Bathroom Lighting

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

cka

Member
I have been installing incandescent lighting with an occupant sensor in a bathroom to meet California Title 24 requirement and had no problem with passing inspections. Today I had an inspection where the inspector required me to put an additional at least one fluorescent lighting for the bathroom in her words "if someone was in the shower the sensor would not see through the glass door and they would be left inthe dark". I don't know if the sensor does not work if someone is in the shower but if it does not, I guess it is a good reason to require that. I have done this many times before and always passed inspections with no problem. Was I doing it wrong all along and the inspectors just missed it? I could not find anywhere in California Title 24 that requires this. Thanks for any replies in advance.

Jason.
 
Last edited:
it's not there,so it's hard to find!
i've wondered this, too
if someone takes a shower, and the occupant sensor cannot "see" them, off goes the lights!
i think it's a GREAT idea to have a switched flourescent somewhere (above shower makes the most sense), but it's not required by code
 
Change the Occ Sens to a ultrasonic type and the Occ will "see" around the shower curtain. That would take care of that concern.
 
I am only commenting from the NEC.

If you meet Exception No 2 to 210.70(A)(1) then there should be no reason to add a second light. Is the occupancy sensor at a customary wall switch location and have a manually override? Or do you have a standard wall switch in addition to the occupancy sensor?

Chris
 
It is a manual on automatic off occupant sensor which is required by state of california in every residential bathroom, if there are no fluorescent fixtures being used. I looked into it late last night and found out that the inspector was actually correct. I just have never been called out on this before. Here is a paragraph from the article. "At least one high-efficacy luminaire should be installed so
that it can be left off the occupant sensor circuit to ensure that all of the
luminaires don’t switch off while someone is in the bath. Even dual technology
sensors may not detect a motionless and silent occupant."

http://www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-400-2005-005/chapters_3q/6_Lighting.pdf

Thanks for all the replies.
Jason.
 
Jason, Just a note and by the way nice find I've been enforcing the CEC for a long time and didn't know that, anyways, it says "should" and not "shall".

Just my opinion.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top