ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area sun room wiring

so do we base the definition of 'habitable' on heated or foundation?

consideration for example could be unfinished cellar's, heated garages, homes on piers, homes made of hay bales....


[This message has been edited by sparky (edited 10-16-2002).]

Is there some areas that do not require a heating system, such as the the southern tips of some states?

I would like to know the actual ( all building codes ) definition of a habital room.

To slight on doing adequate electrical in a sun room, and then install cord and plug electric heaters into the in-adequate power source(s) seems to be a 'vicious circle'.

Why can't the ( sun room ) manufactures provide molding etc. suitable for wiring methods? (even the support of decorative wiring methods).

Appearance must be the FACTOR, not ' is it safe ' , but then see 90.1(B).

GWZ,

Habitable space;
IBC/IRC 2000-"A space in abuilding for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces and similar areas are not considered habitable spaces."
UBC 1997 - "Habitable space (room) is a space in a structure for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet compartments,closets, halls, storage or utility space, and similar areas, are not considered habitable space."

Bob,

I notice that the definitions contain the words "in a Building". Would my sunroom example be considered as being in the building?

Bill

So, then, Sun Rooms are not habitable rooms.

Why bother to heat the Bathroom in northern States per the definition ?

IRC Building- Building shall mean any one and two family dwelling or portion thereof, including townhouses, that is used, or designed or intended to be used for human habitation, for living, sleeping, cooking, eating purposes, or any combination thereof, and SHALL INCLUDE ACCESSORY STRUCTURES THERETO.
IBC and UBC - Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.
So under any of the codes, I would have to say that the sunroom would be a building with habitable space if it's freestanding and a part of a building with habitable space if it's attached. Anyway, that's how I read it, but I am not an expert by any means.
Also, you need to determine which code is adopted in your area and if there are any local changes to the code.
Of course, you could hang a closet rod all the way across and call it a closet, or put a toilet in it and have a wonderful view of the area while doing your business. At least it'll get the neighbors talking.
Bob

How bout' forgetting about using Wiremold for the fan and wire it like this? https://www.electrical-contractor.net/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000534.html

210.52(A) requires sunrooms to be wired same as other rooms in the dwelling

When I had my sun room installed I checked with my AHJ (county.) The split for them on wiring per NEC "room" requirements was if the room was heated by the same source as the rest of the home. In my case it was not just for that reason. Two 15kw fan forced wall heaters work just fine.

[This message has been edited by kentvw (edited 11-21-2004).]

I did a lot of patio rooms and sun rooms as a teenager working for my dad. The rooms should come with vertical raceways for outlets and switches and have connecting raceways for running your wires. UL approval on the raceways used to be a big issue, but all the manufactures now have UL stickers everywhere, so you can just use #12 and 14 THHN in the raceways. If the owner is too cheap to have the manufacture supply raceways, then they are too cheap to have you install electrical.

The curved metal that is the ceiling support is not UL approved as a raceway so you have to use romex. I would use a hole saw to drill into that cavity from the UL raceway and use romex running up to the fan. I would use a pancake box mounted to the metal structure and run lags from the fan all the way into the metal stucture so that I wouldn't need a fan rated box and it gave a very solid install.

Sun Rooms are actually easier to do than Patio Rooms. Patio rooms are a bit trickier to install a fan into without penetrating the roof, but it can be done and should so you don't have to worry about leakage.