Luminaire above hot tub

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dhalleron

dhalleron

Senior Member
Location
Louisville, KY
Occupation
Master Electrician/Senior Fire Alarm Technician
I am installing a circuit for a new hot tub on an existing enclosed porch. There is a ceiling mounted light fixture above one side wall of the tub. The ceiling is 7' 10" above finished floor. The light fixture is being installed by others, but it will be not less than 7' 6" AFF.

So where is this 7' 6" height measured from? The water? The top edge of the tub? The floor?

In my case am I going to need to have them change the light fixture to meet (c) (2) below?


680.43 (B) (1)

(b) With GFCI. Where GFCI protection is provided, the
mounting height shall be permitted to be not less than 2.3 m
(7 ft 6 in.).

(c) Below 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in.). Luminaires meeting the
requirements of item (1) or (2) and protected by a groundfault
circuit interrupter shall be permitted to be installed less
than 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in.) over a spa or hot tub:
(1) Recessed luminaires with a glass or plastic lens, nonmetallic
or electrically isolated metal trim, and suitable for use
in damp locations
(2) Surface-mounted luminaires with a glass or plastic globe,
a nonmetallic body, or a metallic body isolated from
contact, and suitable for use in damp locations
 
I would say it's above the finished floor, unless specified otherwise, but 680.43 (B) (1) specifies "above the maximum water level" in the 2008 Handbook I have here at home.
 
Last edited:
As mentioned it's right there in that section:

680.43(B) Installation of Luminaires, Lighting Outlets, andCeiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fans.
(1) Elevation. Luminaires, except as covered in 680.43(B)(2),
lighting outlets, and ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans located
over the spa or hot tub or within 1.5 m (5 ft) from the inside
walls of the spa or hot tub shall comply with the clearances
specified in (B)(1)(a), (B)(1)(b), and (B)(1)(c) above the maxi-
mum water level.
(a) Without GFCI. Where no GFCI protection is pro-
vided, the mounting height shall be not less than 3.7 m
(12 ft).
(b) With GFCI. Where GFCI protection is provided,
the mounting height shall be permitted to be not less than
2.3 m (7 ft 6 in.).
(c) Below 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in.). Luminaires meeting the
requirements of item (1) or (2) and protected by a ground-
fault circuit interrupter shall be permitted to be installed
less than 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in.) over a spa or hot tub:
(1) Recessed luminaires with a glass or plastic lens, non-
metallic or electrically isolated metal trim, and suitable
for use in damp locations
(2) Surface-mounted luminaires with a glass or plastic
globe, a nonmetallic body, or a metallic body isolated
from contact, and suitable for use in damp locations
Click to expand...
 
Thanks guys. I guess I over looked it. I need to review that section. I didn't see it specify where the height was measured from but it makes sense from above water level. I will GFCI protect the circuit but it looks like my customer will need a different fixture.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
James L said:
I would say the floor of the tub.

a person who is 6ft tall can reach 7ft 6in from where they're standing.
Click to expand...

LOL

Due to my high level of Neanderthal genes, am only 5-11 (have shrunk over an inch in the last few years) but can still reach 8 ft :p
Good calluses on knuckles too.
 
junkhound said:
LOL

Due to my high level of Neanderthal genes, am only 5-11 (have shrunk over an inch in the last few years) but can still reach 8 ft :p
Good calluses on knuckles too.
Click to expand...
Lol. I'm 5'9" and I can barely reach above a door jamb. Btw, please excuse the absurdity of my post.

Occasionally, someone will start a thread and it will go almost a whole day without any answers. if I happen along and don't know the answer, I'm just liable to put something totally dumb because that's guaranteed to get an answer.

just priming the pump
 
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