joe bono
New member
- Location
- plainview ny
Can a electric heater be installed in a clothes closet. Please inform me where in the code it doesn't allow it.
joe bono retired electrician
- Thread starter joe bono
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hotwire1955
Senior Member
- Location
- nj
No, why would you? 424.13
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
Unless it is listed to be in direct contact with combustable materials. There may be one sence they mentioned it in the code book.
I think we would need to define the type of clothes closet we are dealing with and the type of heater that someone wishes to install.
The only reason I can think of for someone wanting a heater in a closet is that it's one of those big walk in closets that's more of a dressing room.
Last edited:
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
This does not say "no electric heaters in a closet." However, it does say, follow the heater installation instructions.
Many saunas, built of combustible cedar and other woods, are built to the minimum spacing requirements of the 4.5 to 5 kW electric heater installation instructions, and many a sauna room is smaller than some closets. . .
The OP doesn't exclude floor heat, ceiling radiant panels, cove heating, etc.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
The above excerpt from the code does not cover portable heaters, but their own instructions should specify clearance to combustibles.
And the nature of most closets and their usage makes it hard to guarantee that clearance.
And the nature of most closets and their usage makes it hard to guarantee that clearance.
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
I consider this reality of most shallow closets to be the source of "what ifs" that the inspector on the ground can use to say "not allowed here". Even if the heater, plus its clearance dimensions, is completely outside of the defined closet storage space, I can just imagine an authority having jurisdiction saying, "What will prevent a big fluffy comforter, having been stuffed up on the shelf (if you don't like this idea, insert your own loose combustible in place of mine), from tumbling off and piling up over the heater?"
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
More details on the type of heater and other installation conditions may be helpful. First one being is this heater used for space heating? If so does it heat the closet or does it have ducts run to heat other spaces?
You may run into installation instruction (listing) issues, or even other building code issues that could prohibit this installation, or at least mean additional requirements.
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