Code Question

Static Design

I have a customer that I have been working with him building his house for the 2 years off and on. This house is sorta like his hobby that is built on a lake, we did a tongue and groove ceiling and white can lights just look out of place for the feel I am trying accomplish in the design on this home. So I painted 2 can light trim covers with high temp heat paint. And they look SOOO much better, but I am wondering since that particular finish inst UL tested would this be a code violation?

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Tinstaafl

I'm not aware of anything in the NEC that specifies a particular paint finish on electrical devices. You could probably email the UL for a definitive answer regarding their certifications in that respect.

Static Design

I have been searching through the NEC for a violation but I can not seem to pin it down yet. The customer could careless, but if I am going to be doing all 15 lights I don't want to be in violation of anything in the holy electrical Bible: if he does them, its on him.

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ScipioAfricanus

The colors, white or silver is to let the inspector know at a glance that the fixture is rated for contact with insulation or not. If I remember correctly white is for contact silver no contact (I might have that reversed).
As long as you can verify to the inspector that the fixture is one or the other you should have no problem painting them.

Andy.

Static Design

I already passed the finial electrical inspection, this is just one of those finial touch deals....... I thought they were white because white reflects light therefore better illumination??????. I guess I learn something new everyday..........

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ampman

what could happen with high temp paint

luckyshadow

I'm willing to bet that the color on the trim has zero to do with the UL listing of the fixture.
There is no color designation for trims ( or cans ) as they come in a wide multitude of finishes .
My thoughts are - go ahead paint them and make them look good.
I'm getting ready to take apart a ceiling fan to paint it.

s.kelly

Interesting question... we repainted some on a recent commercial job and never even thought of that. But I agree with the poster that says trims should not matter. We did not even use hi temp paint, and there were no problems from phase one. I did the ones on phase 2 months later.

Magnettica

I suppose the paint could be considered as screwing up the UL listing and therefore violating 110.3(B).

That's probably stretching it though...

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480sparky

Where on earth did you hear that?!?!!?

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Site : the area or exact plot of ground on which anything is, has been, or is to be located.
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mdshunk

I've heard that on home inspector sites before too, but it's simply not true. Heck, the cans I use are "convertible" (ic/non-ic). Just peel off the label to expose another label underneath.

480sparky

Which you should do depending on the trim/lamp combo you trim it with.

This white/silver thing is a new one on me. Maybe someone thought can trims should be color coded like NM and MC......

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Site : the area or exact plot of ground on which anything is, has been, or is to be located.
Sight : The power or faculty of seeing; perception of objects by use of the eyes; vision.
Cite : To mention in support, proof, or confirmation; refer to as an example.

mdshunk

I think he's talking about the interior of the can. There's a brand or two that has a white interior for non-IC and a mil finish interior for IC. Maybe it's the other way around. I forget. Certainly not all brands, and certainly not every model of can among the brands that do sorta color-code that way.

ScipioAfricanus

I should have double checked my info before I posted and I will. Perhaps the white/silver thing is a regional/local idea (So. Cal.) but this is the way it had been explained to me by a couple of electricians I sub to. I have noticed on my own that this color scheme seems to be true, at least in this area. Ooh, I should have noticed that the OP question was about the trim, I was referring to the body of the fixture. My bad. Andy.

480sparky

Hm. The cans I use are convertible, depending on the trim & lamp used. Usually, a reflector lamp can keep the IC rating, but an A-bulb and/or an enclosed trim (like a shower trim) forces it to be a non-IC can.

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Site : the area or exact plot of ground on which anything is, has been, or is to be located.
Sight : The power or faculty of seeing; perception of objects by use of the eyes; vision.
Cite : To mention in support, proof, or confirmation; refer to as an example.

joelv1967

I'm not aware of either the trim or the can finish mattering....I use Halo and Commercial Electric cans mainly, and both IC and non-IC rated come in both with and silver for both the can and the trim. If there is a difference based on color, it's a new one on me.

220/221

By who?


I'd like to meet him and slap some logic into him.

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Just because it's within code doesn't make it safe.

Just because it's against code doesn't make it unsafe.

Magnettica

By who?

By the arson investigator.

Just saying that the original product that was ok'd by the Underwriters Laboratory has been altered by the paint. Is it a fire hazard? I'm not really sure, but if there is a code section that could be cited I think 110.3(B) is it.

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Static Design

They are getting painted tomorrow, regardless if the holy NEC has a problem.

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