unfinished space - light required?

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malachi constant

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we're designing an apartment building with some unfinished space on the ground floor for "future retail". i had one strip light in the middle of the space, the owner is requesting we remove it and only have a receptacle for work lights.

#1: is a light fixture required?
#2: if not, is a receptacle required?
#3: is said receptacle required to be switched?
#4: from a practical perspective, wouldn't it make sense to install a light switch in the wall now while it is being built up, to save on costs later?

curious as to your thoughts. i have done little retail and no "build-out", or whatever this is called. thanks.
 
"Shell" buildings have nearly zero electrical requirements. Once the tenant improvement takes place, all NEC requirements for that occupacny type will have to be met.
 
Any chance of it being used for storage untill leased to tenant ? I would go by what the stamped prints say.If no light shown why did you give it to him ?The way we deal with commercial is you only get whats in the bid.Anything else required by inspector is an extra at T and M.
 
I can't imagine what the owner's objection to a light is? If it's the cost, it may be cheaper for you to leave it than remove it, making it a freebie.
 
210.70(C) has no requirement for a light in any space except those that "spaces containing equipment requiring servicing" Other than that, a commercial space has to be supplied according to usage which is determined by the owner and speced by the architect or engineer.

Put the light in if the space contains equipment or the light is on the prints. Otherwise skip it because you're not going to get paid for it.

David
 
He will make the new tenant pay for it.

He will make the new tenant pay for it.

Owner is cheap and he will have the new tenant pay for what they want to do with the space.
 
210.70 Lighting Outlets Required

Lighting outlets shall be installed where specified in 210.70(A), (B), and (C).

(C) Other Than Dwelling Units For attics and underfloor spaces containing equipment requiring servicing, such as heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment, at least one lighting outlet containing a switch or controlled by a wall switch shall be installed in such spaces. At least one point of control shall be at the usual point of entry to these spaces. The lighting outlet shall be provided at or near the equipment requiring servicing.
Click to expand...
Given that there is a floor above the unfinished space, then, if there is some kind of equipment inside the unfinished space that could be construed as requiring servicing, the light is required, IMO.
 
Thinking about this unfinished space, one more permutation sticks out for me.

If the circuit breaker that protects the receptacle that the owner is requesting is close enough to the "usual point of entry" to satisfy the AHJ, then, since the commodity 15 and 20 A single pole circuit breaker is listed as a switch, the receptacle becomes the "lighting outlet" and satisfies 210.70(C).
 
Thanks for all the responses. To clarify, I am the engineer on this project and we are in still developing construction documents.

The only equipment in the area is a panel for future tenant use - I assume this is not considered 'equipment requiring servicing' using the "heating, AC, refrigeration" definition of 'equipment requiring servicing'. So out go the light, receptacle, and switch.

Next set of questions:
#5: Is it typical to provide a panel for retail shell space, or should I let the future designer who is in charge of the space worry about it? I can estimate the probable panel size required, but have no idea as to best location.
#6: What dictates fire alarm devices in a shell area? Can't find anything in NFPA's Life Safety Code Handbook.
 
If you put the panel in, you need a light. See 110.26(D).

I would leave the panel for the tenant to install and pay for.

The city I live in enforces the International Building Code. It requires lighting in all spaces. I think it even lists 10 foot candles average.

I think "38.3.4.1 General" of NFPA 101 has the fire alarm requirements.

Steve
 
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