Bathroom pendant lighting.

12 years ago

I would like to put mini pendants in a bathroom, but most do not seem to be manufactured for damp area use. I see a lot of examples of bathroom pendants on Houzz--are people just ignoring the manufacturer's recommendations?

Featured Answer

User

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

In general, there would be no reason for indoor pendants to be listed for damp or wet locations. For a pendant to meet NEC code requirements for a damp location, the bottom of it would need to be 8' off the floor for a shower and around 10' off the floor over a tub. Therefore, it is impractical. Just because a pendant is in a bathroom does not mean it has to be rated for damp locations. It is a code rating, not a manufacturer recommendation. A fixture can either be rated for wet locations, damp locations, or not rated for either. The ip rating has nothing to do with code. It is not even readily available to the general public. Instead, it is a tool that testing agencies like Underwriters Laboratories uses to list fixtures as rated for damp or wet locations.
If an indoor luminare is not intended to be used in the areas described in the following code, then it will not be listed for damp or wet locations, and you can not use a pendant in this area. And the demand for a pendant 10' high is so low that they just don't bother manufacturing them.

E4003.11 Bathtub and shower areas.
Cord-connected luminaires, chain-, cable-, or cord-suspended-luminaires, lighting track, pendants, and ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans shall not have any parts located within a zone measured 3 feet (914 mm) horizontally and 8 feet (2438 mm) vertically from the top of a bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. This zone is all encompassing and includes the space directly over the tub or shower. Luminaires within the actual outside dimension of the bathtub or shower to a height of 8 feet (2438 mm) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower threshold shall be marked for damp locations and where subject to shower spray, shall be marked for wet locations.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

PRO
ASVInteriors
12 years ago
For show bathrooms lighting does seem to be a little misleading. I cringe each time I see a chandelier over a bath. It all depends on the ip rating of the light. I would work with your electrician and discuss options with him/ her. The bottom line is no one wants to see you fried.
kedzugan thanked ASVInteriors
Related Professionals
Gaithersburg Interior Designers & Decorators · Gloucester Interior Designers & Decorators · Pueblo Interior Designers & Decorators · Helena Interior Designers & Decorators · Riverton Interior Designers & Decorators · Cambridge Architects & Building Designers · Dallas Architects & Building Designers · Fort Worth Architects & Building Designers · Barnstable Architects & Building Designers · Saint Cloud Architects & Building Designers · Hilo Architects & Building Designers · Chatham Architects & Building Designers · Elmira Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Denver Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Honolulu Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
PRO
ASVInteriors
12 years ago
Interesting because here (in Switzerland at least) customers use IP ratings as guide for choosing lights in bathrooms. it enables the consumer to know what light is safe where in the bathroom before they select it. But your diagram follows a pretty similar outline.
User
12 years ago
Kind of figured as much. Here in the U.S. it is just damp or wet according to the electrical code. Anyway, if a pendant is allowed in a bathroom, it will be out of the zone that needs a rating and therefore they don't give it one. Hopefully, that part makes sense :)
Patricia Wedum
12 years ago
Damp and Wet location ratings have nothing to do with the safety of the user. A damp location light is constructed so that the light itself will last without corrosion in the location. This indirectly protects the end user. They do not have extra shock hazard protection. Wet location generally means the light can be temporarily submerged. Again this is not to protect the user but to give an expectation of the conditions the light can withstand. You Can put dry location lights in your bathroom.

The entire bathroom must be protected by GFCI circuits so (don't try this but) even if you intentionally threw your toaster in the tub with your wife they would not get shocked. Additionally there are very few limits for electric outlets near a tub or shower except that they must be GFCI protected. What is to stop someone from plugging a light into one of those outlets? Also, think about how many showers out there have recessed lights over the shower within fingers reach. It would be totally unrealistic to expect builders to keep such a large boundary when constructing small bathrooms. I can not begin to tell you how many apartments I have seen with lights that are easily within the boundaries listed above and had not rating what so ever.

Most inspectors are reasonable people as are most electricians, find lights you like and then discuss it with them. You can always install recessed fixtures (all of which are damp location rated) and then install pendant conversion kits later. Just check that GFCI regularly to know you are safe and never trust a light fixture to protect you from getting shocked regardless of its rating.
kedzugan thanked Patricia Wedum
cabingirl13
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
You are right on Fred S- that person has NO CLUE what they are talking about! I just checked in my NEC book and 8 feet is the correct height. (410.10 (D)
User
12 years ago
Why would you have one of those evil things, cabingirl? The more you read it, the more confusing it gets and the more you find out you don't know. Then, they just change it on you every 3 years, and you have to re-learn everything all over again :D
cabingirl13
12 years ago
As a QEI elevator inspector I have to know parts of that stupid book- especially section 620. I hate the NEC book as well as all the other damn code books- confusing is right! New code adoptions every couple of years and yup- have to relearn everything again.....it never ends.
User
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Lol ! ha-ha ! I have to take CEUs every 2 years and the new NEC comes out every 3 years. So, I often have to pretend to re-learn the old new code, just before another new new code book comes out. Stupid govt.