Damp or Dry Location

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jrobie79

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Orlando, FL USA
Project Manager for a multifamily developer, we're having issues with our electrical inspector regarding an HVAC fan coil unit installed in the interstitial space above our tub/showers. It is completely sealed by taped drywall with duct mastic and fire caulking around all penetrations and has an access door below, roughly sized 48" L x 30" W.

See the attached section view of the pancake unit installation and how it is separated from the tub/shower:

48001738423_2b4614c35e_b.jpg
Would this be considered a damp location (green bubbled area on photo)? It has no exposure to direct moisture, nor does it receive any shower spray. Our inspector is saying all the wiring of the unit needs to be rated for a damp location. The access panel is currently installed without a gasket, if it is indeed a damp location, would adding a rubber/neoprene/etc gasket to the panel eliminate the 'damp' classification?
 
Based on the definition examples given in Article 100 for interior locations subject to moderate degrees of moisture (some basements, some barns, and some cold storage warehouses), I think it would be a stretch to call it a damp location.
 
As I mentioned in the other forum IMO this is not a damp location. Again our opinions don't matter so you need to appeal to a higher court.
 
Seems to me that he's considering it a damp location because the pan contains water. The problem is not the shower area below.
 
We have a couple of cabinets in our bathroom, just run-of-the-mill stuff. I know that after a shower, if you open them up you'll find a very fine film of condensate on the objects inside the cabinets. One of the reasons I've insisted that no medicines be actually kept in the medicine cabinet. Anyway, that might suggest an argument for considering the space as damp.
 
It's the shower. We have a letter from the manufacturer of the fan coil unit that waterproof wiring is not required. He has issue with the door be un-gasketed I guess.

infinity said:
Seems to me that he's considering it a damp location because the pan contains water. The problem is not the shower area below.
Click to expand...
 
That's a really stupid place to put that to begin with. There has to be a better location. And the secondary overflow drips into the shower tub? Service tech needs to stand in the tub to service it? Where is the disconnect switch?

Your architect or engineer needs to be fired!

-Hal
 
jrobie79 said:
It's the shower. We have a letter from the manufacturer of the fan coil unit that waterproof wiring is not required. He has issue with the door be un-gasketed I guess.
Click to expand...

If he's complaining about the area within the ceiling and above the shower then it's not a damp location in my book.
 
hbiss said:
That's a really stupid place to put that to begin with. There has to be a better location. And the secondary overflow drips into the shower tub? Service tech needs to stand in the tub to service it? Where is the disconnect switch?

Your architect or engineer needs to be fired!

-Hal
Click to expand...

This is my 5th 100+ million dollar development with this company and every single one has had the pancake unit installed in this location, never had an issue from our HVAC contractors previously. This job in Florida is the only one with the secondary dripping into the shower though, most others have a float switch in the pan (I live in NH, work in MA, all prior projects were in MA)

hbiss said:
He's probably busting your chops because he doesn't like where it is also.
Click to expand...
hbiss said:
That access door is going to be covered with rust spots in about 6 months.

-Hal
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I've gone back to projects from 3/4 years ago and the door has no rust on it. My question wasn't the location, I don't design these things, I just get them built.
 
I work on these types of AC units. I've never seen one actually above the shower. Bathroom ceiling, yes, but not shower ceiling. Interesting.

Does a recessed light above a shower require the gasket that it comes with?

Where is the air filter/return?
 
MAC702 said:
I work on these types of AC units. I've never seen one actually above the shower. Bathroom ceiling, yes, but not shower ceiling. Interesting.

Does a recessed light above a shower require the gasket that it comes with?

Where is the air filter/return?
Click to expand...

Yes, we have single shower stalls adjacent to soaking tubs (no shower head, tiled half way up) but those are only in two bedroom units that have vertical fan coils in their own closet. However our studio apartments have single shower stalls, with the above ceiling pancake, but those are not directly above the shower, those are in the center of the bathroom ceiling. The lights are all rated for damp/wet locations or whatever, we've never had an issue with those.
 
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