Recessed Lighting - Code Compliance Brief

Per the 2015 IECC/IRC, Section R103.3/R106.3, Examination of Documents. The code official/building official must examine or cause to be examined construction documents for code compliance.

This section lists the applicable code requirements followed by details helpful for plan review regarding the provisions to meet the requirement for "recessed lighting."

Construction Documentation. Review the construction documents to identify the equipment, system controls, design, and ventilation choices to the equipment.

• 2015 IECC/IRC, Section R103.2/N1101.5 Information on Construction Documents. Construction documents should include:
  • Insulation materials and their R-values
  • Fixture thermal rating
  • Air sealing details
• General Installation Provisions. Review the construction documents for equipment installation and mounting. In the IRC, the Electrical Part VIII is produced and copyrighted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and is based on the 2014 National Electrical Code (NEC) (NFPA 70-2014). The section numbers appearing in brackets after the IRC text are the section numbers of the corresponding text in the NEC (NFPA 70).
  • 2015 IECC/IRC, Section R402.4.5/N1102.4.5 Recessed Lighting. Recessed luminaires³ installed in the building thermal envelope⁴ should be sealed to limit air leakage between conditioned and unconditioned spaces. All recessed luminaires should be IC-rated and labeled⁵ as having an air leakage rate not more than 2.0 cfm (0.944 L/s) when tested in accordance with ASTM E 283⁶ at a 1.57 psf (75 Pa) pressure differential. All recessed lighting should be sealed with a gasket or caulk between the housing and the interior wall or ceiling covering.
  • 2015 IRC, Section E4003.5 Recessed Incandescent Luminaires. Recess incandescent luminaires should have thermal protection and should be listed as thermally protected [410.115(C)].

    Exceptions:

    1. Thermal protection should not be required in recessed luminaires listed for the purpose and installed in poured concrete [410.115 (C) Exception No 1].
    2. Thermal protection should not be required in recessed luminaires having design, construction and thermal performance characteristics equivalent to that of thermal protect luminaires, and such luminaires are identified as inherently protected [410.115 (C) Exception No 2].
  • Section E4004.8 Recessed Luminaire Clearance. A recessed luminaire that is not identified for contact with insulation should have all recessed parts spaced at least ½ inch from combustible materials. The points of support and the finish trim parts at the opening in the ceiling, wall or other finished surface should be permitted to be in contact with combustible materials. A recessed luminaire that is identified for contact with insulation, Type IC, should be permitted to be in contact with combustible materials at recessed parts, points of support, and portions passing through the building structure and at finish trim parts at the opening in the ceiling or wall. [410.116(A)(1) and (A)(2)].
  • Section E4004.9 Recessed Luminaire Installation. Thermal insulation should not be installed above a recessed luminaire or within 3 inches (76 millimeters) of the recessed luminaire's enclosure, wiring compartment, ballast, transformer, light-emitting diode driver, or power supply except where such luminaire is identified for contact with insulation, Type IC. [410.116(B)].
• Air Sealing/Air Leakage Control

  —  Review the construction documents for any recessed light fixtures that will be installed in the building thermal envelope and confirm that the details show they will be air tight, IC rated, and sealed to the drywall. (Except for the actual section numbers in the codes, the requirements have not changed in the last three versions of the IECC/IRC.)

  • 2015 IECC/IRC, Table R402.4.1.1/N1102.4.1.1
  • 2012 IECC/IRC, Table R402.4.1.1/N1102.4.1.1
  • 2009 IECC/IRC, Table 402.4.2/N1102.4.2

Additions and alterations to an existing electrical system should conform to the provisions as new construction.

³"Luminaire" is defined as a complete lighting unit consisting of a light source such as a lamp or lamps together with the parts designed to position the light source and connect it to the power supply. A luminaire can include parts to protect the light source or the ballast, or to distribute the light. A lamp-holder itself is not a luminaire.

⁴"Building Thermal Envelope" is defined as the basement walls, exterior walls, floor, roof, and any other building elements that enclose conditioned space or provide a boundary between conditioned space and exempt or unconditioned space.

⁵"Labeled" is defined as equipment, materials to which has been attached label, symbol or other identifying mark of an organization acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with product evaluation that maintains periodic inspection of production of labeled equipment or materials and by whose labeling the manufacturer indicates compliance with appropriate standards or performance in a specified manner.

⁶"ASTM E 283-04" Test Method for Determining the Rate of Air Leakage through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors under Specified Pressure Differences across the Specimen.