10.3 Luminaires, Lampholders and Recessed Installations
Key Takeaways
- NEC 410.10(D) prohibits cord-connected luminaires, chain-, cable-, or cord-suspended luminaires, lighting track, pendants, and ceiling-suspended paddle fans within a zone 3 feet horizontally and 8 feet vertically from the top of a bathtub rim or shower stall threshold.
- NEC 410.16(C) requires minimum clearances from the closet storage space of 12 inches for surface-mounted incandescent or LED luminaires with completely enclosed light sources and 6 inches for surface-mounted fluorescent and for recessed types.
- NEC 410.116(B) prohibits thermal insulation above a recessed luminaire or within 3 inches of its enclosure, wiring compartment, ballast, transformer, LED driver, or power supply, unless the luminaire is identified as Type IC.
- NEC 410.36(B) permits luminaires to be supported from a suspended ceiling framing member only where the framing members are securely fastened to each other and to the building structure at appropriate intervals.
- NEC 410.30(C) permits cord-connected luminaires where a listed luminaire assembly, a listed assembly, or a locking-type attachment plug is used, subject to the conditions in that subsection.
Locations — 410.10
410.10(A) Wet and Damp Locations. Luminaires installed in wet or damp locations shall be installed such that water cannot enter or accumulate in wiring compartments, lampholders, or other electrical parts. All luminaires installed in wet locations shall be marked "Suitable for Wet Locations." All luminaires installed in damp locations shall be marked "Suitable for Wet Locations" or "Suitable for Damp Locations."
A wet-location luminaire may be used in a damp location; a damp-location luminaire may not be used in a wet location.
410.10(B) Corrosive Locations. Luminaires installed in corrosive locations shall be of a type suitable for such locations.
410.10(C) In Ducts or Hoods. Luminaires shall be permitted to be installed in commercial cooking hoods where all of the specified conditions are met, including construction to permit cleaning, luminaire parts extending into the hood being of corrosion-resistant material, wiring methods and materials suitable for the temperature, and the luminaire being identified for use within commercial cooking hoods.
410.10(D) Bathtub and Shower Areas. No parts of cord-connected luminaires, chain-, cable-, or cord-suspended luminaires, lighting track, pendants, or ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans shall be located within a zone measured 3 feet (900 mm) horizontally and 8 feet (2.5 m) 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.
Exception: Luminaires and paddle fans listed for damp locations, or listed for wet locations where subject to shower spray, are permitted within the zone above a bathtub or shower where installed at a height not less than 8 feet vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower threshold.
410.10(F) Luminaires Installed in or Under Roof Decking. Luminaires installed in exposed or concealed locations under metal-corrugated sheet roof decking shall be installed and supported so there is not less than 1.5 inches (38 mm) measured from the lowest surface of the roof decking to the top of the luminaire.
Clothes Closets — 410.16
410.2 defines the closet storage space as a volume bounded by the sides and back closet walls and planes extending from the closet floor vertically to a height of 6 feet or to the highest clothes-hanging rod, and parallel to the walls at a horizontal distance of 24 inches 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 12 inches or the width of the shelf, whichever is greater.
410.16(A) Luminaire Types Permitted. Listed luminaires of the following types shall be permitted to be installed in a closet:
- Surface-mounted or recessed incandescent or LED luminaires with completely enclosed light sources;
- Surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent luminaires;
- Surface-mounted fluorescent or LED luminaires identified as suitable for installation within the storage area.
410.16(B) Luminaire Types Not Permitted. Incandescent or LED luminaires with open or partially enclosed lamps and pendant luminaires or lampholders shall not be permitted.
410.16(C) Location. The minimum clearance between luminaires installed in clothes closets and the nearest point of a closet storage space shall be as follows:
| Luminaire type | Minimum clearance from storage space |
|---|---|
| Surface-mounted incandescent or LED with completely enclosed light source, installed on the wall above the door or on the ceiling | 12 inches (300 mm) |
| Surface-mounted fluorescent | 6 inches (150 mm) |
| Recessed incandescent or LED with completely enclosed light source, installed in the wall or ceiling | 6 inches (150 mm) |
| Recessed fluorescent, installed in the wall or ceiling | 6 inches (150 mm) |
| Surface-mounted fluorescent or LED identified as suitable for installation within the storage area | May be installed within the storage space |
The 12-inch figure for surface-mounted enclosed incandescent or LED is the one most often missed; every other listed type is 6 inches or zero.
Recessed Luminaires — Part XI, 410.115 through 410.122
410.115(A) Temperature. Thermal insulation shall not be installed above a recessed luminaire or within 3 inches of the recessed luminaire's enclosure, wiring compartment, ballast, transformer, LED driver, or power supply, unless the luminaire is identified as Type IC. Recessed portions of enclosures shall be spaced from combustible material as required by 410.116.
410.116(A)(1) Clearance — Non-Type IC. A recessed luminaire that is not identified for contact with insulation shall have all recessed parts spaced not less than 1/2 inch (13 mm) from combustible materials. The points of support and the trim finishing off the openings in the ceiling, wall, or other finished surface shall be permitted to be in contact with combustible materials.
410.116(A)(2) Type IC. A recessed luminaire that is identified for contact with insulation, Type IC, shall be permitted to be in contact with combustible materials at recessed parts, points of support, and portions passing through or finishing off the opening in the building structure.
410.116(B) Installation. Thermal insulation shall not be installed above a recessed luminaire or within 3 inches (75 mm) of the recessed luminaire's enclosure, wiring compartment, ballast, transformer, LED driver, or power supply, unless the luminaire is identified as Type IC.
This pair of rules matters enormously in Alaska, where ceiling insulation depths of R-49 to R-60 are routine. A non-IC can buried in blown insulation is both a Code violation and a genuine fire risk; it is also a large thermal bypass in an otherwise tight envelope. The correct product is an IC-rated, airtight (ICAT) luminaire, and the manufacturer's installation instructions become enforceable through 110.3(B).
410.117 Wiring. (A) General — conductors that have insulation suitable for the temperature encountered shall be used. (B) Circuit conductors — branch-circuit conductors that have an insulation suitable for the temperature encountered shall be permitted to terminate in the luminaire. (C) Tap conductors — tap conductors of a type suitable for the temperature encountered shall be permitted to run from the luminaire terminal connection to an outlet box placed at least 1 foot (300 mm) from the luminaire. Such tap conductors shall be in suitable raceway or Type AC or MC cable of at least 4 feet (1.2 m) but not more than 6 feet (1.8 m) in length.
Support — Part IV, 410.30 and 410.36
410.30(A) Combustible Material at Outlet Boxes. Where a metal luminaire canopy or pan is used with an outlet box, the canopy or pan shall be arranged so combustible wall or ceiling material is not exposed between the edge of the canopy or pan and the outlet box.
410.30(B) Canopy Size. Where a canopy is used, the canopy and the outlet box shall provide sufficient space for the conductors and their splices.
410.30(C) Cord-Connected Luminaires. A luminaire or a listed assembly shall be permitted to be cord connected if the following conditions apply: (1) the luminaire is located directly below the outlet box, floor box, or ceiling raceway; (2) the flexible cord meets the requirements of 240.5, is not subject to strain or physical damage, and is continuous without splice or tap from the luminaire terminal connections to the cord connector; (3) the cord is terminated in a grounding-type attachment plug cap or busway plug, or is a part of a listed assembly incorporating a manufactured wiring system connector.
410.36(A) Outlet Boxes. Where outlet boxes or fittings are used as the sole support of a luminaire, the requirements of 314.27 apply — a box used as the sole support of a luminaire must be listed for the purpose, and boxes supporting ceiling-suspended paddle fans must be listed and marked for fan support.
410.36(B) Suspended Ceilings. Framing members of suspended ceiling systems used to support luminaires shall be securely fastened to each other and shall be securely attached to the building structure at appropriate intervals. Luminaires shall be securely fastened to the ceiling framing member by mechanical means such as bolts, screws, or rivets. Listed clips identified for use with the type of ceiling framing member and luminaire shall also be permitted.
410.36(D) Trees. Outdoor luminaires and associated equipment shall be permitted to be supported by trees.
Lampholders and Lamps
410.90 Screw-Shell Type. Lampholders of the screw-shell type shall be installed for use as lampholders only.
410.93 Damp or Wet Locations. Lampholders installed in wet or damp locations shall be listed for the purpose.
410.97 Lampholders Near Combustible Material. Lampholders shall be constructed, installed, or equipped with shades or guards so that combustible material is not subjected to temperatures in excess of 90 degrees C (194 degrees F).
410.62(C) Electric-Discharge and LED Luminaires. Cord-connected installations are permitted under the specified conditions, including for luminaires supported independently of the outlet box.
Luminaires as Raceways — 410.64
410.64 General. Luminaires shall not be used as a raceway for circuit conductors unless: (A) the luminaire is listed and marked for use as a raceway; (B) luminaires are designed for end-to-end assembly to form a continuous raceway, or are connected together by recognized wiring methods, and are permitted to carry through conductors of a two-wire branch circuit, or one multiwire branch circuit, or one or more two-wire branch circuits supplied from a system having not more than three ungrounded conductors; (C) luminaires identified for through-wiring, as permitted by 410.21, shall be permitted to be used as a raceway.
What is the size of the zone in which cord-connected luminaires, pendants, and ceiling-suspended paddle fans are prohibited near a bathtub under NEC 410.10(D)?
A surface-mounted LED luminaire with a completely enclosed light source is installed on a clothes closet ceiling. What minimum clearance from the closet storage space is required?
How close may blown thermal insulation come to a recessed luminaire that is NOT identified as Type IC?
Under NEC 410.117(C), what are the length limits for tap conductors running in a raceway or Type AC or MC cable from a recessed luminaire to a remote outlet box?