Ask Me Help Desk - Bathroom light/exhaust fan combo?

By the way, I am no longer appropriately named ineedtosell--I have sold, bought, and now ineedtorepair!

I'm in a 1925/6 house in New Jersey with one very tiny bathroom which we are beginning to remodel. (See photo) When we moved in a year ago, an electrician told us that we would not be able to install the surface mount light fixture we had bought because any lighting near or above a bath/shower had to be recessed lighting. Now I am going to install an exhaust fan and I see that there are several light/fan combos in the same surface-mount style we had wanted to install. Is what he said correct--that because this is not a recessed style we can't install it above the shower even if it has an exhaust fan inside it? It would be something like this:

NuTone Decorative Satin Nickel Fan/Light - 754SNNT at The Home Depot

A bit more on the bathroom: Picture looking up at the ceiling and seeing an "L" shape. This L is the available flat surface for a light/fan combo. The longer section if the L sits just above a bath tub, and the shorter section is above the vanity. There is also a sloped section of ceiling that extends downward from the short section of the L parallel and alongside the longer section of the L. With the shower curtain blocking the only available light from the vanity, it would be nice to get some light into the tub... However, another issue is that only the first couple of feet of flat ceiling above the tub (where the long part of the L intersects with the short part) appears to be accessible in the attic.

Last (sorry for the length) is my understanding correct that this bathroom should be on a 20 amp circuit by itself with the wiring running from a GFCI outlet then to the lighting?

The NEC says: No parts of cord-connected luminaires (fixtures), chain-, cable-, or cord-suspended-luminaires (fixtures), lighting track, pendants, or ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans shall be located within a zone measured 900 mm (3 ft) horizontally and 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. This zone is all encompassing and includes the zone directly over the tub or shower stall. Luminaires (lighting fixtures) located in this zone shall be listed for damp locations, or listed for wet locations where subject to shower spray. The 3x8 foot rule for bath and or shower fixture zone, does not have a restriction for recessed or surface mounted fixtures as worded in NEC 410.4(D).

Now, most exhaust fans can be mounted directly over a tub, if provided with GFCI protection.

Sorry, but I have to step away... hope someone can continue this for me?

Check you fans requirements, a fan/heater/light needs a 20 amp breaker and wire but you should be able to get away with a 15 amp breaker. What else is in the bath that uses power and will be on the same circuit? If you use a hair dyer or such then a 20 amp GFCI breaker or outlet should ortect vthe entire room. If you go with an outlet makes sure everything else is downstream of the GFCI and that you tied into the breaker per manufacturers instructions. The down stream line screws on a GFCI are usually covered with a yellow tape/label out of the box.

Quote:

When we moved in a year ago, an electrician told us that we would not be able to install the surface mount light fixture we had bought because any lighting near or above a bath/shower had to be recessed lighting. Now I am going to install an exhaust fan and I see that there are several light/fan combos in the same surface-mount style we had wanted to install. Is what he said correct

To answer your question. The electrician is incorrect per NEC. Here's one for you. You can install a wall sconce in your tub space, as long as it is listed for damp or wet locations- (Note: If subject to shower spray, then it has to be listed for wet locations).

The fan/light combo you posted should be installed per manufacture specs.

I'm going to assume you are planning to upgrade the wiring in your bath?