Closet Lights NEC 410.16(A)
- Thread starter mjc1060
- Start date
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- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Not if the bulbs are not enclosed because someone can add an incandescent later. Track is a terrible closet light, IMO. Although unclear I believe the intent is to not allow track lighting in closets.
Steviechia2
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
1) Is LED would have to be enclosed
2) Both would have to be identified suitable for use inside of closet
2) Both would have to be identified suitable for use inside of closet
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I tend to agree as I stated above but someone could argue that a track light is a surface mounted fixture
qcroanoke
Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
- Location
- Roanoke, VA.
- Occupation
- Sorta retired........
Steviechia2
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
I always like a good argument! :happyyes:
Me like good debate.
How can you be sure that the track fixtures that are installed on the track will have enclosed bulb? Now that I am thinking about it, do they even make a track head that has enclosed bulbs???:?:?
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Interesting question since my bedroom closet just has a porcelain fixture with a bare bulb.
I don't see any wiggle room unless you can find a track lighting fixture with a totally enclosed bulb.
renosteinke
Senior Member
- Location
- NE Arkansas
The 'tracks' in 'track lighting' are not any type of luminaire - just a means of getting power to the luminaire.
About the only 'variable' that might enter the discussion is: what if part of the track itself is too close to the clothes?
As for the CFL issue, the NEC never said they didn't count as making the fixture fluorescent. That's only an interpretation by the IAEI and a specification in some energy codes. With the "banning" of the ordinary light bulb, it's worth revisiting the issue. It's bad enough when something 'might' happen, but even worse when the 'maybe' has already been legislated out of existance.
Listed for use in closets? Please, spare me. Next thing we'll be expecting to see little booklets with the fixtures, telling us specifically what rooms you can use them in. Gee, the booklet says "breakfast nook" and "living room," but doesn't say anything about the 'dining room' or the 'family room.' What am I to do?
About the only 'variable' that might enter the discussion is: what if part of the track itself is too close to the clothes?
As for the CFL issue, the NEC never said they didn't count as making the fixture fluorescent. That's only an interpretation by the IAEI and a specification in some energy codes. With the "banning" of the ordinary light bulb, it's worth revisiting the issue. It's bad enough when something 'might' happen, but even worse when the 'maybe' has already been legislated out of existance.
Listed for use in closets? Please, spare me. Next thing we'll be expecting to see little booklets with the fixtures, telling us specifically what rooms you can use them in. Gee, the booklet says "breakfast nook" and "living room," but doesn't say anything about the 'dining room' or the 'family room.' What am I to do?
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
I think it also depends on the design of the CFL. A luminaire that also accepts popular incandescent lamps most will agree is not allowed to be used with CFL's installed where the incandescent lamp is not otherwise allowed.
There are luminaires that are designed to only work with specific types of CFL's and no other lamp.
I have become particularly fond of using these in recent years in clothes closets.
TimK
Member
- Location
- Tacoma, WA
And I'm sure someone will.......
And correct me if I'm wrong, but i believe I seen a florescent inside a A-19 to make it look like a normal lamp, now would that count as totally enclosed?
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
A cfl that utilizes a standard socket is not acceptable because someone could and will change the bulb to am incandescent.
TimK
Member
- Location
- Tacoma, WA
come on now Dennis, i am just trying to get that track light installed in your closet for you.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
No thanks, as I said before it is not a good light.
TimK
Member
- Location
- Tacoma, WA
No thanks, as I said before it is not a good light.
Does this mean I'm fired?:lol: By no means would i ever try to put a track light in a closet, I did have a customer one time ask for a chandelier, yes closet was that big. Sorry, exposed lamps, it wouldn,t be prudent:happyno:
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
We had the same think. A 15x20 walk-in closet but the perimeter walls had all the clothing in built in cabinets- no exposed clothing. They had a dressing table in the middle and wanted a chandelier. I talked with the inspector and he said to get the architect to change the name on the plan to dressing room and he would be okay since it technically was not a closet.
TimK
Member
- Location
- Tacoma, WA
Big Closet
Big Closet
Well, mine had a "shoe island?" in the middle, but we had places to stack clothes and i did not want to risk a rich persons' laziness, to see if they could get richer.
Big Closet
Well, mine had a "shoe island?" in the middle, but we had places to stack clothes and i did not want to risk a rich persons' laziness, to see if they could get richer.
Now aside from lighting, does the dressing room have to have receptacles placement according to 210.52.
Did you have receptacles installed in the dressing room?
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
No as it is not a living area required by 210.52, imo. I may have had one or two but I can't remember
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