A pendant luminaire mounted in a clothes closet is which?

• A. Not permitted
• B. Maintains a vertical clearance of at least 12 inches
• C. Permitted if installed at least 12 inches from the nearest storage shelf
• D. Both a and b

Answer: (A)

In closets, lighting is tightly restricted because clothing and other stored items create a high risk area for snagging, heat, and fire hazards. A pendant hangs down into the closet storage space, which means clothes can brush against it, snag on it, or come too close to a fixture that may generate heat. That intrusion into the storage area is exactly what the code aims to prevent, so pendant luminaires inside a clothes closet are not allowed. If lighting is needed in a closet, use a fixture that is listed for closet use and installed outside the storage area or a recessed/ceiling-mounted fixture that is properly positioned and approved for closet installation.