Question for the group; this question was asked of me and I thought I'd put it out there for y'all to consider.

1. Do the actual lighting fixtures in a dwelling unit have to be installed for final electrical inspection?
2. Or may a blank cover be used for the final and let the owners install fixtures after
c of o?
3. What code sections apply to your answer?

Mike, we covered this a while back. The NEC requires that the lighting outlets be installed and the FBC requires that the lights be installed. Here is the link to that post:

Lighting Outlets

Sorry, I forgot all about that?

Anyway I found in the FBC 105.6 Electrical (3).
Do you think that would specifically require them for final electrical>

Yes, I agree that lighting fixtures would be required for final. I do allow certain ones to be blanked off. Even more specifically in the FBC is this:

Section 1016: Means of Egress Illumination and Signs


I can find no exception for residential dwellings, and, it just makes good sense and better use of time to have the electrical inspector handle this requirement (lighting fixtures) come final electrical inspection.

Yes I agree too, but I guess some didn't, thats why I thought I'd ask. Seems some locations are passing the final electrical inspection with not one fixture installed?

Go figure.

You might want to contact Pete Pluta atr Gulfcoast IAEI. They had this at a meeting but I can't find the minutes. They were saying it was OK because the new owner was going to want a special fixture after close. I dissagreed because an "unqualified" person could not provide a light.

Pete is at ppluta@ci.punta-gorda.fl.us

At the very minimal minimum, at least the entry/exit fixtures should be in, or a cheap plastic keyless should be there.

This is all not even to metion everything in article 410. I normally check the distance from closet fixtures. This fails more times than one would think. In many instances the contractor has to switch to a fluorescent fixture to pass inspection.

I also check for a ground wire on any pendant type fixtures.

There are many things to check for on lighting fixtures!

I can't begin to tell you how many times I have tagged a job because the garage "coach" lights are not even mounted using a box (somehow the box got lost after the rough-in). Then when I go back to see if the fixtures are mounted using boxes, lo and behold the box isn't grounded. This leads to a third trip because then the box will get grounded but the fixture bracket will not be grounded. Makes for a difficult life, inspecting to this degree. But guess what. If we don't do it, many times the contractor will have violations.

I just sent an email to Pete.

Also, I tried using the "email this page" feature using Pete's email, but the website is not recognizing it. Maybe we should contact the Webmaster.