I would say technically that is not completely enclosed. Or it would not be in my area, I don't think, because a recessed can without a glass cover is not considered completely enclosed even if the bulb position is well inside the reflector.

I think these will also provide awful light for clothing selection, unfortunately, and you could end up putting on half black half navy.

Had no idea about this code! Every single closet light in my 1948 house, has an exposed lightbulb. They are placed where it would be highly unlikely it could come in contact with any garment of any kind. Mine go on automatically when the closet door is opened, and off when the door is closed. I wonder if this will be a problem when I someday sell this house or due to its age, if it's "grandfathered".

It would be grandfathered here but I know people who have burned things like quilts and sleeping bags stuffed on high shelves.

I would change it only because I think it will give off funny light in a small space and make clothing selection hard.

Unfortunately, at least where I am (MA), your choice of light would not be acceptable via code. I had to scrap similar ideas in order to have a fully enclosed lamp inside the closets. I do love your selection, but hopefully for you, your zoning code varies. For me, this was the same whether a walk in (small walk-in) or a reach in. Might be different if you have a room-like walk-in?

Closet is closet. Size does not matter at all to the inspector.

So funny... I was *just* asking my dad (he's an electrician) about this yesterday!!!

Your fixture would definitely not be to code, and even though we couldn't find the "why" behind the rule in the National Electrical Code 2017 book, we had a pretty decent discussion about it.

Out of all theories proposed, a consensus was reached that it *probably* has something to do with a bulb exploding (however rare that occurrence actually is), and the possibility of everything very quickly catching fire.

I would say technically that is not completely enclosed.

Bummer. I really can't see much point in this rule ... not when the clothing surrounding the light could never come in contact with the bulb.

They are not very functional for a closet ... so you can tell navy from black

Yeah, I see that now. It didn't occur to me earlier. I don't actually own anything navy, but the point is valid. If I had another light source in the closet (perhaps LED closet rods), I'd still like these lights.

Had no idea about this code! ... I wonder if this will be a problem when I someday sell this house or due to its age, if it's "grandfathered".

Well, this code goes against commons sense, so I am not surprised. My house was built around 1970, so I suspect my house'd be grandfathered in too ... but I think it could case trouble during a home inspection.

I think it will give off funny light in a small space

I liked that!

I had to scrap similar ideas in order to have a fully enclosed lamp inside the closets.

I know that's the right answer.

Closet is closet. Size does not matter at all to the inspector.

Not really the question, but thanks.

Your fixture would definitely not be to code, and even though we couldn't find the "why" behind the rule in the National Electrical Code 2017 book, we had a pretty decent discussion about it.

Out of all theories proposed, a consensus was reached that it *probably* has something to do with a bulb exploding (however rare that occurrence actually is), and the possibility of everything catching fire.

1) If an electrician doesn't immediately have a solid answer as to why it's a rule, I suspect it's garbage ... but that doesn't mean it'd pass inspection.

2) I've been on this earth a long time and have never known of a light bulb suddenly exploding. Has anyone else observed this?

Thanks, All, for your help! I'll pick something else.

It's because in a typical closet the light is ceiling mounted and there are shelves on top of the hanging rod.

I know more than one person who has shoved a quilt or sleeping bag up on a shelf like this and burnt a hole in it because it slid partway off the shelf and touched the bulb. (I know someone who had a sleeping bag with a circular patch on it, and asked)

A building across the street burnt out, and the probable cause published by the fire marshall was a piece of clothing or drapery in contact with a lightbulb, they suspect. (It was a fraternity house).

A walk in closet is not the same as a typical closet but it is probably too complex to have exceptions as to when open fixtures can be used.

I know more than one person who has shoved a quilt or sleeping bag up on a shelf like this and burnt a hole in it because it slid partway off the shelf and touched the bulb.

I could believe that with a bare bulb ... but not with a light fixture that's open only on the bottom.

A walk in closet is not the same as a typical closet but it is probably too complex to have exceptions as to when open fixtures can be used.

I do agree that they can't make exceptions for walk-in vs. reach-ins.

The requirement that light sources in closets be at least 18” away from a shelf was part of the NEC forever. Then came covered bulbs 18” away from shelves. Then enclosed bulbs everywhere.

Too many people valued glam over safety. And fires resulted. That’s why it kept getting stricter and stricter. Watch for a new restriction in bathrooms soon, since so many people violate the no chandelier over the tub one.

1) If an electrician doesn't immediately have a solid answer as to why it's a rule, I suspect it's garbage ... but that doesn't mean it'd pass inspection.

The guys on the ground don't always know why the powers-that-be create the rules (and as far as rules go, this one is kinda minor, I think).

2) I've been on this earth a long time and have never known of a light bulb suddenly exploding. Has anyone else observed this?

I have, lol, which is why I even asked my dad the question. :-D

It was several years ago and totally crazy; I initially thought someone shot off a firearm that just happened to hit the bulb, because it was so loud. :-O

My husband and I never did figure out what happened -- we came across an explanation that described water splashing on a hot bulb (this was before LEDs), but our bulb wasn't near any water -- it was just scary.

Really, if you are still planning on building soon, it seems like a simple white dome fixture which would be even less expensive would be best. I don't think that light would cast sufficient radius of light to distinguish black from dark navy or brown on the hanging rods.

Yes, I have had a bulb explode, scared the heck out of me!

I do see the appeal of the way it casts light on the ceiling, but save that for a more public area when you build or even the family entry.. In our old house we had a chandelier in the family room that cast a beautiful pattern on the ceiling.

Code is only important once - when a house is inspected. We have a large master closet with 4 recessed cans and there will be a $10 Lowes surface mount in the middle over the island. It will stay there forever.....

Not sure an LED bulb gets hot enough to explode and cause a fire. Let alone in a 12x13 ft closet. I am pretty sure my blanket on my bed could catch fire too and it is right below an exposed bulb (not really but it is allowed). How about lamps near curtains?

And tell me why the exposed bulb above a tub is a real issue? Because with 10 foot ceilings, you are going to try and change the bulb while standing in the tub full of water and the fixture is on? Or is it because the exploding bulb will electrocute you? Or are we thinking we are going to splash water up 8 feet and create a short?

Not sure we should be comparing new to a house build in 1948.

Code has its role. But does not mean it is logical or reasonable in every situation. Smoking should be illegal. Cars should be governed to 75 mph. Alcohol should be illegal. Curfews for teens. Guns....

Actually those inexpensive halogen torchieres that everybody used to buy for dorm rooms and such are outlawed in many dorms because of curtains and lamps and catching fire.

(And underpants and lamps, and people putting a t shirt over a lamp to dim the lighting and stuff like that).

The code for hanging fixtures above a tub is not so much about changing the bulb over a full bathtub.

Actually to the letter of the law, any tub in a house with eight foot ceilings and any light over the tub is against code because the rim of the tub is closer than allowed. But this is allowed to pass.

It's because of garden tubs and tubs with surrounds where people have to get themselves into the tub and this may involve stepping on the surround. Since no one has an actual railing to help with getting into the tub, you can lose your balance. And if there is a light fixture within your reach you could grab at it to correct your balance, and possibly break a bulb or pull it down.

If the hanging fixture is above the required distance it would probably be allowed.

Actually you can make a bulb explode by splashing water on it.

I watched a documentary on the failure of the Pruitt-Igoe Houses in Saint Louis.

Briefly, various causes of the failure include racial segregation, change to the original socioeconomic guidelines for the project and a complete lack of maintenance budget.

One of the things that rankled the residents too, was that some of the construction details indicated a complete distrust of the residents. One of these things is that many of the fixtures in public areas were bare bulbs rather than a fixture, and then these bare bulbs were covered with a metal cage with a lock on it.

So the implications were that the residents would steal or break a real fixture, and steal a lightbulb if they had the opportunity. (If they needed real security fixtures for halls and stairwells they should have used them). But the bulbs would burn out and no one would come and replace them anyway, and the residents couldn't if they wanted to.

Kids figured out how to break these unbreakable bulbs and fixtures. They would throw cold water on them and the bulbs would explode.

Yes, not in a closet, but I have been in the presence of a lightbulb that
inexplicably exploded. It was frightening & I wasn’t that far away from it, but was fortunate I wasn’t close enough for it to hit me. I know that’s not the reason for the code, but exploding lightbulbs do happen.

Interesting. As I said above, I've never seen this.

Not sure an LED bulb gets hot enough to explode and cause a fire.

I was wondering if LED bulbs make a difference in this.

I am pretty sure my blanket on my bed could catch fire too and it is right below an exposed bulb (not really but it is allowed).

I thought about that too! Like everyone in the South, I have a ceiling fan above my bed ... and mine has four down-facing bulbs. So, yeah, they could potentially burst and fall on my bedspread. I don't think I'll lose any sleep in fear of this, but it is technically just as possible as the light-bulb-in-a-closet issue.

And tell me why the exposed bulb above a tub is a real issue? Because with 10 foot ceilings, you are going to try and change the bulb while standing in the tub full of water and the fixture is on? Or is it because the exploding bulb will electrocute you? Or are we thinking we are going to splash water up 8 feet and create a short?

Let's say it's an 8' ceiling and the chandelier hangs down 18" (which would be oversized for the room, but I'm trying to be extreme here). Let's say the tub holds water 14" deep. The bulb could potentially be roughly 5' above the water. Okay, I can see an exploding bulb being a problem from 5' away. It wouldn't electrocute anyone because the "flying parts" would not be connected to electricity.

But isn't it perfectly legal to hang a chandelier right next to (but not above) the tub? In case of an exploding light bulb, if the bulb is able to "fling its glass about" (assuming the chandelier has fancy bare bulbs, not bitty shades), couldn't the glass end up in the tub almost as easily as if the chandelier were directly above the tub?

Just like the light above the bed, I'm not going to lose any sleep worrying about light bulbs in my bathrooms.

Interesting discussion though.