deronmoped said:
Why would the description of a storage area in a closet only apply to lights, does the definition of the stroage area change when there is a subpanel or any other electrical item in there? My understanding of a description is it applies in all cases.
The reason is because of the "outline nature" of the code. In order for it to be effectively written, it is broken down into Chapters, Articles, Parts, and Sections.
The requirement we are looking at is located in Chapter 4, Article 410, Part II, Section 8(A). We call it 410.8(A).
Panelboards are covered in 408 and 409.
If this were an overall definition that covered panelboards (408), overcurrent devices (240), receptacles (406), switches (404), etc, then this definition would need to reside in Article 100 for it to have effect on those other articles and chapters.
For example, there is an ongoing discussion about "bundling" in the NEC. What does bundling mean? It is not defined in 100. It is defined elsewhere in the NEC, but it is not defined in a location usable by 310.15. They have been trying to do just that for a couple cycles now, because right now it is unclear exactly when we have to derate cables according to 310.15(B)(2)(a).
So, going back to 410.8(A), that definition only has a legal footfold inside it's own section, in 410.8(A). It doesn't even apply outside 410.8, unless a neighboring section chooses to borrow the definition by referencing it.
But, why does the code go into so much detail about a closet and the location of a light if a lights are only moderate sources of heat? I'm thinking these lights in closets were and still are (if not installed properly) a big problem with fires.
I would bet if lights were not necessary so you could see in a closet they would have wrote this "shall not be located in closets".
I think you answered your own question. They
did write "no overcurrent devices in closets", writing panelboards out of closets completely (in their own incomplete way
).
But lighting is desired (and arguably needed) in closets, so they had to find a way to make it safer without banning them completely. 410.8 is that attempt.
What do you think?