What is a bedroom as far as NEC is concerned?

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Sorry, working off 2008 NEC and I didn't think it included home offices in afci. Just curious because HO has a room that is 8x12 and is going to be office.
 
Bedroom is not defined in the NEC however, if the room can be used as a bedroom I believe the authority having jurisdiction has the right to expect afci in the room
 
Thank You, Dennis!! I know toooo many here will know better than me, but HO purchased panel with breakers and the AFCI's are costing us about 60 plus tax, and I want to make sure I do not do anything thinking it is code, and HO find out it was not. Working off 2008 NEC and this is my first major residential job. Whatever I have to do is fine and, by no means, am not trying to dispute code, just want to be fair and Accurate to HO!!
 
prorod67 said:
Thank You, Dennis!! I know toooo many here will know better than me, but HO purchased panel with breakers and the AFCI's are costing us about 60 plus tax, and I want to make sure I do not do anything thinking it is code, and HO find out it was not. Working off 2008 NEC and this is my first major residential job. Whatever I have to do is fine and, by no means, am not trying to dispute code, just want to be fair and Accurate to HO!!
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If it's a bedroom you would have a smoke detector in it right, as opposed to an office where you wouldn't.
 
Yes, another item to add to the list! So maybe, if I don't put a smoke detector, he will let me slide on AFCI???? HO wants dedicated circuit to this room (which i understatnd).
 
Just guesses:
If it has a code egress window - it will be considered a bedroom. And if there is a closet - that seals it.

ice
 
Someone had posted something about the homeowner gets to decide. But I think it was a particular state amendment or something like that.

Here in MA I suspect an egress window and a closet make a bedroom.
 
Since I am in the same state as the OP I might be able to help him decide!:)

I know inspectors differ from one location in the state to the other but everyone that I deal with is the same as far as determining if a room is a bedroom or not. The very first thing they look at when someone claims the room isn't a bedroom is if it has a closet or not!
I know this has been mentioned but I just wanted to point out that's exactly what the inspectors here use to determine the room. Well one of the main things anyway. There may be cases where it's very obvious that the room isn't being used for a bedroom and an inspector might be convinced. But most here use the "what if" rule a lot. "What if" they sell it and the new owner changes it to a bedroom, or the current owners change their mind and convert it to a bedroom?:roll:

For those that don't know, Tn currently only requires AFCIs for bedrooms.
One of the few good decisions by the state IMHO!:thumbsup:
 
Thank You all for your responses. I believe we will just go with AFCI, as at one point it was used as a bedroom, does have a closet, and does have a window. As far as asking AHJ, the inspector in this area is very nice and very helpful. I just hate to wear out my welcome with questions I probably should know the answer to. But, for what its worth, I know where my knowledge is and know I need to learn alot. I appreciate, very much, the information shared on this forum.
 
Little Bill said:
Since I am in the same state as the OP I might be able to help him decide!:)

I know inspectors differ from one location in the state to the other but everyone that I deal with is the same as far as determining if a room is a bedroom or not. The very first thing they look at when someone claims the room isn't a bedroom is if it has a closet or not!
I know this has been mentioned but I just wanted to point out that's exactly what the inspectors here use to determine the room. Well one of the main things anyway. There may be cases where it's very obvious that the room isn't being used for a bedroom and an inspector might be convinced. But most here use the "what if" rule a lot. "What if" they sell it and the new owner changes it to a bedroom, or the current owners change their mind and convert it to a bedroom?:roll:

For those that don't know, Tn currently only requires AFCIs for bedrooms.
One of the few good decisions by the state IMHO!:thumbsup:
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What if they change their minds and convert it to a bathroom? I don't like the what if approach.

IMO - if it meets building codes for bedrooms and only has portable office furnishings - it is still a bedroom.
If it has permanently installed desks, cabinets, etc. it is an office, but should it be remodeled to a bedroom it would need to meet all codes for a bedroom at that time. I have done homes where they have an "office" with many built in furnishings. Not uncommon at all here in farm country as they typically do their office work in the home. Some of these offices are not all that practical to call a bedroom if someone else moves in without making some significant changes anyway.

Next question for AFCI though is can you call it a "Den"?
 
If this is new construction, it is whatever the plans say.

If this is an existing structure, it is whatever the building department has it listed at.

If existing and the HO wants to officially turn it into a home office (and avoid AFCI protection/smoke detector), they would need to go through the building dept. In 20 years when they sell the house, it would then list as a home office, not a bedroom.
 
My master bedroom is 21' x 20' and it does not have a closet in the actual bedroom. My walk in closet is off of the master bathroom suite on the opposite side of said bathroom area. With that said, determining a bedroom is clearly a call that has to incorporate many items. In fact, in other parts of the world they would never have a closet in a bedroom but they would have an Armoire for that task yet it is still a bedroom. The latitude given to the statement of " or similar rooms or areas" is where most AHJ's would hang their hat and at the end of the day they make the call.

Other important factors are if their are smoke alarms (heard someone call them smoke detectors earlier) within the room, it is sized enough to be habitable space, has egress windows (as some stated in their jurisdiction), what is it called on the drawings and so on. The fact is, if it looks like, smells like, feels like.....it probably is like.

Those are my opinions on the subject....at the end of the day...put the AFCI in, charge the customer (cost if you feel like it) and smile....it's Christmas !
 
I agree with Kwired. You can call it what ever you want, sewing room, office, den, but here it's the same as others have said, if it has a closet it's a bedroom.

Also why wouldn't you have to put an AFCI in it? "...or similar rooms or areas." A room with a closet whether used as a bedroom or not, is still a similar room.
 
petersonra said:
I have a closet in my living room. Does that make it a bedroom?
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We had a designed storage room with built in shelves and a closet for clothes storage. Remaining width less than three feet and the plan checker called it a bedroom and required an egress window.
On the back side of the closet wall was a large room with double pocket doors and no closet. That was not a bedroom even though we had a hide a bed couch to allow the "office" to serve as a guest bedroom.
:)
 
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