I am a lampholder, am I allowed in a clothes closet?
If not why? What are the rules for this subject?

This was supposed to identify the light in a clothes closet, some people will put clothes on the shelf and they could fall onto the bulb, that's the light bulb when it is on.

I refer you to your link 2005 NEC for One & Two Family Dwellings (http://www.nfpa.org/freecodes/free_access_document.asp), Section 410.8 (C), bare incandescent lamps are not allowed in closets.

This code is for any closet in any building, not just for dwellings.


This is due to the high temperature of the filament of a broken lamp being close to combustible materials stored on a closet shelf. This heat, and clothing, and the light invaribly left on has caused fires.

Fixtures allowed are surface mounted or recessed with a globe that completely encloses an incandescent lamp, or a surface mounted or recessed fluorescent lamp. A fluourescent lamp can be exposed because the bulb does not get as hot as an incandescent lamp.

And, enclosed incandescent fixtures must be kept away a minimum of 12" from a storage area, and fluorescent fixture can be as close as 6".