gserve
Senior Member
- Location
- New Hampshire
Is AFCI required for a bedroom closet light?
AFCI requirement
- Thread starter gserve
- Start date
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ryan_618
Senior Member
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: AFCI requirement
This is a VERY subjective topic. Odds are, like it or not, the loset light will be protected.
To take this further though, tell me about the word closet. Walk-in? Does it have windows? Does it have a door? How big is the "closet"?
This is a VERY subjective topic. Odds are, like it or not, the loset light will be protected.
To take this further though, tell me about the word closet. Walk-in? Does it have windows? Does it have a door? How big is the "closet"?
gserve
Senior Member
- Location
- New Hampshire
Re: AFCI requirement
Ryan, This is a big walk-in closet with bi-fold doors. It is in a modular home where the master bedroom is on the back half(multi-section) and the closet is on the(front multi-section)and the closet light is wired to the master bath lighting circuit which is also off of this master bedroom
Ryan, This is a big walk-in closet with bi-fold doors. It is in a modular home where the master bedroom is on the back half(multi-section) and the closet is on the(front multi-section)and the closet light is wired to the master bath lighting circuit which is also off of this master bedroom
ryan_618
Senior Member
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: AFCI requirement
I don't have my NEC here, so I can't look at definitions. I don't beleive you can call a closet a bedroom/sleeping room, however. I also think that the requirements in art. 410 for closet lights are stringent enough as is for the lights. Just my opinion though, the AHJ's is the opinion that will count here, as I don't think it is clearly spelled out in the code.
I don't have my NEC here, so I can't look at definitions. I don't beleive you can call a closet a bedroom/sleeping room, however. I also think that the requirements in art. 410 for closet lights are stringent enough as is for the lights. Just my opinion though, the AHJ's is the opinion that will count here, as I don't think it is clearly spelled out in the code.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: AFCI requirement
SIMPLE go into the closet and i will ask you what room your in.And then you ask me what room i am in.LOL
In the real world the switch most likely is only a few feet from a afci protected recepticle.
But if i was trying to say wire all 3 bedrooms on 1 afci breaker and pushing it's max of 3 watts per sq ft then i might just want to take it of another circuit.
Every room on a print is labeled CLOSET or DEN is not a bedroom
SIMPLE go into the closet and i will ask you what room your in.And then you ask me what room i am in.LOL
In the real world the switch most likely is only a few feet from a afci protected recepticle.
But if i was trying to say wire all 3 bedrooms on 1 afci breaker and pushing it's max of 3 watts per sq ft then i might just want to take it of another circuit.
Every room on a print is labeled CLOSET or DEN is not a bedroom
jp_electric
Member
Re: AFCI requirement
even though its in a closet it is still lococated in the bedroom.so it should be afcii think it's 210.12(b) protected. Also it shouldn't be on bathroom circuit thats a violation.210.11(c)(3)but the light does have to be surface or recessed incandescent or fluorescent. (covered) no open pull chain type. and 1 ft from storage space.they got a rule for everything.
[ December 18, 2003, 11:11 PM: Message edited by: jp_electric ]
even though its in a closet it is still lococated in the bedroom.so it should be afcii think it's 210.12(b) protected. Also it shouldn't be on bathroom circuit thats a violation.210.11(c)(3)but the light does have to be surface or recessed incandescent or fluorescent. (covered) no open pull chain type. and 1 ft from storage space.they got a rule for everything.
[ December 18, 2003, 11:11 PM: Message edited by: jp_electric ]
ryan_618
Senior Member
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: AFCI requirement
210.11(C)(3) talks about receptacle outlets, not lighting outlets.
210.11(C)(3) talks about receptacle outlets, not lighting outlets.
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: AFCI requirement
A bedroom is a bedroom, a bathroom is a bathroom, a closet is a closet, if so marked on a print. I do not see a closet as requiring AFCI protection, as it is not a bedroom.
Of course this is just my opinion!!
Pierre
A bedroom is a bedroom, a bathroom is a bathroom, a closet is a closet, if so marked on a print. I do not see a closet as requiring AFCI protection, as it is not a bedroom.
Of course this is just my opinion!!
Pierre
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: AFCI requirement
210.12(B) requires AFCI protection for the entire branch circuit that supplies any outlets (receptacles, lights, or other outlets) in any bedroom. If you get the power for your closet light from the bedroom circuit, it must necessarily be protected by the same AFCI device that protects all the other bedroom outlets.
Please note that being a ?bedroom closet? is not relevant in any way. Suppose, for example, that you get power for the closet light from a different circuit than any bedroom outlet. Suppose further that you put a light switch inside the bedroom to control the lights in the closet. Since the power to the closet lights does not come from the bedroom circuit, the closet light circuit does not require AFCI protection. Also, since the light switch is not an ?outlet,? by the NEC definition, the light switch itself does not require AFCI protection.
These are the key words in your description of the setup. In your specific case, the answer to your original question is ?Yes.?
210.12(B) requires AFCI protection for the entire branch circuit that supplies any outlets (receptacles, lights, or other outlets) in any bedroom. If you get the power for your closet light from the bedroom circuit, it must necessarily be protected by the same AFCI device that protects all the other bedroom outlets.
Please note that being a ?bedroom closet? is not relevant in any way. Suppose, for example, that you get power for the closet light from a different circuit than any bedroom outlet. Suppose further that you put a light switch inside the bedroom to control the lights in the closet. Since the power to the closet lights does not come from the bedroom circuit, the closet light circuit does not require AFCI protection. Also, since the light switch is not an ?outlet,? by the NEC definition, the light switch itself does not require AFCI protection.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: AFCI requirement
Is AFCI required for a bedroom closet light?
Answer is NO.
If you wanted you could feed it from any lighting circuit.
If it's fed from the bedroom circuit then it will be afci protected but wasn't required.
A afci circuit must be 100% .What else could it be?
Is AFCI required for a bedroom closet light?
Answer is NO.
If you wanted you could feed it from any lighting circuit.
If it's fed from the bedroom circuit then it will be afci protected but wasn't required.
A afci circuit must be 100% .What else could it be?
ryan_618
Senior Member
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: AFCI requirement
How is that?
Re: AFCI requirement
Yes, IRON-CLAD definitions are needed, but!
wasn't AFCI in bedroom was chosen for the easily ignitable material usualy found in bedrooms.
Sure seems to me that the criteria is the same for clothes closets.
with careful circuiting, is the cost increased ?
gwz2
Yes, IRON-CLAD definitions are needed, but!
wasn't AFCI in bedroom was chosen for the easily ignitable material usualy found in bedrooms.
Sure seems to me that the criteria is the same for clothes closets.
with careful circuiting, is the cost increased ?
gwz2
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: AFCI requirement
Ryan
It is a closet light ,requires no gfci or afci protection.It can be fed from any gen lighting circuit,including afci or gfci if i so desired.As long as its not on a dedicated,or small appliance circuit where would there be a violation?
Ryan
It is a closet light ,requires no gfci or afci protection.It can be fed from any gen lighting circuit,including afci or gfci if i so desired.As long as its not on a dedicated,or small appliance circuit where would there be a violation?
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: AFCI requirement
Mike
Can we assume that's from the NEC handbook?
Question is while it showed the closet light being protected it also showed the hall, so what exactly can we make from that pic ?
Keep in mind the handbooks picture is not part of the code but just a picture to show intent.
Mike
Can we assume that's from the NEC handbook?
Question is while it showed the closet light being protected it also showed the hall, so what exactly can we make from that pic ?
Keep in mind the handbooks picture is not part of the code but just a picture to show intent.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: AFCI requirement
Will admit there is no violation in the picture but if we are using it to prove the closet light needed afci,then we also could be using it to include a hall.
Will admit there is no violation in the picture but if we are using it to prove the closet light needed afci,then we also could be using it to include a hall.
Re: AFCI requirement
Jim, if you want to add something to your post, just click on the pencil (
in the top of the window, this way it doesn't look like your replying to yourself all the time.
Of course after someone has replied you should not edit your post.
The diagram is just showing a typical circuit, and if it were pulled like this, what would intentionally or unintentionally be on it. (IMO)
Roger
[ December 20, 2003, 01:21 PM: Message edited by: roger ]
Jim, if you want to add something to your post, just click on the pencil (
Of course after someone has replied you should not edit your post.
The diagram is just showing a typical circuit, and if it were pulled like this, what would intentionally or unintentionally be on it. (IMO)
Roger
[ December 20, 2003, 01:21 PM: Message edited by: roger ]
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: AFCI requirement
Jim that is a Mike Holt training graphic.
I do agree with your take on it.
I do not sleep in the closet (no wise cracks ) so it is not a bedroom.
AFCIs only required for bedrooms at this time.
Jim that is a Mike Holt training graphic.
I do agree with your take on it.
I do not sleep in the closet (no wise cracks
) so it is not a bedroom.AFCIs only required for bedrooms at this time.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: AFCI requirement
Darn that Roger.
Darn that Roger.
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