Light in attic , no equipment

Status
Not open for further replies.
Buck Parrish

Buck Parrish

Senior Member
Location
NC & IN
You know the area on the second floor of a house that has knee walls. You have to bend over to squeeze in their through a three foot high door. Inspector today said I need a light in their because it has a floor.
I told the home owner I thought it was a safety issue. Since it is a bonous room . Somebody could open the door and squeeze a bean bag or laundry in their and it would be right up against the light.
 
It's a 7200 sq ft house there is storage every where.
That was the only thing he got me on.
I have got several storage closets with out lights. No problem their.
 
Last edited:
I would think they want it but far as code i dont think he can produce a number.Great dog house for hubby or teen play area.Nobody ever has enough space for junk.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
I would think they want it but far as code i dont think he can produce a number.Great dog house for hubby or teen play area.Nobody ever has enough space for junk.
Click to expand...
I agree, someone down the road will fill it full of junk. There are plenty of pack rats out there. I noticed at the supply house the other day they have these new flouresant fixtures that come in a box similar to a keyless box and from what i notice they sort of instal like a smoke detector. You install the trim piece and then the light. Perfect for something in your situation and I think you can even install it in a clothes closet.
 
buckofdurham said:
You know the area on the second floor of a house that has knee walls. You have to bend over to squeeze in their through a three foot high door. Inspector today said I need a light in their because it has a floor.
I told the home owner I thought it was a safety issue. Since it is a bonous room . Somebody could open the door and squeeze a bean bag or laundry in their and it would be right up against the light.
Click to expand...

In addition to requiring a luminaire in storage rooms (30-508) the CEC contains this Rule under Location of lighting equipment

30-200 Near or over combustible material
(1) Luminaires installed where combustible material is liable to be stored shall be equipped with shades or guards to limit the temperature to which the combustible material may be subjected to a maximum of 90 ?C (194 ?F).

Does the NEC have a Rule similar to 30-200(1) that you can follow to meet the inspectors requirement while alleviating your concerns of safety?
 
M_BROWNLOW said:
In addition to requiring a luminaire in storage rooms (30-508) the CEC contains this Rule under Location of lighting equipment

30-200 Near or over combustible material
(1) Luminaires installed where combustible material is liable to be stored shall be equipped with shades or guards to limit the temperature to which the combustible material may be subjected to a maximum of 90 ?C (194 ?F).

Does the NEC have a Rule similar to 30-200(1) that you can follow to meet the inspectors requirement while alleviating your concerns of safety?
Click to expand...

The NEC does for clothes closets and combustibles

410.11 Luminaires Near Combustible Material.
Luminaires shall be constructed, installed, or equipped with shades or guards so that combustible material is not subjected to temperatures in excess of 90?C (194?F).
410.12 Luminaires over Combustible Material.
Lampholders installed over highly combustible material shall be of the unswitched type. Unless an individual switch is provided for each luminaire, lampholders shall be located at least 2.5 m (8 ft) above the floor or shall be located or guarded so that the lamps cannot be readily removed or damaged.
Click to expand...

410.16 Luminaires in Clothes Closets.
(A) Luminaire Types Permitted. Listed luminaires of the following types shall be permitted to be installed in a closet:
(1) A surface-mounted or recessed incandescent luminaire with a completely enclosed lamp
(2) A surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent luminaire
(3) Surface-mounted fluorescent or LED luminaires identified as suitable for installation within the storage area
(B) Luminaire Types Not Permitted. Incandescent luminaires with open or partially enclosed lamps and pendant luminaires or lampholders shall not be permitted.
(C) Location. The minimum clearance between luminaires installed in clothes closets and the nearest point of a storage space shall be as follows:
(1) 300 mm (12 in.) for surface-mounted incandescent or LED luminaires with a completely enclosed light source installed on the wall above the door or on the ceiling
(2) 150 mm (6 in.) for surface-mounted fluorescent luminaires installed on the wall above the door or on the ceiling
(3) 150 mm (6 in.) for recessed incandescent or LED luminaires with a completely enclosed light source installed in the wall or the ceiling
(4) 150 mm (6 in.) for recessed fluorescent luminaires installed in the wall or the ceiling
(5) Surface-mounted fluorescent or LED luminaires shall be permitted to be installed within the storage space where identified for this use.
Click to expand...
 
I disagree that because it has a floor it needs a light. How high is the ceiling?

I think it is in the building code that if the room is habitable, based on ceiling ht, it must have a light.


Are you talking about the triangular shaped attic space created by the knee wall and roof?
 
Anything in the code to say a walk in closet needs a light ?Just how big can closet be ?Since this space is not called anything on print just what is it ?

I would say the best way out of this is just put it in and charge customer.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
Anything in the code to say a walk in closet needs a light ?Just how big can closet be ?Since this space is not called anything on print just what is it ?
Click to expand...

NEC 210.70 said:
(3) Storage or Equipment Spaces. For attics, underfloor spaces, utility rooms, and basements, at least one lighting outlet containing a switch or controlled by a wall switch shall be installed where these spaces are used for storage or contain equipment requiring servicing. At least one point of control shall be at the usual point of entry to these spaces. The lighting outlet shall be provided at or near the equipment requiring servicing.
Click to expand...

Now you don't have to go to the truck:D
 
tonyou812 said:
I noticed at the supply house the other day they have these new flouresant fixtures that come in a box similar to a keyless box and from what i notice they sort of instal like a smoke detector. You install the trim piece and then the light.
Click to expand...
I've seen those. They make me want to find a need for them.
 
wirebender said:
How does this apply to a closet?:confused:
Click to expand...

It does not apply to clothes closets. Clothes closets have there own section. I guess one could say a clothes closet is a storage space but look at the def. of clothes closet and the wording of art. 210.70.

I believe the op is talking about those tiny spaces up on the 2nd or 3rd floor of a home with access into the knee walls around the rooms.
 
Dennis,

wirebender and me quoted bob whom quoted Jim W........Did Jim W refer to a walk in closet as a clothes closet in his post? just asking. The OP meant storage I realize and yes required.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
I would think they want it but far as code i dont think he can produce a number.Great dog house for hubby or teen play area.Nobody ever has enough space for junk.
Click to expand...

After more than 20 years of careful, scientific observation, with peer groups, and control groups, I have concluded that storage space is irrelevant - that people will store "stuff" to the point of saturation and then no more can be stored therefore no more will be stored. In essence, the amount of "stuff" people need to "save" is directly proportional to the amount of storage space available. -Dr. LawnGuyLandSparky, who spent the w/e cleaning out the garage attic and shed, having a tag sale next weekend.
 
iwire said:
Yes.

210.70(A)(3) requires lights in storage spaces.
Click to expand...

Closets no but storage space, yes

They are similar but not same.I agree the OP actually seems to need it.However if its emty then he could fight it.I was pretty sure walk in closets did not require one.

Originally Posted by NEC 210.70
(3) Storage or Equipment Spaces. For attics, underfloor spaces, utility rooms, and basements, at least one lighting outlet containing a switch or controlled by a wall switch shall be installed where these spaces are used for storage or contain equipment requiring servicing. At least one point of control shall be at the usual point of entry to these spaces. The lighting outlet shall be provided at or near the equipment requiring servicing.
 
The rule of thumb our inspectors use is the presence or lack of a stairway.

If a ladder is needed to get into the attic, no light is required. If the attic has a permanent means for entry such as a fold able ladder or stairs, a light is required.

I think the above makes sense and that is how I do it. Putting a light in an attic is really no big deal.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top