CFU's in closets

[Mike Lamb]

Would screwing in a CFU bulb in an old pull chain closet fixture make it a fluorescent luminaire?

and has 410.8(B) and (D) changed since 2005?

(D) Location. Luminaires (fixtures) in clothes closets shall
be permitted to be installed as follows:
(1) Surface-mounted incandescent luminaires (fixtures) installed
on the wall above the door or on the ceiling,
provided there is a minimum clearance of 300 mm
(12 in.) between the luminaire (fixture) and the nearest
point of a storage space

[Robert Meier]

IMO no. The requirement is for listed florescent luminaires not incandescent luminaires with CFL lamps.


410.16 Luminaires in Clothes Closets.
(A) Luminaire Types Permitted. Listed luminaires of the following types shall be permitted to be installed in a closet:
(1) A surface-mounted or recessed incandescent luminaire with a completely enclosed lamp
(2) A surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent luminaire
(3) Surface-mounted fluorescent or LED luminaires identified as suitable for installation within the storage area
(B) Luminaire Types Not Permitted. Incandescent luminaires with open or partially enclosed lamps and pendant luminaires or lampholders shall not be permitted.

[Kristi Silber]

Am I understanding correctly that plain sockets with bare bulbs are not permitted in clothes closets?

[Mike Lamb]

Am I understanding correctly that plain sockets with bare bulbs are not permitted in clothes closets?

That's correct.
(C) Luminaire (Fixture) Types Not Permitted. Incandescent
luminaires (fixtures) with open or partially enclosed
lamps and pendant luminaires (fixtures) or lampholders
shall not be permitted.

[Jerry Peck]

Would screwing in a CFU bulb in an old pull chain closet fixture make it a fluorescent luminaire?

Nope.

The "fixture" is still an incandescent fixture, the "lamp" has been changed to a compact fluorescent lamp, but ... at any time the lamp can be changed back to an incandescent lamp.

The fixture itself (to use correct current terminology it is now called a "luminaire" ... sort of ... when you read the definition of "luminaire" you will see what I mean ;) ).

[Bill Kriegh]

The language in the 2011 NEC © (highlights are mine)

410.16 Luminaires in Clothes Closets.

(A) Luminaire Types Permitted. Only luminaires of the following types shall be permitted in a closet:
(1) Surface-mounted or recessed incandescent or LED luminaires with completely enclosed light sources
(2) Surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent luminaires
(3) Surface-mounted fluorescent or LED luminaires identified as suitable for installation within the closet storage space

(B) Luminaire Types Not Permitted. Incandescent luminaires with open or partially enclosed lamps and pendant luminaires or lampholders shall not be permitted.

(C) Location. The minimum clearance between luminaires installed in clothes closets and the nearest point of a closet storage space shall be as follows:
(1) 300 mm (12 in.) for surface-mounted incandescent or LED luminaires with a completely enclosed light source installed on the wall above the door or on the ceiling.
(2) 150 mm (6 in.) for surface-mounted fluorescent luminaires installed on the wall above the door or on the ceiling.
(3) 150 mm (6 in.) for recessed incandescent or LED luminaires with a completely enclosed light source installed in the wall or the ceiling.
(4) 150 mm (6 in.) for recessed fluorescent luminaires installed in the wall or the ceiling.
(5) Surface-mounted fluorescent or LED luminaires shall be permitted to be installed within the closet storage space where identified for this use.

[Bob Elliott]

Pretty sure the intent is the bulbs can break as you pull items off shelving not to mention metal pull chains are a bad idea and those sockets often get exposed when they crack.

Lost track of how often the wiring is reversed making contact a safety hazard.
The last part is why they recommend at least a globe which of course takes up more space and can be cracked itself.
This is why I recommend a florescent strip above the door frame.

Much depends on shelf location and size of course.

The bare bulbs on chains are quite common however and all I can do is recommend.