Closets and Home Organization - Codes for closet size?
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DA59a
02-04-09, 09:30 AM
I'm doing repairs to a rental unit that had water damage... The repairs did not require a permit.
The 100+ year old house had a very shallow closet in the bedroom (11'x14')next to the fireplace. I chose to eliminate that and add a 2' closet from the doorway entrance wall reducing the size to 11'x12'.
Someone commented to me that closet sizes had to be a minimum of 26" deep. This was the first I had heard of this. Anyone know of this to be true?
The 100+ year old house had a very shallow closet in the bedroom (11'x14')next to the fireplace. I chose to eliminate that and add a 2' closet from the doorway entrance wall reducing the size to 11'x12'.
Someone commented to me that closet sizes had to be a minimum of 26" deep. This was the first I had heard of this. Anyone know of this to be true?
marksr
02-04-09, 09:58 AM
I have never heard of it either. I'm not a builder but I'm sure I've painted a number of closets that were less than 2' deep..... but local codes can vary. Since it's not being inspected - I wouldn't lose any sleep over it;)
Bill62
02-04-09, 01:06 PM
There is no code I have ever heard of regarding closet size. I have been framing and/or supervising new homes for the last 28 years.
Michael Thomas
02-04-09, 01:38 PM
AFAIK Nn requirement for closets, or closet size, in the IRC.
DA59a
02-04-09, 03:04 PM
Thanks all. After thinking more, I thought maybe over a certain depth may require it to have a light installed?
mjd2k
02-11-09, 10:42 AM
I'm doing repairs to a rental unit that had water damage... The repairs did not require a permit.
The 100+ year old house had a very shallow closet in the bedroom (11'x14')next to the fireplace. I chose to eliminate that and add a 2' closet from the doorway entrance wall reducing the size to 11'x12'.
Someone commented to me that closet sizes had to be a minimum of 26" deep. This was the first I had heard of this. Anyone know of this to be true?
I have installed a couple hundred organizers in closets that are only 24 inches deep. You want 26 inches or more at the door so you are not pinching clothes when the door is shut.
The 100+ year old house had a very shallow closet in the bedroom (11'x14')next to the fireplace. I chose to eliminate that and add a 2' closet from the doorway entrance wall reducing the size to 11'x12'.
Someone commented to me that closet sizes had to be a minimum of 26" deep. This was the first I had heard of this. Anyone know of this to be true?
I have installed a couple hundred organizers in closets that are only 24 inches deep. You want 26 inches or more at the door so you are not pinching clothes when the door is shut.
Michael Thomas
02-11-09, 12:46 PM
Thanks all. After thinking more, I thought maybe over a certain depth may require it to have a light installed?
No code requirement for lighting at all unless there is mechanical equipment installed - then lighting requirements kick in, along with a lot of other stuff.
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I've actually asked myself a similar question in the context of inspecting "McMansions" with walk in closets: at some size do they become "habitable" rooms under IRC R 303.1?
For example some are big enough so that people could put electrically powered stationary exercise equipment it them... and do....
But if the plan examiner was satisfied they were closets, I pretty much have to be, too.
__________________
No code requirement for lighting at all unless there is mechanical equipment installed - then lighting requirements kick in, along with a lot of other stuff.
----------
I've actually asked myself a similar question in the context of inspecting "McMansions" with walk in closets: at some size do they become "habitable" rooms under IRC R 303.1?
For example some are big enough so that people could put electrically powered stationary exercise equipment it them... and do....
But if the plan examiner was satisfied they were closets, I pretty much have to be, too.
__________________
mjd2k
02-11-09, 02:56 PM
Sometimes lights in reach-in closets are a bad thing. I did a closet with a light but noticed the fixture had no bulbs. The homeowner told me they had occasionaly smelled something burning in the house but could never find where it was coming from. Eventually they discovered that a comforter on the top shelf had come in contact with the bulb and was just sorta smouldering away when the light was on.
Michael Thomas
02-12-09, 07:57 AM
Sometimes lights in reach-in closets are a bad thing. I did a closet with a light but noticed the fixture had no bulbs. The homeowner told me they had occasionally smelled something burning in the house but could never find where it was coming from. Eventually they discovered that a comforter on the top shelf had come in contact with the bulb and was just sorta smoldering away when the light was on.
Exposed incandescent bulbs are a very common finding at home inspections, and I catch a lot of flack from some agents, sellers and builders for "nit-picking" when I report them as fire hazards.
Your example illustrates why the risk should be taken seriously.
For future reference (the code now calls "light fixtures" "luminaries"):
http://paragoninspects.com/images/electrical/fixtuers/closet-%20luminaires.jpg
Note that common practice of installing bare incandescent bulbs in porcelain bases:
http://www.alloverhomeinspection.com/images_AHI/CLOSET_LIGHT_FIRE_HAZARD.jpg
is prohibited.
Exposed incandescent bulbs are a very common finding at home inspections, and I catch a lot of flack from some agents, sellers and builders for "nit-picking" when I report them as fire hazards.
Your example illustrates why the risk should be taken seriously.
For future reference (the code now calls "light fixtures" "luminaries"):
http://paragoninspects.com/images/electrical/fixtuers/closet-%20luminaires.jpg
Note that common practice of installing bare incandescent bulbs in porcelain bases:
http://www.alloverhomeinspection.com/images_AHI/CLOSET_LIGHT_FIRE_HAZARD.jpg
is prohibited.