LGE-1 — Luminaires, Lampholders, and Lighting Outlets

Distinguish the outlet from the equipment

A lighting outlet is an outlet intended for direct connection of a lampholder or luminaire. The outlet is the point on the premises wiring; the luminaire is the complete lighting unit that distributes, filters, or transforms light and includes the parts needed to position and protect lamps and connect them to the supply. A lampholder supports and makes electrical connection to a lamp. Changing the luminaire does not erase the branch-circuit outlet rules.

Section 210.70(A)(1) requires at least one wall-switch-controlled lighting outlet in every habitable room and bathroom of a dwelling. In rooms other than kitchens and bathrooms, one or more wall-switch-controlled receptacles can be used instead. That substitution does not turn a switched receptacle into a solution for every hallway, stairway, garage, exterior entrance, or equipment-service lighting rule.

Additional dwelling lighting outlets apply to hallways, stairways, attached garages, detached garages with electric power, and the exterior side of outdoor entrances or exits with grade-level access. A stairway between floor levels with six risers or more uses wall-switch control at each floor level and landing level that includes an entryway. Attics, underfloor spaces, utility rooms, and basements containing equipment requiring servicing have a lighting outlet at or near the equipment, with the switch at the usual point of entry and the lighting arranged to illuminate the path. Section 210.70(C) provides a related service-space rule for occupancies other than dwellings.

A lighting outlet can be correctly located but incorrectly supplied, controlled, supported, grounded, or protected. After applying 210.70, check branch-circuit rating, conductor temperature, AFCI or GFCI where another rule applies, switch location, luminaire listing, and access for maintenance. Article 410 does not create a universal GFCI requirement for every bathroom or outdoor luminaire.

Select a listed luminaire for the location

Section 410.6 requires luminaires, lampholders, and retrofit kits to be listed. A field-installed LED retrofit follows its listing and cannot leave unused ballast wiring, exposed live parts, or incompatible lampholders. Observe maximum lamp wattage, lamp type, supply-conductor temperature, driver or ballast replacement instructions, and enclosure marking.

Under 410.10(A), luminaires in wet or damp locations are installed so water cannot enter or accumulate in wiring compartments, lampholders, or other electrical parts. A luminaire exposed to weather or saturation is marked Suitable for Wet Locations. A covered location protected from beating rain but subject to condensation can use a luminaire marked for damp locations. Wet-rated equipment can serve a damp location; damp-rated equipment is not upgraded to wet-rated by caulk.

Section 410.10(D) establishes a bathtub and shower zone extending 3 ft horizontally and 8 ft vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower-stall threshold, including the space directly over the tub or stall. Cord-connected luminaires, chain- or cable-suspended luminaires, track lighting, pendants, and ceiling-suspended paddle fans are not located in that zone. Luminaires within the actual outside dimensions of the tub or shower up to 8 ft above the rim or threshold are marked for damp locations, or for wet locations where subject to shower spray.

Lay out clothes-closet luminaires

Section 410.16 first uses the defined clothes closet storage space, not an estimate based only on the shelf edge. Permitted types include surface-mounted or recessed incandescent or LED luminaires with completely enclosed light sources, surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent luminaires, and surface-mounted fluorescent or LED luminaires identified for installation within closet storage space. Open or partially enclosed incandescent luminaires and pendant luminaires or lampholders are prohibited.

Measure clearance to the nearest point of storage space:

• 12 in. for a surface-mounted incandescent or LED luminaire with a completely enclosed light source;
• 6 in. for a surface-mounted fluorescent luminaire;
• 6 in. for a recessed incandescent or LED luminaire with a completely enclosed light source; and
• 6 in. for a recessed fluorescent luminaire.

A surface fluorescent or LED luminaire specifically identified for installation within storage space can use that listing. A generic surface LED disk is not assumed to have this permission. The light-source enclosure and required clearance are separate conditions.

Support the complete weight

Section 410.36 coordinates luminaire support with Article 314. At a ceiling lighting outlet, the box is designed or installed so a luminaire or lampholder can be attached and must support at least 50 lb. A luminaire over 50 lb is supported independently unless the box is listed and marked for at least the actual weight. The 50-lb rule does not make an ordinary lighting box a fan-support box; a ceiling-suspended paddle fan uses a box or system listed for that purpose under 314.27(C).

For a suspended ceiling, the framing members supporting luminaires are securely fastened to one another and to the building structure at appropriate intervals. The luminaire is mechanically fastened to the framing by screws, bolts, rivets, or listed clips identified for the ceiling member and luminaire. Resting a troffer loosely on the grid does not satisfy 410.36(B), and seismic or building-code requirements can add independent support.

A raceway fitting used to support a luminaire must support the complete luminaire and lamps. Flexible cord or a conductor is not a general structural support. Pendant canopies, hickeys, studs, stems, and fittings must be identified or mechanically adequate for the actual arrangement.

Control heat and combustible exposure

Section 410.11 requires luminaires near combustible material to be constructed, installed, or equipped with guards or shades so adjacent combustible material is not subjected to more than 90°C (194°F). Use the marked lamp wattage and type; installing a higher-wattage lamp can defeat the evaluated temperature limit. Supply conductors at an outlet with a higher temperature marking must have insulation suitable for that temperature.

Under 410.116, a recessed luminaire not identified for contact with insulation is spaced at least 1/2 in. from combustible material except at points of support, and thermal insulation stays at least 3 in. away and is arranged so heat is not trapped. A listed Type IC luminaire can contact and be covered by thermal insulation as its listing permits. Do not bury a non-IC can merely because the lamp is LED; driver and junction-box heat remain part of the listing.

Ground and polarize the luminaire

Exposed conductive luminaire parts are connected to an equipment grounding conductor under the applicable 410.42 and 410.44 rules. Bond the metal outlet box, canopy, mounting strap, and luminaire grounding lead as required. The EGC is not a current-carrying substitute for the grounded circuit conductor.

For a screw-shell lampholder, connect the grounded conductor to the screw shell and the switched ungrounded conductor to the center contact. Reversing polarity can leave the accessible shell energized while a lamp is changed. De-energize before service, verify the correct lamp or retrofit, reinstall guards and lenses, preserve wet-location gaskets, and confirm support and grounding before energizing.