Bath fan/light above shower

[Ntcarson]

Good morning. I've created a bit of a situation that I'm trying to solve and could use some perspective:

I installed a bath fan/light directly above a shower enclosure. It passed rough and final plumbing inspection; however, it failed at final building inspection. Not an ideal situation. The inspector stated that I either needed to move it or find one that is wet location approved. He is a reasonable guy and not just trying to make things difficult, for sure.

Upon reviewing the documentation, I found that, like many such products, the fan/light is approved for wet locations provided that it is GFCI protected. I reached out and asked the inspector if I could change that circuit to a GFCI protected circuit, would that be okay. The answer was NO, "The GFCI breaker would not be work per code. Either wet location approved or fan/light out of the shower area."

I don't fully understand this, but want to have all of my ducks in a row if I am to push back. Or/and are their products that are wet location approved WITHOUT GFCI, if he simply won't budge?

Thanks for your time and perspective, Neil

 

[wwhitney]

The inspector is mistaken. I believe all of the wet location rated fan/light units will say that they require GFCI protection when installed in a wet location. The unit itself should have some labeling on it to the effect "wet location rated when GFCI protected", so you could try finding that label and showing it to the inspector.

What is your ceiling height? The relevant portion of the NEC is 410.10(D)(2), which says (luminaire means light fixture):

"Luminaires located within the actual outside dimension of the bathtub or shower to a height of 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower threshold shall be marked suitable for damp locations or marked suitable for wet locations. Luminaires located where subject to shower spray shall be marked suitable for wet locations."

Chapter 4 Equipment for General Use: Virginia Electrical Code 2020 | UpCodes

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It would be an unusual interpretation that a flush ceiling unit is subject to shower spray. And if your ceiling is more than 8 ft above the shower threshold, then a dry location unit is OK. Otherwise, it only needs to be damp location rated. Although if the unit instructions say to GFCI protect it whenever it is over a shower regardless of height, that is an additional requirement you need to follow.

There is a possibility that I've overlooked part of the NEC that applies to the fan component of the unit, but I don't believe so.

Cheers, Wayne

 

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[Ntcarson]

The inspector is mistaken. I believe all of the wet location rated fan/light units will say that they require GFCI protection when installed in a wet location. The unit itself should have some labeling on it to the effect "wet location rated when GFCI protected", so you could try finding that label and showing it to the inspector.

What is your ceiling height? The relevant portion of the NEC is 410.10(D)(2), which says (luminaire means light fixture):

"Luminaires located within the actual outside dimension of the bathtub or shower to a height of 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower threshold shall be marked suitable for damp locations or marked suitable for wet locations. Luminaires located where subject to shower spray shall be marked suitable for wet locations."

Chapter 4 Equipment for General Use: Virginia Electrical Code 2020 | UpCodes

UpCodes offers a consolidated resource of construction and building code grouped by jurisdiction

up.codes

It would be an unusual interpretation that a flush ceiling unit is subject to shower spray. And if your ceiling is more than 8 ft above the shower threshold, then a dry location unit is OK. Otherwise, it only needs to be damp location rated. Although if the unit instructions say to GFCI protect it whenever it is over a shower regardless of height, that is an additional requirement you need to follow.

There is a possibility that I've overlooked part of the NEC that applies to the fan component of the unit, but I don't believe so.

Cheers, Wayne

I appreciate it Wayne! It sounds like we are on the same page. The ceilings are 8 foot, but from the shower threshold to the bottom of light element, the distance falls under that.

I verified that that manual states
"If this unit is to be installed over a tub or shower, it must be
marked as appropriate for the application and be connected
to a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor)-protected branch
circuit"

And, the chasis is stamped with "Acceptable for use over a bathtub or shower when installed on a GFCI protected branch circuit"

I'm going to push back one more time before I go into destruction mode and disturb the pile of insulation that now rests above.

Thanks again, Neil