So You Want To Put A Chandelier Above Your Bath Tub...
By
Reuben Saltzman
April 3, 2012 — 5:18am
Chandeliers above bath tubs are apparently all the rage today. Â A few weeks ago I somehow ended up inspecting three houses in a row that had chandeliers installed above the bath tubs - one in Chaska, one in Saint Paul, and one in Victoria. Â They all look great, don't they?
Shortly after I posted these photos on the Structure Tech Facebook Page, Debbie Nelson said she's been seeing this trend for the last five years or so.  She even gave me a couple links to web sites promoting this look - houzz from almost a year ago, and HGTV from about five years ago.
I think this is a great look, but as a home inspector I'm going to be a wet rag and say these are all improper installations. Â The diagram below comes from Code Check Electrical 6th Edition. Â This book is based on the 2011 National Electric Code (NEC), which prohibits any part of a chandelier from being within the shaded region shown below. Â This comes from section 410.10(D) of the NEC. Â The idea is that you're not supposed to be able to stand in a wet tub and change a light bulb at the same time.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't install a chandelier above your bath tub... but you're supposed to have a very tall ceiling to do it, and even then, the light should be rated for a wet or damp location. Â The image below shows a chandelier rated for a damp location - you'll notice that the bulbs are completely enclosed.
Reuben Saltzman is a second-generation home inspector with a passion for his work. Naturally, this blog is all about home inspections and home-related topics in the Twin Cities metro area. In addition to working at Structure Tech, he is also a licensed Truth-In-Sale of Housing Evaluator in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and several other cities.
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