Code? Are pendants OK in bathroom IF they are UL Damp/Wet listed?

15 years ago

I read in the code that pendants are prohibited in bathrooms within 3 horizontal or 8 vertical feet from shower threshold or tub edge.

I have seen many pendants at vanities in photos, and we were planning that in our bathroom, but the vanity is fairly tight between the tub and shower.

Can we use them if we buy UL Wet/Damp listed pendants and GFCI protect them or are they prohibited in any way shape or form?

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Comments (6)

christophersprks
15 years ago
Your reading of the code is correct. Art.410.4(D)
To answer your question: No, not if it's in the 3 foot zone.
0
azlighting
15 years ago
X2...

410.10(D) Bathtub and Shower Areas. No parts of cordconnected
luminaires, chain-, cable-, or cord-suspended luminaires,
lighting track, pendants, or ceiling-suspended
(paddle) fans shall be located within a zone measured
900 mm (3 ft) horizontally and 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from
the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. This
zone is all encompassing and includes the space directly
over the tub or shower stall. Luminaires located within the
actual outside dimension of the bathtub or shower to a
height of 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower threshold shall be marked for damp locations, or marked for wet locations
0
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We're wrestling with a couple of different code references here. In general: 1) You need at least one light in the bathroom that is controlled by a switch located at the entrance to the bathroom. 2) Light fixtures within tub and shower spaces should be marked "suitable for damp/wet locations". 3)Hanging fixtures cannot be located within a zone of 3Â horizontally and 8Â vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. So just because a pendant fixture is "damp" rated and meets provision #2, it can't be installed within the tub/shower zone due to provision #3, which prohibits hanging fixtures. Provision #2 is so fixtures in damp/wet areas do not corrode and become electrical shock/fire hazards. Provision #3 is so that if someone is standing in the tub or in the shower and slips, they don't instinctively reach up and grab a low-hanging pendant fixture and pull it down into the water with them as they fall. Zap. Provisionally, Mongo
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More confusion. Dim4fun says gfi is only required in shower for light and/or fan. Do all bath fixtures require gfi as it seems ginger light is saying? Omigosh, I am just going to use candles. :-] Maybe this isn't as confusing as it appears- perhaps I am not reading posts correctly, but it seems like everyone is contradicting each other. In a bathroom, where water is not going to touch a fixture, as in the vanity area or a sconce on a wall not close to a shower, is any fixture regardless of rating okay to use??? Are ratings totally voluntary as it seems gingerlight is saying? Is dampness from normal shower activity, i.e. steam or condensation, not a problem for fixtures rated for use in dry area? I really have considered looking just at outdoor fixtures, so I know they can be used near the tub (where there is no shower and the closest to the water they will be is 4 ft above water line and 1.5 ft away from edge of tub (4 ft below). Or can I use a dry rated fixture there? Anyone? Thanks, Your "dense" rated sister!
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You will find that some damp location rated fixtures are approved and rated for wet location use when GFCI protected and/or a specific trim is used. This does *not* mean that you can just put a GFCI on any damp location fixture and have it be approved for a wet location, it has to be in the manufacturer's instructions somewhere.
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Ok...interesting, but you have to help me a little more. What did the green label show that is partially visible in one of the pix above? Can you provide a picture of that? I can see that it lists some wattages and bulb types, but I can only see part of it. Also, there is another label that I can partially see in your latest picture. What does that say? One thing I am wondering is if you have been using a regular light bulb in this fixture, which, aside from the wattage, may not be allowed in that particular fixture because of its dimensions and the heat distribution. Here is a typical label showing what wattages are allowed for which specific bulb types, and that it is wet-listed: Label
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Stacey Collins
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh rats. So, even if the pendants are wet listed, then, they are not allowed?
0
macv
15 years ago
Not if they're hanging.
0
azlighting
15 years ago
Incorrect... Non wet or damp rated pendants ARE allowed above the shower, however the bottom of the fixture MUST be more than 8'-0" ABOVE the top rim of the shower. They CANNOT be less than 8'-0" above the rim.

ie:
your shower stall is 10'-0" tall. The code requires an EXTRA 8'-0" of clearance, this brings the height to 18'-0"

The pendant, cord connected fixture, etc. CANNOT be located between the 10'-0" mark and the 18'-0" mark but MUST be mounted higher. A pendant fixture mounted at 19'-0" above the finished floor over the shower would pass. Granted the inspector would take out his measuring tape to make sure.

This just means the ceiling directly over your shower has to be a minimum of 21'-0", depending on the pendant length. Some homes DO have this height...
0
groundrod
15 years ago
az
The measurement is from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. In the shower that would be the part you step over.
0

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Code? Are pendants OK in bathroom IF they are UL Damp/Wet listed?

Comments (6)

christophersprks

azlighting

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Stacey Collins
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macv

azlighting

groundrod

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Code? Are pendants OK in bathroom IF they are UL Damp/Wet listed?

Comments (6)

christophersprks

azlighting

Related Discussions

Related Professionals

Stacey CollinsOriginal Author

macv

azlighting

groundrod

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Stacey Collins
Original Author