Do all closets in dwellings require lights

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Bill_From_GA

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210.70(A)(3) states that all attics, utility rooms, and basements that are used storage or "equipment requiring servicing" require a light. Are pantries, clothes closets, etc considered utility rooms? How does the NEC define a utility room and where did the definition come from?
 
Bill, 210.70(A)(3) requires an "Lighting Outlet" to be installed, the NEC doesn't reqire Luminaires to be installed in these spaces.

Roger
 
Bill_From_GA said:
Are pantries, clothes closets, etc considered utility rooms? How does the NEC define a utility room and where did the definition come from?
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No, the NEC doesn't define utility rooms, but I can't see anyone calling a clothes clset a utility room. When I hear "utility room", I think of the area where my furnace and water heater are.
 
Bill_From_GA said:
210.70(A)(3) states that all attics, utility rooms, and basements that are used storage or "equipment requiring servicing" require a light. Are pantries, clothes closets, etc considered utility rooms? How does the NEC define a utility room and where did the definition come from?
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Hi Bill welcome, good to see another Georgian on the site, the word is spreading. Clothes closets don't have to have a light installed, however, and I hate to have to say this but......(we always used to...) put a light in every clothes closet, just for conveneince, and it's always nice to be able to see what you need to in those dark spaces. P.S. where are you at?
 
sguinn said:
Hi Bill welcome, good to see another Georgian on the site, the word is spreading. Clothes closets don't have to have a light installed, however, and I hate to have to say this but......(we always used to...) put a light in every clothes closet, just for conveneince, and it's always nice to be able to see what you need to in those dark spaces. P.S. where are you at?
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I was told the closet had to be a 'walk in ' closet to ACTUALLY have a light installed. Otherwise it was considered more of a fire hazard to have a light in a closet that wasnt that big and the light have to 'special fire rated' or something like that. Thats one reason why i always saw lights 'just' outside the closet installed. correct me if im wrong on that.
 
brother said:
I was told the closet had to be a 'walk in ' closet to ACTUALLY have a light installed. Otherwise it was considered more of a fire hazard to have a light in a closet that wasnt that big and the light have to 'special fire rated' or something like that. Thats one reason why i always saw lights 'just' outside the closet installed. correct me if im wrong on that.
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I am not sure what constitutes a walk- in closet since the code does not address that definition. As Jomaul says look at 410.8--all of it. If you have the clearance then it's a go.

Brother--- your concept is basically right because most standard size closets are not large enough to legally install a light.
 
brother said:
I was told the closet had to be a 'walk in ' closet to ACTUALLY have a light installed. Otherwise it was considered more of a fire hazard to have a light in a closet that wasnt that big and the light have to 'special fire rated' or something like that. Thats one reason why i always saw lights 'just' outside the closet installed. correct me if im wrong on that.
Click to expand...

brother, as long as the "closet" wasn't like a linen closet or in other words really small, fluoresents do the trick and IMHO don't present a hazard.
 
Bill_From_GA said:
210.70(A)(3) states that all attics, utility rooms, and basements that are used storage or "equipment requiring servicing" require a light. Are pantries, clothes closets, etc considered utility rooms? How does the NEC define a utility room and where did the definition come from?
Click to expand...

Another reason I think article 100 is far too small.

I think it's stupid that intelligent people are scratching their heads over rather simple stuff.

But aside from that, I really don't see how a closet could be considered a utility room or a basement or an attic.
 
sguinn said:
I hate to have to say this but......(we always used to...) put a light in every clothes closet, just for conveneince, and it's always nice to be able to see what you need to in those dark spaces.
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Theres nothing wrong with wearing 2 different shoes. I do it all the time.
 
Isn't the code requirement for a lumninare outlet?
Does the code actually require a luminiare to be installed?
 
chris kennedy said:
Theres nothing wrong with wearing 2 different shoes. I do it all the time.
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Maybe that's why we always did closet lights. As a kid we were poor and couldn't afford closet lights and couldn't see what we were wearing, as a result the other kids in my school called me shoe/booty! Thanks Archie Bunker.:grin:
 
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