Hendrix
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Are sensors allowed to be the only way to turn a light on in a commercial bathroom?
occupancy sensor
- Thread starter Hendrix
- Start date
- Status
rcarroll
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
I don't see anything to the contrary. I wired several schools years back, & that's all we installed for lighting control then.
Twoskinsoneman
Senior Member
- Location
- West Virginia, USA NEC: 2020
- Occupation
- Facility Senior Electrician
agreed in dwellings it has to have a manual override switch on it but in other than dwelling it doesn't
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Where would I find that in the NEC? :?
The International Energy Code which is adopted in much of the country in Section 505.2.1 requires a manual control. IMO a manual override would suffice.
In many jurisdictions (as is the case in Utah) the IRC rather than the NEC will govern the electrical installation in a single family home. Where this is the case, Section E3903.2 will require the manual override in habitable spaces (but not in bathrooms).
renosteinke
Senior Member
- Location
- NE Arkansas
A good chance to remide everyone that there's more to life than just the NEC.
Twoskinsoneman
Senior Member
- Location
- West Virginia, USA NEC: 2020
- Occupation
- Facility Senior Electrician
210.70(A) Dwelling Units.
(1) Habitable Rooms. At least one wall switch?controlled
lighting outlet shall be installed in every habitable room
and bathroom.
Exception No. 1: In other than kitchens and bathrooms,
one or more receptacles controlled by a wall switch shall
be permitted in lieu of lighting outlets.
Exception No. 2: Lighting outlets shall be permitted to be
controlled by occupancy sensors that are (1) in addition to
wall switches or (2) located at a customary wall switch
location and equipped with a manual override that will
allow the sensor to function as a wall switch.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
That does not prohibit us from installing a second light that is controlled only by an occupancy sensor. I can see some advantage in having a ceiling light (for general illumination) controlled only by an occupancy sensor, and a vanity light controlled by a manual switch.
Twoskinsoneman
Senior Member
- Location
- West Virginia, USA NEC: 2020
- Occupation
- Facility Senior Electrician
Your right, I was going on the assumption we were talking about a single light based on the OP.
But yes I agree if you install a separate light that complies with the rule I posted you can also install one controlled by the occupancy sensor only. Super job Charlie!
Hendrix
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
As I said, this is not a dwelling, so it dosen't need a switch:?
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
The NEC does not require it to have a switch. The owner may want one anyway, but that is between you and the owner.
- Status