Abandoned light fixtures

[acwservices]

Does the NEC allow abandoned light fixtures and their circuit conductors to be left in place? My customer has a large retail type space that has both recessed 8' and surface mounted fixtures. Both are F96/T12. The lighting consultant is proposing to retrofit the surface mount fixtures to F32/T8, disconnect the branch cirucit conductors to the recessed fixtures, and leave them in place. They obviously do not want to have to re-work the ceiling grid and tiles. The lighting consultant has asked me if there is a code reference prohibiting this, and my initial response was no. I have searched the 2008 NEC, and I cannot find any section prohibiting this. Do any of you know of a section prohibiting this?

 

[drbond24]

The NEC regulates the installation of electrical equipment and devices for safety purposes. The don't have anything to say about leaving old junk laying around.

 

[480sparky]

Once it's no longer supplied (or can be supplied) with power, it's outside the scope of the NEC.

Building codes, especially local ones, may dictate minimum lighting (lumens, footcandles, etc.).

 

[celtic]

Fixtures, conduits, and that sort of stuff can be abandoned in place...in the 800s you may run afoul by simply abandoning in place.

 

[cowboyjwc]

There's nothing that prohibits it, but you would think that from the retailers stand point that it would just look like a bunch of lights were out.