flourescent strip light in a closet

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allenwayne

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Recently it came up on a final inspection the inspector wanted a tube guard on a 2 ft.open bulb strip light over the door.The builder supplies all fixtures and IMO even though the inspector requires it the builder should supply it.
I looked but can`t find anything in RE: to this being required.In a food service enviorment I agree but in a closet
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

There is no requirement for a fluorescent cover in 408.10(B).

I've always thought it should be required but I don't see it in the book.
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

There is no requirement for a cover. Six inches is required between the fixture and the nearest point of storage space as defined by 410.8(A)
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

Spacing from a shelf is not the issue the inspector says that since it is si low someone can hit it with a box and shatter the tube,I agree it could happen but then again I could get hit by a falling plane as I go to work.It as far as I can see is not a code requirement more like an inspectors want ;) Since it is not a NEC issue and the inspector wants it to pass the final I think we should not have to bear the cost
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

I'd tell your inspector to walk his happy butt to Home Depot, buy himself a cover, call the property owner, ask their pemission to install his cover and, if they allow him to, install his cover.
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

Since it is not a NEC issue and the inspector wants it to pass the final I think we should not have to bear the cost
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Not only should you not pay for this you should tell the guy it's not happening. Where do you guys find these inspectors? Someone could slam their finger in a door too.Does inspector safety have a problem there too? :roll:

[ May 18, 2005, 05:35 PM: Message edited by: electricmanscott ]
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

His job is to apply and enforce the NEC not what he wants. I agree with the others, your installation is code compliant and you shouldn't do another thing.
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

Protective tube over the fluorescent tube is not required for clothes closets. What section of the Code is he citing a violation of??
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

He`s not citing an article it is actually I would like it this way thing.He doesn`t break B _ _ _ s on much but this is his pet peve,This and a breaker lock for an A H U disc in line of sight of the panel.He uses authority having jurisdiction that ole catch all code ;)
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

AHJ is not for making up code items to suit one's personal needs. It irritates me to keep hearing of this. I would ask for a violation in writing. You mentioned that he is not a bad guy, maybe you should speak to him.
90.4 is not for the AHJ to make up his own code, I cannot believe how often I still hear this.
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

When you consider the rippin's they're gettin here the last couple days you'd think they'd be good for a week. :cool:

[ May 18, 2005, 09:35 PM: Message edited by: physis ]
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

pierre I did speak to him about this.He says hey it`s a 55 + community and those bare bulbed strips can be broken easily since they are so close and yes they are.the ceiling in this model is 7 ft and the fixture is within 8 ins of the shelf.I just think the builder should pay and not us ;) When we supply fixtures they are all wrap type so this would not be an issue,but builder has lighting company ship a light pack and we install it.who is liable there, they supply we install inspector says it is dangerous :confused:
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

builder has lighting company ship a light pack and we install it.who is liable there, they supply we install inspector says it is dangerous
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If you and the inspector get together and decide to do some stuff that isn't in the contract why would you think the GC has to pay for it?

So then it will have to be up to either the inspector or your company.

If the inspector opts out then the only one left is your company.

So the question is will your company pay for the inspector's contract changes?
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

There was a time when we installed keyless fixtures with "A" bulbs in closets. I don't know whether this became an NEC issue or a building code issue but for at least the last 10 years we've been installing "under-cabinet" type fluorescent fixtures with protective lenses in small closets. The intent of the requirement was so that if someone were putting items up on the top shelf, such as a blanket, they wouldn't snap the A bulb off at the socket while doing so. So, we went to the "flat-pack style fluorescent fixture with protective fixture cover.

Please don't take this the wrong way Allen, but I think your GC took the "low road" on this by providing this type fixture. If you stop and think about the safety issues and hazards involved with the breaking of a fluorescent tube while putting something up on the top shelf you can see where the inspector is coming from. I think the inspector is being a nice guy by asking you to provide "at least" this bare minimum of protection in the event that the bulb breaks, rather than asking you to change out the entire fixture.

And Pierre, I'm sure you're one of the better inspectors around, but the reality is that there are still some inspectors stuck back somewhere near the '93 NEC code cycle that interpret codes for their own benefit, no matter how much education you give them. We'll be complaining about inspectors here forever.
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

Hey, look! A rant thread! Try this on:

Had an inspection recently, and the inspector wanted to see a second outlet in the upstairs hallway of a unit. He called the end of the hallway a "loft", because it had a railing that extended about 8" at it's apex (curved rail) away from the main plane of the hallway. (It's for looks, to make it seem more open up there. They even had a decorative arch in the wall at that end of the hall.)

When I asked him, "Why would you call this (40" x 40") space a loft?"
He replied, "Well, the hall ends at that corner of the wall there. I'd consider this wall under the niche as usuable wall space." He then made a rather mocking walking gesture as though a resident would walk along the wall line, instead of cutting straight into the master bedroom. :)

[ May 19, 2005, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: georgestolz ]
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

George I have inspectors that are the greatest guys in the world,they will call me on an inspection and say hey do this or that i am signing it off :D He returned passed the pvc and went on.Now why do the superman strut???
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

How about this for irony: After overhearing the inspector's suggestion, the GC decided that he liked the new location of that receptacle too, and would like to pay to have it added. :D
 
Re: flourescent strip light in a closet

Originally posted by goldstar:
Please don't take this the wrong way Allen, but I think your GC took the "low road" on this by providing this type fixture. If you stop and think about the safety issues and hazards involved with the breaking of a fluorescent tube while putting something up on the top shelf you can see where the inspector is coming from. I think the inspector is being a nice guy by asking you to provide "at least" this bare minimum of protection in the event that the bulb breaks, rather than asking you to change out the entire fixture.
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Not buying this at all. What about basements, garages, anywhere? If these lights are so dangerous why are they allowed at all. If there was a legitimate safety issue it would be addressed by the code. There is not. It is not. The inspector is using the old I want it this way. If it was his house it would be up to him. Don't blame this on the GC. :roll:
 
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