Light switch installed at bath tub

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rob46250

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I am an ASHI home inspector needing assistance with referencing a possible code violation. I recently inspected a 6 year old condo in Indiana and the bathroom light switches were installed directly above the tub and very easily reached while standing in the tub. Can someone please tell me what the code says on this as far as the distance a switch must be from a bath tub. Thanks you so much.
Rob
 
rob46250 said:
I am an ASHI home inspector needing assistance with referencing a possible code violation. I recently inspected a 6 year old condo in Indiana and the bathroom light switches were installed directly above the tub and very easily reached while standing in the tub. Can someone please tell me what the code says on this as far as the distance a switch must be from a bath tub. Thanks you so much.
Rob
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Geesh, what does it switch?
 
rob46250 said:
I am an ASHI home inspector needing assistance with referencing a possible code violation. I recently inspected a 6 year old condo in Indiana and the bathroom light switches were installed directly above the tub and very easily reached while standing in the tub. Can someone please tell me what the code says on this as far as the distance a switch must be from a bath tub. Thanks you so much.
Rob
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Are they over the tub or not?


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I'm just afraid that the inspector is concerned that just because the switch is reachable it's some kind of hazard, even if it's in a compliant location. That's mainly why I asked for a picture. "over the tub" means a variety of things to people, and it may or may not be within the tub enclosure.
 
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I asked this before, and no one answered. What in the **** would you want to switch at the type of location? The towel warmer gets turned on before you enter, the exhaust is obviously already on, what type of equipment do you want to be able to switch within an elbows reach of the shower stall?
I just don't get it. Then again, I have not done too many high dollar fancy schmancy homes as some of you have.
What do you want to be able to switch while inside of the shower??????????????
 
perhaps you didnt read well. I stated it is "over the tub" and a "light switch". Perhaps that is not enough information for you. I thought this might be a helpful site. Perhaps not.
 
76nemo said:
What do you want to be able to switch while inside of the shower??????????????
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I'm talking about a tub only. If a tub like a clawfoot tub or soaking tub, for instance, was installed without a shower, the walls around it would not be a wet location. In fact, they're likely to just be drywall. You can put a switch right on that wall "over the tub" in that instance and be compliant.
 
rob46250 said:
perhaps you didnt read well. I stated it is "over the tub" and a "light switch". Perhaps that is not enough information for you. I thought this might be a helpful site. Perhaps not.
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Does the tub have a shower? We're simply trying to determine if the switch is mounted within the wet area or not. It's the only way to answer the question. If the tub has a shower, and the accompanying shower surround, and the switch is mounted over the tub, that is a violation. Tub alone, probably not.
 
rob46250 said:
perhaps you didnt read well. I stated it is "over the tub" and a "light switch". Perhaps that is not enough information for you. I thought this might be a helpful site. Perhaps not.
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I wasn't speaking of your question specifically. Many others have asked this before, and they were not "light" switches.
As far as this not being an informative site, you have that one wrong Sir. Really wrong.
 
rob46250 said:
perhaps you didnt read well. I stated it is "over the tub" and a "light switch". Perhaps that is not enough information for you. I thought this might be a helpful site. Perhaps not.
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I posted a graphic, is the tub your talking about a wet location or not?
 
Okay..this is a jetted tub with now shower. The light,and exhuast fan switch are directly above the tube fixtures. So, are you saying this is safe and allowed to be standing in a tub full of water and be able to turn a light switch and fan on or off. Sounds extremely unsafe. Do you have a code reference?
 
rob46250 said:
Okay..this is a jetted tub with now shower. The light,and exhuast fan switch are directly above the tube fixtures. So, are you saying this is safe and allowed to be standing in a tub full of water and be able to turn a light switch and fan on or off. Sounds extremely unsafe. Do you have a code reference?
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Its on the picture I posted, why do you think this is unsafe? actually the picture I posted is pretty old, try 404.4
 
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standing in a tub full of water and flipping a light or fan switch on or off just can be a safey combination. But perhaps I am wrong
 
rob46250 said:
standing in a tub full of water and flipping a light or fan switch on or off just can be a safey combination. But perhaps I am wrong
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No shower = walls are more than likely not a wet area. Feel free to call it out in your report if you feel like it, but there's nothing that needs corrected, code-wise. People flip their disposal switch on and off with sloppy wet dishwater hands too.
 
rob46250 said:
perhaps you didnt read well. I stated it is "over the tub" and a "light switch". Perhaps that is not enough information for you. I thought this might be a helpful site. Perhaps not.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you should try a more informative sight like...uh... or ...uh...:mad:
 
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