Steam shower lighting

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goldstar

goldstar

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey
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Electrical Contractor
Does anyone know of a light fixture (luninaire - wall or ceiling mount) that is approved for use in a steam shower. I found one made by Lightolier that is approved for wet locations. It's all plastic and gasketed but the supporting literature does not indicate that is approved for use in a shower and the inspector will not accept it unless it states so. Thanks in advance.

Phil,
Gold Star Electric
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

The one and only steam shower light that I installed was this exact unit: http://www.steamsaunabath.com//catalog/product_info.php/cPath/64_80/products_id/371

It was low voltage, with a remote transformer. Sorry, but I forget the manufacturer. I think that it was Thomas lighting. It had a trim package that went together like the porthole on a ship.

I do remember having one heck of a time finding a vapor tight recessed steam shower light.

[ December 01, 2005, 08:18 PM: Message edited by: mdshunk ]
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

A pool light is required to be submerged under water because of the heat it produces.

A steam sauna is a wet location so the fixture would be required to be listed for a wet location. Most I have seen are recessed and have a gasket for the lenses and is attached to the light with screws.
:)
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

Originally posted by electricmanscott:
I don't know why a wet location fixture would not be ok.
That's what I have used. :confused:
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Electrically, a standard wet location fixture would, in all likelihood, perform fine in a steam shower application. The building material surrounding that fixtre (insulation, wood, etc.) would suffer the ill effects of the steam. Think - mold.
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

MD, thanks for the hyperlink. I sent an e-mail to the company and made an inquiry. Hopefully I'll get an answer soon.
I don't know why a wet location fixture would not be ok.
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Scott, I don't know why either. I think the inspector is just looking to cover his butt in the event there might be some type of shock incident in the future. If the supporting literature for the fixture doesn't state, specifically, that is listed for use where subject to shower spray he will not accept it.
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

A pool light is required to be submerged under water because of the heat it produces.
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Good call Mike. I forgot about that one. I can just see the HO burning out bulbs every other day !!
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

Originally posted by bradleyelectric:
Originally posted by ty:
We use the NUTONE 744NT .
It is UL listed for in a shower if GFCI protected.
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That is the shower vent/light I use.
I think he is looking for just a light, not something that will vent the steam. Is this for use in a sauna type application?
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Steam showers are othewise normal showers, except that they also have a steam nozzle connected to a point of use steam boiler. Normally, there's an electronic control mounted inside the shower to control the steamer. "Steam Mist" and "Kohler" are the two main US manufacturers of such equipment. The door of a steam shower is normally also fully gasketed to prevent steaming up the entire bathroom. The atmosphere in a sauna is similar to the atmosphere in a steam shower.

If this inspector wants a fixture that say it is specifically okay for shower spray, I'm not sure one exists. Who in the world would design a fixture especially so that you could spray it with the shower, anyhow? That's not the duty that this fixture would be put to in a steam shower anyhow.

[ December 03, 2005, 04:29 PM: Message edited by: mdshunk ]
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

MD,

I guess the problem stems from the fact that the architect's design has vaulted ceilings in this steam shower area and installing a std. recessed fixture with a shower trim was out of the question. The light would shine down on an angle. In addition the shower nozzle comes down right in the center of the shower. So, he had me install 4" plastic nail on boxes on the sides of the shower walls. This is where the inspector has a rub. His reasoning was that it is one thing to have a light fixture at the ceiling where it will probably get some mist from the shower or the steam unit. However, it is another situation if the fixture will, in all probability, get a direct hit with shower spray.

When I asked if he had any suggestions his reply was thet there are two types of situations - an MP and a YP. MP is "my problem" and YP is "your problem". This is a YP situation.
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

Originally posted by goldstar:
... So, he had me install 4" plastic nail on boxes on the sides of the shower walls. This is where the inspector has a rub. His reasoning was that it is one thing to have a light fixture at the ceiling where it will probably get some mist from the shower or the steam unit.
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Holy cow!

This is not a YP problem either. It's an AP problem, for architect problem. He's the one that directed you to install them here.

Thinking creatively, I can see possibly installing a fiber optic lighting unit behind at PC glass block at each desired lighting location. If things are pretty well 'finished' by now, that's probably out of the question.

The one and only fixture I ever put in a steam shower was mounted on a slope (maybe 4/12), and it didn't look too bad.

I feel for you now, knowing that you're trying to use sidewall fixtures in a shower. I don't think that'll ever fly anywhere in the developed world.
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

Yeah, I know this is an AP situation and I'm trying to dump this back on his desk. In the interim I found a low voltage recessed shower fixture where there is a 30 degree internal gimble ring adjustment on the bulb. This might work if I can find a place to mount it.
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

What about industrial "vaportite" fixtures on the wall? The ones that look sort of like a jelly jar fixutre, but are much higher quality and fully sealed?
For recessed, IRIS (part of cooper lighting) makes a 4" LV can that can angle up to 45 degrees, with a lensed shower trim. Lucifer Lighitng also makes some nice units that are stainless or polymer, for wet locations. Google both the above companies. I think your problem, as others have said, is that steam will still get into the surrounding building materials, producing mold.

Fiber optics would be very effective if done right, however, the walls/ceiling would have to be open for this, most likely. Try Fiberstars, Lucifer Lighting, and Visual Lighting Tech.

mike
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

Thanks Mike,

But from what I've been seeing so far with respect to wall mounted fixtures in a shower, I think we're going to somehow end up with a ceiling recessed fixture with a shower trim. That's up to the architect.

Phil
 
Re: Steam shower lighting

I have a light in my steam unit it is a kohler steam .When I ordered the material it was in the same kohler catalog as all the other accessories door seal etc.
 
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