Light in Closet With a Motion sensor.

Hi all,

I've read somewhere on this board that "You are not allowed to put t light in a closet unless the light is protected by a cage to prevent someone from breaking the bulb." and that if there is one, it got to be 12" away from stuffs ......

I plan to install a light in my coat closet, on the side wall. It will be about 10" away from the shelving. It uses a 25w bulb and is controlled by a motion sensor. The light is on when you open the door and off by itself after the door is closed about 4 minutes.

Please give your comment whether this is OK (safe) or not.
Thank you.

 

It's a code violation. And the code is based solely on safety. I suggest a fluorescent.

 

Hi John

Thanks for the info. So it is not safe. And ... it is because of the 25W bulb. So if it is changed to a fluorescent bulb then it is OK. Do I get it correctly ?

Thanks again.

 

I don't think screwing a compact flourescent bulb into the socket will resovle the problem. You need to replace the fixture with a flourescent one that does not have the bulb exposed. The problemis someone could smack the bulb and break it off leaving live wires exposed.

 

Simply screwing in a fluorescent bulb will probably solve the problem. The requirement that the bulb be fully enclosed only applies to incandescent bulbs. The bulb must come no closer than 6 inches to the shelf. This is measured somewhat strangely. But you are okay if the shelf is no wider than 12 inches, the light is higher than the highest closet rod, higher than six feet, and there is at least 18" between the bulb and the side and back walls.

 

Screwing in a compact fluorescent make work fine for now, but what happens when a new owner comes along and replaces it with a standard incandescent? I would be willing to bet that your average homeowner is unfamiliar with most NEC requirements. Just something to think about.

 

Thank you all folks for helping me understand this matter from different aspects. Hence I can come up with a good plan. Maybe in the future I'll put a note in there reading something like :"Only fluorescent bulb is allowed !"

Thanks.

 

Unless your min. space requirement is meet then screwing a fluorescent bulb will not satisfy the code.

The code gives requirements to "fixture types" not bulb types.

 

Hi aphares,

Boy, this is getting a bit higher than my comprehension in this (electrical) area. So, I'll need a fluorescent FIXTURE, not the incandescent one. What is (are) the difference(s) between the two kinds may I ask ?

Thanks for helping.

 

To help you understand why, this was extracted from the NEC[trade mark]. All of it has to do with heat in contact with Clothes in the closet.




410.8 Luminaires (Fixtures) in Clothes Closets.
(A) Definition.
Storage Space. The volume bounded by the sides and back closet walls and planes extending from the closet floor vertically to a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) or the highest clothes-hanging rod and parallel to the walls at a horizontal distance of 600 mm (24 in.) from the sides and back of the closet walls, respectively, and continuing vertically to the closet ceiling parallel to the walls at a horizontal distance of 300 mm (12 in.) or the width of the shelf, whichever is greater; for a closet that permits access to both sides of a hanging rod, this space includes the volume below the highest rod extending 300 mm (12 in.) on either side of the rod on a plane horizontal to the floor extending the entire length of the rod.
FPN:See Figure 410.8.Image 410.8
The 24-in. rule is intended to cover the clothes-hanging space, even if no clothes-hanging rod is installed. If a clothes-hanging rod is installed, the space extends from the floor to the top of the highest rod. If no clothes-hanging rod is installed, the space extends from the floor to a height of 6 ft.
In addition to the space in which clothing will be hung from the closet pole or rod, this requirement also establishes a 12-in. wide shelf space to cover those installations where shelving is not in place at the time of fixture installation. If shelving is installed and the shelves are wider than 12 in., the greater width must be applied in establishing this space.
The storage space for closets that permit access to both sides of the clothes-hanging rod is based on a horizontal plane extending 12 in. from both sides of the rod, from the rod down to the floor. This equates to the 24-in. space required for the closet rod where there is only one direction of access.

Figure 410.8 Closet storage space.
(B) Luminaire (Fixture) Types Permitted. Listed luminaires (fixtures) of the following types shall be permitted to be installed in a closet:
(1) A surface-mounted or recessed incandescent luminaire (fixture) with a completely enclosed lamp
(2) A surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent luminaire (fixture)
(C) Luminaire (Fixture) Types Not Permitted. Incandescent luminaires (fixtures) with open or partially enclosed lamps and pendant luminaires (fixtures) or lampholders shall not be permitted.
See the commentary following 410.8(D)(3).
(D) Location. Luminaires (fixtures) in clothes closets shall be permitted to be installed as follows:
(1) Surface-mounted incandescent luminaires (fixtures) installed on the wall above the door or on the ceiling, provided there is a minimum clearance of 300 mm (12 in.) between the luminaire (fixture) and the nearest point of a storage space
(2) Surface-mounted fluorescent luminaires (fixtures) installed on the wall above the door or on the ceiling, provided there is a minimum clearance of 150 mm (6 in.) between the luminaire (fixture) and the nearest point of a storage space
(3) Recessed incandescent luminaires (fixtures) with a completely enclosed lamp installed in the wall or the ceiling, provided there is a minimum clearance of 150 mm (6 in.) between the luminaire (fixture) and the nearest point of a storage space
The requirement in 410.8(D)(3) results from tests that have shown that a hot filament falling from a broken incandescent lamp can ignite combustible material below the luminaire in which the lamp is installed.
(4) Recessed fluorescent luminaires (fixtures) installed in the wall or the ceiling, provided there is a minimum clearance of 150 mm (6 in.) between the luminaire (fixture) and the nearest point of a storage space
Note that the clearance measurement for each requirement in 410.8(D) is to the luminaire and not to the lamp itself.
It is not mandatory to install a luminaire in a clothes closet; if one is installed, however, the conditions for installation are as required by 410.8(D).
The requirements of 410.8(D) apply to incandescent and fluorescent lighting in clothes closets of various kinds of occupancies. The requirement is intended to prevent hot lamps or parts of broken lamps from coming in contact with boxes, cartons, blankets, and the like, stored on shelves, and clothing hung in closets.

 

Hello aphares et all,

My appreciation to you and others. Your input has helped me to prepare for a good plan that meets codes and maintains a safe environment for my home with this small project. Please keep up your good spirit as you can't measure how much you have helped this community.

Thanks all.