Light locations vs tubs

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gunny7

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Can you guys please give me a little help? I'm roughing-in a bathroom in a single family home with a 60 inch vanity and a soaker tub next to it. The city inspector says that I can"t have the wall mount lights over the sinks because they intrude into the 3 foot rule in the NEC Article 410.4 (d). How in the heck can I put a bar light over this sink to help the homeowner and still maintain the code? Is the inspector right? I've been doing it this way for years and no one has said anything. Please help. Thanks Gunny
 
Re: Light locations vs tubs

A change in the 2005 NEC now requires luminaires installed within the 3' and 8' zone to be listed for damp locations. So if the fixture you are describing does not carry this listing, the inspector is correct.

Your options are to keep the fixture outside of the 3' zone or to install the appropriate fixture. A recessed luminaire over the sink comes to mind.
 
Re: Light locations vs tubs

Thanks Brian: But I'm still confused! This is a normal everyday bathtub. Why does the light have to be rated for damp locations? It shouldn't fall under Art. 680 (hot tubs, spa)by definition.
 
Re: Light locations vs tubs

looking at 410.4(d), it seems to me that a "wall mounted" "Light Bar", would not fall under this rule ... M
 
Re: Light locations vs tubs

In the 2002 NEC it doesn't, in the 2005 it does. This has nothing to do with Article 680.

A quote from the IAEI analysis states, "Airborne moisture or steam resulting from use of bathtubs and showers create sufficient condensation of water to consider these zones as damp locations..."

To read the original proposal : 18-53 Log 229 (pg.1083 ROP)
And the Comment is : 18-31 Log 1856 (p.331 ROC)

By the way, it could be worse. If the inspector feels the light is subject to spray, he could require a fixture listed for wet locations. Again see 410.4(D) of the NEC 2005.

[ January 31, 2006, 02:36 PM: Message edited by: bphgravity ]
 
Re: Light locations vs tubs

The inspector is right and wrong. Yes you can have a wall mounted fixture if it's 3' from the edge of the tub or listed for damp locations. To say that all wall mounted fixtures are not allowed over the sink within 3' of the tub, is incorrect.
 
Re: Light locations vs tubs

Wow!You learn something new every day on this forum.
Can you tell me where I can go to view the code proposals that you gave the numbers for?
Just out of curiosity is this one of those rules that is there but not enforced in most instances :eek:
 
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