does that include the area the waitress travels until she reaches your table? or what about those heat lamps that keep the food warm until she gets back from a break!?

:roll:

Yes, they have heat lamps also and they are required, however I haven't seen any inspectors that require them. Probably because they don't know what to look for.
 

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
Thanks Dennis!
You're welcome

Hmmm, does that include the area the waitress travels until she reaches your table? or what about those heat lamps that keep the food warm until she gets back from a break!?

I don't think the area the waitress travels is considered a step of preparations, however, this other statement posted seems to include the entire restaurant except the bathroom. :)
 
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