What is Closet Rated Lighting?

When it comes to lighting in unconventional spaces, such as closets, safety and compliance take center stage. One essential certification to look for in the world of lighting is the Closet-Rated Certification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Closet Rated: 

Products adorned with the Closet-Rated Certification have undergone a rigorous evaluation process to ensure they meet UL's stringent standards, namely UL 2108, 67.1.9, and 60.4. These standards set the benchmark for safety and reliability, ensuring that the LED products are not only UL Listed but also suitable for installation in the unique environment of a clothes closet.

NEC Guidelines: 

But the commitment to safety doesn't end with UL certification. The National Electric Code (NEC) steps in to outline specific installation requirements for lighting within a "Clothes closet storage space." For a comprehensive understanding, one can refer to NEC 410.16, a section dedicated to ensuring that lighting installations in closets adhere to the highest safety standards.

Comparison: 

When it comes to closet lighting, there's flexibility in meeting the safety criteria. Whether a product boasts the UL Closet-Rated Certification or adheres to NEC requirements, both signify a commitment to safety and compliance in the unique context of a closet application.

In conclusion, when you're in need of lighting for your closet, look for the Closet-Rated Certification from Underwriters Laboratories or ensure that the product meets the guidelines outlined in NEC 410.16. Illuminate your closet space with confidence, knowing that your chosen lighting solution is not just brightening your clothes but doing so with the utmost commitment to safety and compliance.

Reference Information: 

410.16 Luminaires in Clothes Closets

The clothes closet storage space shall be the volume bounded by the sides and back closet walls and planes extending from the closet floor vertically to a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) or to the highest clothes-hanging rod and parallel to the walls at a horizontal distance of 600 mm (24 in.) from the sides and back of the closet walls, respectively. The volume extends vertically to the closet ceiling parallel to the walls at a horizontal distance of 300 mm (12 in.) or the width of the shelf, whichever is greater. For a closet that permits access to both sides of a hanging rod, the clothes closet storage space includes the volume below the highest rod extending 300 mm (12 in.) on either side of the rod on a plane horizontal to the floor extending the entire length of the rod. See Figure 410.16(A).