recessed lighting in shower

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whitt

Member
i have been asked to install a recessed lighting fixture , can light, in a shower the homeowner broght home two lights one for the upstaires and one for the downstairs. to my understanding lights suitable for damp and or wet location must labeled as such. the cans i recieved for this application where the same type of can lights i used for cheiling and the kitchen the only difference was the lens had a gasget the was for wet or damp locations and was ul listed as such. i contacted my electrical warehouse where it was bought and they said this was what they sold for showers. i also contacted the lighting manufacturer and they told me they did not make light suitable for damp or wet locations but they make a lens suitable for damp or wet. i did not get mush help

my question is does anyone know if adding this lens make this light good for this application. or if listed recessed lights for showers are constructed differently by maybe a differnt type of screw shell or wireing method. any help would be great thanks
 
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sjaniga

Member
Re: recessed lighting in shower

Whitt, to my understanding, once you install the gasketed trim you have now met the requirements for a damp location.
Scott
 
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Guest

Guest
Re: recessed lighting in shower

Look for a trim that is "shower rated".

On the trim packaging it will tell you which cans it is listed for.

Not all cans will be listed on the trim packaging.

Once you have a "shower rated" trim and a complementary can you are home free.

Keep in mind that some AHJ's require "airtight" cans too. Many of the cans are not airtight-- but it's stated that with a gasketed trim they do become airtight. That will be right on the label inside the can.

Hope this helps!
 
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whitt

Member
Re: recessed lighting in shower

thanks for the replys that was the information that i was getting that if the gasget seal was used it met the requirements and could be used for the application. this is why i have not returned them and asked the homeowner to pay up for lighting that specificly for showers. the rasoning for my questions other than trying to stick to the code itself is the upstairs lighting in the shower could be accesible through the attick but the the domnstairs shower light without doing some remodeling my concern was moisture affecting the life of this light i have seen even with the proper gasget moisture can get in the light fixture after time and ruin the light. i have seen can lights that clearly stated damp or wet on them i wounder if they are ment to last longer mechcanicly because of the desighn of the fixture itself namely the screw shell or wher the connections are met
 
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mthead

Senior Member
Location
Long Beach,NY
Re: recessed lighting in shower

whitt-to add my 2 cents -if the fixture is located in the "zone" refered to in 410-4[d][even if it's a recessed can],we generally require that in addition to the appropriate trim ,the fixture be gfi protected-[N.Y. Insp.]

[ October 03, 2003, 10:46 PM: Message edited by: mthead ]
 
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mthead

Senior Member
Location
Long Beach,NY
Re: recessed lighting in shower

I mis-phrased that statement.I aggree that for properly listed and installed recessed cans and trims gfi protection is not an nec requirement.
We do ,however ,suggest it when it would make a just acceptable installation safer.Most contractors are more than willing to take the extra step.
To answer the last part; i.e., N.Y.codes-we have the RESIDENTIAL CODE OF THE STATE OF NY:THIS IS THE "99" NEC PLUS NY AMMENDMENTS AND ADDIOTNAL REQUIREMENTS:IF ITS NOT IN THERE YOU NEXT OPERATE OFF OF "
 
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brejay

Member
Re: recessed lighting in shower

410.4(D)
D) Bathtub and Shower Areas. No parts of cord-connected luminaires (fixtures), hanging luminaires (fixtures), lighting track, pendants, or ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans shall be located within a zone measured 900 mm (3 ft) horizontally and 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. This zone is all encompassing and includes the zone directly over the tub or shower stall.

According to this a recessed is not even required. 410.4(D) just states what can not be done.
 
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