aftershock
Senior Member
- Location
- Memphis, TN
Permanent stairs leading into attic. 12 steps up. I have a feeling 210.70(A)(2)(a) will require a light for the stairs then (c) will kick in to requi
Attic light on 3way
- Thread starter aftershock
- Start date
- Status
aftershock
Senior Member
- Location
- Memphis, TN
Require a 3way.
Dang phone limits characters.
Dang phone limits characters.
A/A Fuel GTX
Senior Member
- Location
- WI & AZ
- Occupation
- Electrician
Agreed.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Sure you could have a sp switch downstairs controlling the light on the stairs but you would need a sp controlling another light for the stair on the second floor also.--art. 210.70(A)(2)(c) is pretty clear-- doesn't state that an attic is exempt. The norm is a pair of 3 way switches.
aftershock
Senior Member
- Location
- Memphis, TN
My boss thinks I can get away without a 3 way, but that means no light in stairwell, then I violate (a) .
Edit: its 19 steps, tall ceiling.
Edit: its 19 steps, tall ceiling.
Last edited:
Gregg Harris
Senior Member
- Location
- Virginia
- Occupation
- Electrical,HVAC, Technical Trainer
What about subsection (3) ----- at least one point of control shall be at the usual point of entry to these spaces. Since the atic is not occupiable I do not believe it requires a three way. If you turn on the light at the base of the stairs, which would be the usual point of entry you would not need to turn it off when you entered the atic level only when you exited.
Dennis you are right but it also doesn't say you need a light switch at the top of the stairs when the light is already on as there is only one access to the attic...........LOL.I think this is one of those gray areas where good judgement is called for.
Not trying to be argumentative but the last 3 homes I have owned had 1 switch and 1 light. The stair was a diappearing pull down and the light switch was on the wall 18 inches below the ceiling and can be reached from the top or bottom of the stair ladder either coming or going.
dick
Not trying to be argumentative but the last 3 homes I have owned had 1 switch and 1 light. The stair was a diappearing pull down and the light switch was on the wall 18 inches below the ceiling and can be reached from the top or bottom of the stair ladder either coming or going.
dick
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
The idea here is if someone shuts off the light from below then you have a means to turn it on. It seems unnecessary but that is how it reads to me.
Pull down stairs are not under the same rule as permanent stairs, IMO. W always put the switch up at the top of the pull down stairs where it can be reached from the top steps
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
Agreed.
1793
Senior Member
- Location
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Occupation
- Inspector
How about installing a door switch of some sort so when the stairs are pulled down the light automatically comes on. It would stay on as long as the stairs are down. No need to worry about being turned off while you're up in the attic.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
OP has said it is permanent stairs leading to an attic. He did not mention whether or not this is a habitable space. If it is habitable space I believe he needs switches at each level, if it is not habitable space it is a little more debatable but I think a switch near the entrance to the space is sufficient.
aftershock
Senior Member
- Location
- Memphis, TN
What would define an attic as habitable space?
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
There is nothing in 210.70(A)(3) that requires the space to be habitable. If you have an unfinished basement would you require a switch at the top and bottom. I think the same is true for an attic with permanent stairs. If the stairway is on the interior then a switch is required at each level with a few exceptions
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
True, then there is the many old homes that was common to build a stairway to attic, but I run into many that get filled with enough thermal insulation there is no real use for the space period - but NEC still requires switch at each level of the stairway I guess.
aftershock
Senior Member
- Location
- Memphis, TN
The stairway is accessible from the garage, if that makes any difference.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I think that is a call an AHJ would make. It is inside but .... If I used the words as written I would have to say yes. It is not that big a deal however it does seem like a waste of time.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
If there are lights in the garage that light the stairs and a sp upstairs that lights the attic then IMO you are good to go. No three way is needed.
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
Switches and lights for stairs are for egress.
If you had a half basment have crawl would you put a 3 way in the crawl? No
I doubt if they (attic stairs) meet the requirements of 311.5 Stairways so a light is only required if that area is designed and can be used for storage or has equipment in it.
http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/st/oh/st/b4v06/st_oh_st_b4v06_3_sec011.htm?bu=OH-P-2011-000004
If you had a half basment have crawl would you put a 3 way in the crawl? No
I doubt if they (attic stairs) meet the requirements of 311.5 Stairways so a light is only required if that area is designed and can be used for storage or has equipment in it.
http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/st/oh/st/b4v06/st_oh_st_b4v06_3_sec011.htm?bu=OH-P-2011-000004
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