Non UL undercabinet lights AHJ

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Cletis

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If you add a switched outlet in a cabinet for a future low voltage LED lighting system supplied by homeowner and you install and inspector shows up for your final and flunks you because it's non UL listed assembly does he have a leg to stand on ? It's not a permanent fixture in my opinion since it can be unplugged easily.

Is he pushing his authority a little too far or should he be able to enforce this ?
 
Cletis said:
If you add a switched outlet in a cabinet for a future low voltage LED lighting system supplied by homeowner and you install and inspector shows up for your final and flunks you because it's non UL listed assembly does he have a leg to stand on ? It's not a permanent fixture in my opinion since it can be unplugged easily.

Is he pushing his authority a little too far or should he be able to enforce this ?
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410.6 requires luminaires to be listed. You mention these are low voltage so maybe 410.6 doesn't apply.

Next go to 411 for low voltage lighting. I think some part of 411.4 is what he would cite if what you have is not listed.
 
Sometimes it helps to remind the inspector what your scope of work was and what of yours got called in for inspecting..I might say that's my plug and switch, but not my light.

I'm curious as to what made him look that close at the light. Were they altered
 
Were you there at the time of inspection?
If I were I would have ripped those buggers out faster than he could write a correction notice.
If they were not a required luminaire then he would have nothing to say.
 
5 S electric said:
Unplug them . Remove and call for reinspect. After he leaves reinstall.
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Well, thats what we ended up doing. I had to pull a huge trump card and call the head inspector on this one. He just chuckled and said, and I quote "Uplug transformer and hide before I get there" He walked in and walked out with a green tag. The inspector we originally had lost his job there over this and lot's of other things as it turned out

qcroanoke said:
They can't reject what isn't there.....
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Yep

kwired said:
:)
unless it is something that is supposed to be there but isn't - like a required receptacle, required GFCI or AFCI protection....
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Nope

GoldDigger said:
Typically, I think, it would still be the electrical inspector who would enforce it though.
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The original inspector said since it's all tacked up with clips and that LED tape he considers it permanant thats why he flunked. He wanted me to cut the tape with scissors to show him and unplug transformer. Thats what prompted call to chief inspector

electricalist said:
Sometimes it helps to remind the inspector what your scope of work was and what of yours got called in for inspecting..I might say that's my plug and switch, but not my light.

Yep

I'm curious as to what made him look that close at the light. Were they altered
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They change color and owner turned them on right before he showed up. Got up on ladder and started reading labels. It was UL listed components but not a UL listed assembly is what he originally got me on

Sierrasparky said:
Were you there at the time of inspection?
If I were I would have ripped those buggers out faster than he could write a correction notice.
If they were not a required luminaire then he would have nothing to say.
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Not required, Just inside a glass cabinet to show off plateware. Thin strip LED tape
 
electricalist said:
Sometimes it helps to remind the inspector what your scope of work was and what of yours got called in for inspecting..I might say that's my plug and switch, but not my light.

I'm curious as to what made him look that close at the light. Were they altered
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Doesn't quite work that way. If it did we could just pull permits to put say 30 receptacles on 30 circuits right by the panel and let customer run extension cords to the rest of the house.

AHJ may not have much control over portable equipment that gets plugged in, but these lights were fastened in place and effectively are fixed wiring components because of that.
 
See 411.4

411.4 Listing Required. Lighting systems operating at
30 volts or less shall comply with 411.4(A) or 411.4(B).
Class 2 power sources and lighting equipment connected to
Class 2 power sources shall be listed.


(A) Listed System. Lighting systems operating at 30 volts
or less shall be listed as a complete system. The luminaires,
power supply, and luminaire fittings (including the exposed
bare conductors) of an exposed bare conductor lighting system
shall be listed for the use as part of the same identified
lighting system.


(B) Assembly of Listed Parts. A lighting system assembled
from the following listed parts shall be permitted:
(1) Low-voltage luminaires
(2) Low-voltage luminaire power supply
(3) Low-voltage luminaire fittings
(4) Cord (secondary circuit) for which the luminaires and
power supply are listed for use
(5) Cable, conductors in conduit, or other fixed wiring
method for the secondary circuit
The luminaires, power supply, and luminaire fittings
(including the exposed bare conductors) of an exposed bare
conductor lighting system shall be listed for use as part of
the same identified lighting system.


Was it comprised of the above?
 
kwired said:
Doesn't quite work that way. If it did we could just pull permits to put say 30 receptacles on 30 circuits right by the panel and let customer run extension cords to the rest of the house.

AHJ may not have much control over portable equipment that gets plugged in, but these lights were fastened in place and effectively are fixed wiring components because of that.
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I was thinking there were no drawn plans. Not for adding a plug on a switch. If the were no walls opened up then I suppose he called for a final. I have met with many inspectors on remodel job that had no formal drawings. I explain what work was done. . On jobs with approved drawings ive only had 2 inspectors ask to see them..
 
electricalist said:
I was thinking there were no drawn plans. Not for adding a plug on a switch. If the were no walls opened up then I suppose he called for a final. I have met with many inspectors on remodel job that had no formal drawings. I explain what work was done. . On jobs with approved drawings ive only had 2 inspectors ask to see them..
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Approved drawings is something unheard of around here - especially for residential work.

Now if it is a new house or a major enough remodel that you had basically started from scratch wiring wise, everything present that is electrical is part of the scope of the electrical permit
 
Thats a whole other can of worms. Is it the inspectors job to ensure by design and code or just code. I think most ahj just found inspecting it how they see it. Theres too many reasons something could be moved deleted etc. So I figure op called for final on what he added. Doubt the permit had a section for switched outlet with unkniwn aftermarket lighting. Probably said wall rough trim out final co etc. I worked for a very by the book commercial master electrician who started doing houses. Man if he even thought you would think about installing something without seeing the ul listing looked it up read the installation instructions he would go psyco. To this day if I drop a fan canopy screw my stomach hurts till I find it.
 
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