Alaska Home Inspectors

Jim Foss · Home Inspector

Besides just plain dumb, I know there is IRC requirement that these fixtures have a safety shield over them when installed over a tub or shower. Anyone know the code reference on this issue? (Or am I wrong?) I haven't been able to locate it.
Picture (if attached correctly) also has a unique location for the bath fan.

Patrick Hartshorn · Home Inspector

Can't see an attachment?

Are you talking about a complete cover to deter both contact and water/steam? Or are you talking about a cage like in a crawl?

Where is the bath fan? I inspected a house with an upstairs bathroom the was on an outside wall and was tapered to the roof down to about a 5 foot wall in the shower. The fan was installed on the wall below the taper so when you would shower you actually would have to bend over to look through the fan!

I did not know how to handle it and hated too do it but I wrote it up as safety and required either a better cage or moving the fan up and thru the roof. The fan that was installed had one of those grates you could stick a kids whole hand thru. In hind sight I think moving the fan should have been the only option? I never looked in code books to see what they said, bad on my part.

What would you have required in this case????

Thanks

Pat.

Jim Foss · Home Inspector

Bare bulbs over showers and tubs ....Hey, pic went through!

Patrick Hartshorn · Home Inspector

Funny, that is the exact same fan that was in the house I inspected. Nice large openings for little hands to reach in.

I don't know what to say about the light? Is that even the right bulb to the design of the light? I would maybe recommend a different light without openings be installed so water can not go directly inside when splashed?

I would definetly safety the fan and recommend it get moved.

Pat.

Jim Foss · Home Inspector

Ok, let me restate this. I know that an exposed fixture is not allowed over a tub or shower. This is my stock narrative:

"Lighting fixtures over tubs and showers should be of a type approved for wet locations. not a damp location. Documentation would need to be obtained from the original packaging or by examination of the exterior of the lighting can (viewable in the attic). As a general rule, wet location fixtures will be designed with a lens that seals the bulb from water to prevent glass shards from falling into the tub or shower."

I am just looking for a code reference.
Jim

Kevin Jones · Home Inspector

Jim,

The following is from the 2006 IRC concerning Luminaries in bathrooms.

E3903.8 Wet or Damp Locations. Luminaries installed in wet or damp locations shall be installed so that water cannot enter or accumulate in wiring compartments, lampholders or other electrical parts. All luminaries installed in wet locations shall be marcked SUITABLE FOR WET LOCATIONS. All luminaries installed in damp locations shall be marked SUITABLE FOR WET LOCATIONS or SUITABLE FOR DAMP LOCATIONS.

E3903.9 Lampholders in wet or damp locations. Lampholders installed in wet or damp locations shall be of the weatherproof type.

As for the fan is would fall under the same protection as boxes, cionduit bodies and fittings.

E3805.11 Damp or wet locations. In damp or wet locations, boxes, conduit bodies and fittings shall be placed or equipped so as to prevent moisture from entering or accumulating within the box, conduit body or fitting. Boxes, conduit bodies and fittings installed in wet locations shall be listed for use in wet locations.

With that aside as you mentioned it is common knowledge water and electricity do not mix.

Kevin

**Chris Roust** · Site Admin

Jim,

This is from the 2002 NEC:

Peter Reece · Home Inspector

Jim

Also look at NEC410.10 A & D 2008, I gather the location has GFI Protection.

Regards

Peter