Often when buying a home, particularly an older home, there is one bare light bulb with a pull chain lighting each closet.

Not okay.

And for a lot of folks, when the closet door is closed, they just fuhgeddaboudit.

Even more not okay.

It’s human nature to focus on replacement of light fixtures in full view. You replace the non-working ceiling mount old-school light at the centerpiece of the dining room with a new fixture to awe your dinner guests. You carefully select a nursery light fixture that matches your newborn’s room décor. You replace the entry light at the front door.

But it’s the closet lights that can cause electrical fires simply because of how people tend to jam clothing, hats and boxes on the closet shelf…right next to that single bare light bulb.

Colorado adheres to the National Electrical Code (NEC Section 410.16) and the International Residential Code (IRC Section E4003.12) regarding closet lighting. The codes regulate fixture types and minimum clearances in storage spaces.

• Surface-mounted or recessed incandescent or LED fixtures must feature a completely enclosed light source.
• Surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent fixtures are permitted.
• Surface-mounted LED or fluorescent fixtures specifically identified and rated as suitable for installation directly within closet storage spaces are allowed.
• Surface-mounted incandescent or LED (enclosed) lights must have a minimum 12-inch clearance from the nearest point of a storage space.
• Surface-mounted fluorescent must have a minimum 6-inch clearance from storage.
• Recessed incandescent or LED (enclosed) need a minimum 6-inch clearance from storage.
• Recessed fluorescent lights must have a minimum 6-inch clearance from storage.
• Closet-rated surface LEDs can have a 0-inch clearance only if explicitly labeled/identified for direct contact use.

Prohibited closet fixtures include pendant lights, open-bulb incandescent fixtures, or partially enclosed lamps are not allowed.

Pull-chain or cord-operated switches acting as the primary fixture control device are prohibited as fire hazards if they violate clearance/type rules.

Open any closet in your home and check the storage that bumps up against the existing, decades old light fixture. Then get yourself to the hardware store or get on Amazon and order a replacement today.

Allstar Electricals electricians will properly remove and replace these dangerous fixtures plus they’ll ensure that the wiring to the fixture and to the light switch to operate it are installed properly and up to code.