Closet wiring

[chipper19522]

I have a skinny closet and it has a small and now defective flouresent fixture with it.

The rules say " Clothes closet luminaire [light fixtures], fluorescent style, must maintain a clearance from the edge of that luminaire to the back and side walls of 18" from the edge of the fixture to the back and side walls. You must also maintain 6" from the edge of the shelving storage area to the edge of that luminaire. The 18” clearance must be maintained from the fluorescent fixture whether there is a shelf present in that closet or not. NEC Article 410.8.A and NEC Article 410.8.B.2 and NEC Article 410.8.D.2"

If I replace the fluoresent fixture with a open fixture and put a new flouresent light fixture in it
do I still meet the above regulations.

Chip

[Ohm1]

If I replace the fluoresent fixture with a open fixture and put a new flouresent light fixture in it Not understanding what you are saying? Yet, if you mean replacing a fluorescent fixture with an open incandescent fixture, then placing a fluoresent "bulb" in the open incandescent, then no this does not qualify. Code says Fluoresecent fixture, not fluorescent bulb. An incandescent fixture is an incandescent fixture regardless of placing a fluorescent bulb in the fixture.

[chipper19522]

Not understanding what you are saying? Yet, if you mean replacing a fluorescent fixture with an open incandescent fixture, then placing a fluoresent "bulb" in the open incandescent, then no this does not qualify. Code says Fluoresecent fixture, not fluorescent bulb. An incandescent fixture is an incandescent fixture regardless of placing a fluorescent bulb in the fixture.

Thanks, this is exactly what I needed to know. I have to replace the floresent fixture.
The balast is bad. Everytime I turn off the light in the closet, my computer reboots.

Chip

[Colorado Jewel]

I hope you don't mind my tagging onto this thread with a question of my own on a similar topic.

What is the code regarding an incandescent fixture in a closet?

Thanks.

[suemarkp]

There are quite a few rules in 410.8. There is a long definition of storage space in part (A), but it can be summarized as below the rod and within 24" of the side or back walls, or above the rod within 12" of the side or back walls (or the width of the shelf if greater). Note that the old open fixture incandescent lamp is no longer alowed in clothes closets (rule (C) below).

(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
(2) A surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent luminaire (fixture) with a completely enclosed lamp (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.
(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
(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.

[Colorado Jewel]

Thanks for the reply.

So would a 'jelly jar' type fixture be acceptable?

Because there is a solid header and beam all the way up to the ceiling above the door, I would like to mount the light on a side wall up at the very top. If I'm 12 inches away from the shelf and rod, is this permitted? (It is a closet under a stair way with a sloping ceiling).

Thanks again.

[suemarkp]

A jelly jar could work, but it won't in most closets. Can you get the closest portion of that jar to be at least 24" away from the back wall (12" shelf + 12" clearance)? Unfortunately, these clearance go in a plane to the ceiling, and not just the where the shelf actually sets.

Most 24" deep closets will require an enclosed fluorescent fixture, or a recessed fixture just behind the door header. If you have a 28" deep closet, you may be able to use the jelly jar.

[Colorado Jewel]

Thanks for the info. I'm having a hard time figuring out if my incandescent light meets the criteria because of the sloping ceiling. I'm 12.75 inches from the shelf, but only 4 inches to the sloping ceiling (because my light is on a side wall due to the solid header and beam over the door).

So what I'm thinking of doing is putting a receptacle in the light box and surface mounting a small flourescent fixture above the door and plugging it into the newly created outlet. Is this a good plan? I don't want to fail my trim inspection!

Thanks.

[suemarkp]

I think that's about the best you can do, and is what has to be done in many closets. A closet with a sloped ceiling leaves much of the storage space question up in the air. It could be you only need to stay 24" from the far side ignoring the ceiling, unless they consider that sloped ceiling as a side in which case just about anything is difficult.

[Ohm1]

Yeah, it's not always easy.

[scuba_dave]

What about a switched outlet & LED christmas lights?

I have 3 knee wall closets & I'm thinking of this. This woudl spread the light out over a larger area. Plus they use up very little power

[acer66]

we are in the progress to convert a bedroom into an office, which includes to change a clothes closet into a storage area for records, dvds, paperwork and so on, does that change the requirements for the closet ?

thank you