Chapter 8, Problem 14R

The following problems pertain to luminaires in clothes closets.

1. a. Does the Code permit bare incandescent lamps to be installed in porcelain key-less or porcelain pull-chain lampholders? ________________
2. b. Does the Code permit bare fluorescent lamp luminaires to be installed? ________________
3. c. Does the Code permit pendant lampholders to be installed? ________________
4. d. What is the minimum clearance from the storage area to surface-mounted incandescent luminaires? ________________
5. e. What is the minimum clearance from the storage area to surface-mounted fluorescent luminaires? ________________
6. f. What is the minimum distance between recessed incandescent or recessed fluorescent luminaires and the storage area? ________________
7. g. Define the “storage area.”

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8. h. If a clothes hanging rod is installed where there is access from both sides, such as might be found in a large walk-in clothes closet, define the storage area under that rod.

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To determine

Find whether the code permits to install bare incandescent lamps in porcelain keyless or porcelain pull-chain lamp holders.

Answer to Problem 14R

No, the code does not permit to install bare incandescent lamps in porcelain keyless or porcelain pull-chain lamp holders.

Explanation of Solution

Discussion:

The National Electrical Code committee develops NEC - the standard electrical code, and the main objective for the origin of the code is to protect and safeguard people and elements from the electrical hazards. The codes for defining clothes closet luminaires are explained in an article NEC 410.16.

According to an article NEC 410.16(B), the incandescent luminaires with fully open or partially enclosed lamps and the pendant luminaires or pendant lamp holders are not permitted to be installed in a closet.

Therefore, the bare incandescent lamp that is an uncovered lamp is not permitted to be installed in a closet.

Conclusion:

Thus, the code does not permit to install bare incandescent lamps in porcelain keyless or porcelain pull-chain lamp holders.

To determine

Find whether the code permits to install bare fluorescent lamp luminaires in a closet.

Answer to Problem 14R

Yes, the code permits to install bare fluorescent lamp luminaires in a closet.

Explanation of Solution

Discussion:

According to an article NEC 410.16(A)(2), the recessed fluorescent luminaires or surface-mounted luminaires are permitted to be installed in a closet.

Therefore, the bare fluorescent lamp luminaires, which are uncovered lamps, are permitted to be installed in a closet.

Conclusion:

Thus, the code permits to install bare fluorescent lamp luminaires in a closet.

To determine

Find whether the code permits to install pendant lamp holders in a closet.

Answer to Problem 14R

No, the code does not permit to install pendant lamp holders in a closet.

Explanation of Solution

Discussion:

According to an article NEC 410.16(B), the incandescent luminaires with fully open or partially enclosed lamps and the pendant luminaires or pendant lamp holders are not permitted to be installed in a closet.

Conclusion:

Thus, the code does not permit to install pendant lamp holders in a closet.

To determine

Find the minimum clearance distance from the storage area to surface-mounted incandescent luminaires.

Answer to Problem 14R

The minimum clearance distance from the storage area to surface-mounted incandescent luminaires is $\underset{\_}{12\text{in}\text{.}\left(300\text{mm}\right)}$.

Explanation of Solution

Discussion:

According to an article NEC 410.16(C)(1), the minimum clearance distance between surface-mounted incandescent or LED luminaires with fully enclosed light source that is permitted to be installed on the wall either above the ceiling or the door and the nearest point of a closet space is $300\text{mm}\left(12\text{in}\right)$.

Conclusion:

Thus, minimum clearance distance from the storage area to surface-mounted incandescent luminaires is $\underset{\_}{12\text{in}\text{.}\left(300\text{mm}\right)}$.

To determine

Find the minimum clearance distance from the storage area to surface-mounted fluorescent luminaires.

Answer to Problem 14R

The minimum clearance distance from the storage area to surface-mounted fluorescent luminaires is $\underset{\_}{6\text{in}\text{.}\left(150\text{mm}\right)}$.

Explanation of Solution

Discussion:

According to an article NEC 410.16(C)(2), the minimum clearance distance between surface-mounted fluorescent luminaires, which are permitted to be installed on the wall either above the ceiling or the door and the nearest point of a closet space, is $150\text{mm}\left(6\text{in}\text{.}\right)$.

Conclusion:

Thus, minimum clearance distance from the storage area to surface-mounted fluorescent luminaires is $\underset{\_}{6\text{in}\text{.}\left(150\text{mm}\right)}$.

To determine

Find the minimum clearance distance between the storage area and recessed incandescent luminaires or fluorescent luminaires.

Answer to Problem 14R

The minimum clearance distance between the storage area and recessed incandescent luminaires or fluorescent luminaires is $\underset{\_}{6\text{in}\text{.}\left(150\text{mm}\right)}$.

Explanation of Solution

Discussion:

According to an article NEC 410.16(C)(3), the minimum clearance distance between recessed incandescent luminaires or LED luminaires with fully enclosed light source that is permitted to be installed on the wall above the ceiling or the door and the nearest point of a closet space is $150\text{mm}\left(6\text{in}\right)$.

Conclusion:

Thus, minimum clearance distance between the storage area and recessed incandescent luminaires or fluorescent luminaires is $\underset{\_}{6\text{in}\text{.}\left(150\text{mm}\right)}$.

To determine

Define the term “storage area”.

Explanation of Solution

Discussion:

According to an article NEC 410.2, the volume is bounded by the back and sides of the closet walls and the planes that extend from the closet floor in vertical to the height of $1.8\text{m}\left(6\text{ft}\right)$ or to the highest clothes hanging rod, and it is parallel to the walls at the horizontal distance of $600\text{mm}\left(24\text{in}\text{.}\right)$ from the back and sides of the closet walls, and it continues in vertical to the closet ceiling that is parallel to the walls at horizontal distance of $300\text{mm}\left(12\text{in}\text{.}\right)$ or the shelf width.

Conclusion:

Thus, the term “storage area” is defined.

To determine

Find the storage area space under the clothes hanging rod.

Answer to Problem 14R

The storage area space under the clothes hanging rod is $\underset{\_}{12\text{in}\text{.}\left(300\text{mm}\right)}$.

Explanation of Solution

Discussion:

According to an article NEC 410.2, the closet can provide access to both sides of the hanging rod; the space can include the volume that is below the highest rod and extends $300\text{mm}\left(12\text{in}\text{.}\right)$ on either side of the hanging rod on a plane that is horizontal to the floor that extends the entire length of the hanging rod.

Conclusion:

Thus, storage area space under the clothes hanging rod is $\underset{\_}{12\text{in}\text{.}\left(300\text{mm}\right)}$.