Stairway lighting switch conundrum

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Coppersmith

Coppersmith

Senior Member
Location
Tampa, FL, USA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I'm wiring a new addition. There is a large open living room area with an open stairway to a balcony and second floor bedrooms. The first riser of the stairway starts right next to a double pocket door going into a room. There is no place to install the switch for the stairway light that seems code legal. The pocket door will hit any box installed in the wall for the first 30". I currently have the box installed just past the pocket door which places it at about the fifth riser i.e. you have to walk up a few steps to reach the switch. Going back away from the stairs, the opposing pocket door takes up all the wall space and then there is a large post past that. Is my box at the fifth riser legal?

The client wants to put the switch inside the pocket door room since there is already a 3 gang box there. I don't think this is code legal nor convenient (when the doors are closed). Agree?

I know I can use Wiremold, but I looking for other solutions first.


210.70 (A)(2)(c) Where one or more lighting outlet(s) are installed
for interior stairways, there shall be a wall switch at each
floor level, and landing level that includes an entryway, to
control the lighting outlet(s) where the stairway between
floor levels has six risers or more.
 
Coppersmith said:
I'm wiring a new addition. There is a large open living room area with an open stairway to a balcony and second floor bedrooms. The first riser of the stairway starts right next to a double pocket door going into a room. There is no place to install the switch for the stairway light that seems code legal. The pocket door will hit any box installed in the wall for the first 30". I currently have the box installed just past the pocket door which places it at about the fifth riser i.e. you have to walk up a few steps to reach the switch. Going back away from the stairs, the opposing pocket door takes up all the wall space and then there is a large post past that. Is my box at the fifth riser legal?

The client wants to put the switch inside the pocket door room since there is already a 3 gang box there. I don't think this is code legal nor convenient (when the doors are closed). Agree?

I know I can use Wiremold, but I looking for other solutions first.


210.70 (A)(2)(c) Where one or more lighting outlet(s) are installed
for interior stairways, there shall be a wall switch at each
floor level, and landing level that includes an entryway, to
control the lighting outlet(s) where the stairway between
floor levels has six risers or more.
Click to expand...

I would put in a wireless switch. Put a Lutron RF switch or Casetta master switch at the top of the stairs and put a Pico remote at the bottom. You don't need a box for the Pico, it can be mounted right to the wall and a Decora plate will fit over it. It looks like a regular (Decora style) switch.
 
I'd go with the client's acceptance of the switch inside the pocket door room.

As for the NEC "requirement" . . . read closely the use of the word "level". The pocket door room is on the level of the structure that one can "enter" the stairs.

The NEC does not say the switch must be at the treads to the stair. "At each floor level", and the level has an enormous number of possible locations, none of which have to be, by NEC wording, what one might expect as conventional.
 
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I like Little Bill's idea. I have Lutron Caseta wireless switches in my home and they work great. Also, unlike many other electronic switches, the Caseta does not require a neutral wire, so they're super easy to install as a retrofit. Plus they can be optionally controlled from a smart phone or other smart network if you add the Caseta bridge.

In addition to a Decora style cover plate, you will need to buy the additional Caseta wallplate bracket for wall-mounting the Pico remote.
 
Little Bill said:
I would put in a wireless switch. Put a Lutron RF switch or Casetta master switch at the top of the stairs and put a Pico remote at the bottom. You don't need a box for the Pico, it can be mounted right to the wall and a Decora plate will fit over it. It looks like a regular (Decora style) switch.
Click to expand...

I looked up these items and I like this idea. It would be cheaper to do this than T&M to move the box. My only concern is the client will see this and want it in all the rooms and expect me to do it for the same price.
 
Coppersmith said:
My only concern is the client will see this and want it in all the rooms and expect me to do it for the same price.
Click to expand...
Why would they expect you to do it for the same price? Tell them you will absorb the cost of the Caseta for this particular location because of the challenges posed by the pocket door and you have already bid the job. But you will have to charge them extra to add Caseta switches elsewhere.
 
Jon456 said:
Why would they expect you to do it for the same price? Tell them you will absorb the cost of the Caseta for this particular location because of the challenges posed by the pocket door and you have already bid the job. But you will have to charge them extra to add Caseta switches elsewhere.
Click to expand...

I'm just indicating that this particular client has been a major PITA and doesn't understand when he's creating additional expense for me. I will definitely insist upon additional payment. I am just not looking forward to the argument.
 
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