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Topic: NEC 2020 210.70 (A) (1) HABITABLE ROOMS

User: PRISM, Location: FLORIDA

Asked on: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 8:25 pm EST
Answered on: Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 10:52 am EST

Question: 210.70(A)(1) Habitable Rooms.At least one lighting outlet controlled by a listed wall-mounted control device shall be installed in every habitable room, kitchen, and bathroom. The wall-mounted control device shall be located near an entrance to the room on a wall.Is it the intent of the code to install switches at each entrance to a room? Let's say the room has two entrances?

The intent of 210.70(A)(1) isn't necessarily to have a switch at every entrance, but to have a switch located near an entrance.Here's a breakdown: "At least one lighting outlet controlled by a listed wall-mounted control device...": This establishes the basic requirement: a light and a switch. "...shall be installed in every habitable room, kitchen, and bathroom": Specifies the types of rooms requiring this. "The wall-mounted control device shall be located near an entrance to the room on a wall.": This is the key part. It requires the switch to be near an entrance.Therefore, with two entrances: Minimum Requirement

You only need a switch near one of the entrances.

Best Practice/Convenience

While the code doesn't explicitly mandate it, having a 3-way switch configuration (where you can control the light from both entrances) is highly desirable and generally considered good practice for convenience.

In conclusion, the
minimum* code requirement is met with a single switch near one entrance. However, installing switches at both entrances (via a 3-way switch configuration) greatly enhances usability and is often preferred.
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