Outlets in closet Required? Residential

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weather77

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Residential home. Inspector was telling me outlets in a closet were required same as any wall space. TRUE or false?

I've never had anyone ever turn us down for this before.

I see 210.52a 1 does not list closets as required area.
 
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weather77 said:
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I see 210.52a 1 does not list closets as required area.
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It does not specifically list closets, but it does at the end of the list state, "and similar room or area of dwelling units". Including area opens the interpretation enough for the inspector to include closets. Choose your battles wisely.
 
Smart $ said:
It does not specifically list closets, but it does at the end of the list state, "and similar room or area of dwelling units". Including area opens the interpretation enough for the inspector to include closets. Choose your battles wisely.
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FWIW, IMO, a standard size clothes closet is not close to a similar room as the others.

OTOH a large walk in closet with cabinetry and such I would say pretty similar.
 
weather77 said:
I see 210.52a 1 does not list closets as required area.
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The rooms and areas that it does list have the following characteristic in common: The owner can use a receptacle outlet to either plug in a radio and listen to music while they are working in that room or plug in a floor lamp next to a chair and read in that room. A closet does not share that characteristic. That is my basis for not considering a closet to be a "similar area" to the items on the list. I can't think of a single thing that I would plug into a receptacle outlet that is located in a closet.

 
charlie b said:
The rooms and areas that it does list have the following characteristic in common: The owner can use a receptacle outlet to either plug in a radio and listen to music while they are working in that room or plug in a floor lamp next to a chair and read in that room. A closet does not share that characteristic. That is my basis for not considering a closet to be a "similar area" to the items on the list. I can't think of a single thing that I would plug into a receptacle outlet that is located in a closet.
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A vacuum cleaner if it is a really big closet and the vacuum has a short cord? :)
 
410.16

It is not a required luminaire. The code lists what types permitted/not permitted and where they CAN be mounted.

I once had an argument over a large closet as to whether it needed an ingress/egress window. :jawdrop: I had wired receptacles due to the size.

Frank DuVal
 
Frank DuVal said:
410.16

It is not a required luminaire. The code lists what types permitted/not permitted and where they CAN be mounted.

I once had an argument over a large closet as to whether it needed an ingress/egress window. :jawdrop: I had wired receptacles due to the size.

Frank DuVal
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In my area (San Francisco peninsula at the time), the rule was that the egress window was only required if the room was a bedroom, and it was only a bedroom if it contained a closet.
So if there is a closet within the closet, you need the window.
We built a storage room (shelves on one side, closet on the other) that was too narrow to contain a bed, but had to put in an egress capable window because of the closet.
 
JFletcher said:
False, and this is one I'd argue over. Lights, yes, receptacles, no. Both are "outlets".
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lighting is an option not a requirement -- I would not require receptacles in a closet but since the NEC expanded the "AFCI requirement" to include wording devices & closet maybe it is an AHJ interpretation thing.
 
mwm1752 said:
lighting is an option not a requirement -- I would not require receptacles in a closet but since the NEC expanded the "AFCI requirement" to include wording devices & closet maybe it is an AHJ interpretation thing.
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I would instead say that the NEC does not require receptacles in a closet, but if you choose to put some in they must be AFCI protected.
 
charlie b said:
I can't think of a single thing that I would plug into a receptacle outlet that is located in a closet.
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Growing up my folks would often have rechargeable flashlights and rechargeable 'dust busters' in the closet.

Like you when I think of a closet I think of a space I cannot get inside and do anything. However that is a narrow view, many closets now can be walked into, have vanity tables with mirrors, so I would fully expect anything from the aforementioned vacuum to hair dryers etc.
 
iwire said:
Growing up my folks would often have rechargeable flashlights and rechargeable 'dust busters' in the closet.

Like you when I think of a closet I think of a space I cannot get inside and do anything. However that is a narrow view, many closets now can be walked into, have vanity tables with mirrors, so I would fully expect anything from the aforementioned vacuum to hair dryers etc.
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We have a walk-in that will fit an ironing board down the middle. Quite convenient.
 
Maybe a fan?

Maybe a fan?

I had a client who wanted receptacle in closet (relatively small...maybe 6' x 4') so he could plug in a basic fan to "keep cool while getting dressed". Given there is no prohibition on it, I did it and client was very happy. (Hopefully, he is cool!)
 
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