Receptacle outlets in closet

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Mike,

If the light is switch operated and the switch is in the bedroom?

A switch is not an "outlet" and does not require AFCI protection.
Don

 

[pierre]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Who determines if the closet in a bedroom is part of the bedroom? What about a closet that is in the hallway, but has a wall common to the bedroom.
What if the closet entrance is in the bedroom.
What if the closet entrance is not in the bedroom, but it is in the passageway into the master bedroom?

I do not believe that an electrical inspector can make this determination. This is a building code issue.

Pierre

 

[ryan_618]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Originally posted by pierre:
Who determines if the closet in a bedroom is part of the bedroom?
This is a building code issue.

Pierre

Pierre: I agree. I've never seen a closet with a smoke detector in it. I've also never seen a closet with natural light and ventilation. I've also never seen a closet with emergancy egress openings. It is a closet, not a bedroom. I consider it a self-defining term.

 

[figent]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

ryan in some new construction nowdays I have install awning windows in walkin closets for natural ventilation and light.

 

[a.wayne3@verizon.net]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

rcattell I also live in tampa bay area ,really glad that we don`t have to deal with south florida
rules......Anyway ,thats a good point does a closet light need to be on an afci circuit???
Smokes now must be but they are in the room itself
A closet in a room ??? I would have to say yes if the access to that closet is from that room only.

 

[spiko]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Hello. Is it required to have lighting in a closet? With all of the safety regs (and lawyers), there may be a requirement for closet lighting so some poor slob doesn't poke his eye with a hangar.

 

[ryan_618]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Originally posted by spiko:
Hello. Is it required to have lighting in a closet?

No. See article 210.70

 

[jo234]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

sorry a little new at this... but where in the code book dose it say that outlets are allowed in closets??? i looked in 2002 NEC 210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel,and 210.12 (AFCI) i don't see it ???

is a (dwelling unit bedroom) also a closet???
bear with me I'm not trying to be funny.i just got my code book,just found this site,and having a hard time reading this thing of a book..gerrrrr..

P.S. I'm not new to electrical,just new to the book...

 

[ryan_618]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Originally posted by jo234:
sorry a little new at this... but where in the code book dose it say that outlets are allowed in closets???

More importantly, where does it say you cannot. The code is written more in a forbidding manner than a permisible one. If they didn't want receptacles in closets, they would let you know.

 

[dkmorrow]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Hi,

I just finished a bedroom addition and have multiple outlets in the mater bedroom closet.

The code here in So. Cal. is that the closet has to be AFCI protected. The plugs and the lights.

I ran the closet plugs and lights off the master bedroom plugs and lights ( 2 separate circuits )
which are on an AFCI breaker.

 

[goldstar]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

What about other states? Do they interpret the NEC the same way our inspectors do??

I keep asking inspectors on each job and as far as I know New Jersey hasn't adopted any AFCI rulings to date.

 

[tim]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Champaign, IL.- The AHJ will not allow the smokes to be on the afci circuit. They don't care if the closet is or isn't. Master bath does not have to be on afci circuit. Recepts. are allowed in closets and do not have to be on afci circuits. Also, they don't care how many recepts. are on any one circuit. Bottom line, I guess it depends who is in charge and doing the inspections. Really hard to keep all the different cities quirks in my head. I am glad there is alot of work out in the county where there is no inspections, that way I just wire to the 2003 NEC and know I am doing things to code. Tim

 

[tonyi]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Originally posted by tim:
Champaign, IL.- The AHJ will not allow the smokes to be on the afci circuit.

Ought to be exciting when the first place burns due to a bad smokes branch and the lawsuits fly

 

[Guest]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Originally posted by tim:
<snip>I am glad there is alot of work out in the county where there is no inspections, that way I just wire to the 2003 NEC and know I am doing things to code. Tim

If there are no inspections and you are the only one with the book (2003 NEC) how can you go wrong?

 

[bill addiss]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

I just wire to the 2003 NEC

Ah, .. Guys, you mean the 2002 NEC, right?


Bill

 

[roger]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Along with the 2002 as mentioned by Bill, if an area is still under the 99 NEC, receptacles are the only items required to be AFCI protected in dwellings permitted after 1-1-02.

This being the case the inspector would be in his rights to not allow smoke detectors on the AFCI.

If an area is under any NEC cycle before 99 there is no requirement for AFCI protection.

Roger

[ October 03, 2003, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: roger ]

 

[iwire]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Originally posted by tonyi:
Ought to be exciting when the first place burns due to a bad smokes branch and the lawsuits fly

Lawsuits may even be more prevalent when the installed AFCIs fail to do what they are supposed to. :roll:

 

[tim]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Sorry Bill, I mean, 2002 code. These inspectors around here just make a person go nuts. We just try to do things by the code and even go beyond the code to protect our butts. Also, Champaign Illinois goes by the 2002 NEC, but decided not to allow smokes on the afci circuit. Go figure.

 

[tim]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Tonyi, the lawsuit would be against the city of Champaign and not the contractor.

 

[tonyi]

Re: Receptacle outlets in closet

Originally posted by roger:
If an area is under any NEC cycle before 99 there is no requirement for AFCI protection.

There's a big difference between requirment to install something, and prohibition from installing something.

There's very little in the code that prohibits adding extra protections to a system on an optional basis. As ageneral statement, that which is not explicitly prohibited is allowed.