Fluorescent Ceiling Light Fixture Recall

[Brian Hannigan]

October 9, 2007
Release #08-016

Fluorescent Ceiling Light Fixtures Sold Exclusively at Home Depot Recalled by Lithonia Lighting Due to Shock Hazard

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[Jerry Peck]

"Hazard: A wire inside the light fixture could be loose, posing an electrical shock hazard to consumers."

Hmmmm ... now ... if ... just thinking out loud here ...

... the fixture *WAS GROUNDED AS REQUIRED* ...

... would that still be "posing an electrical shock hazard to consumers." ... ????

I know, I know, *what if* "it is not grounded", but, we all know it (light fixtures, and especially fluorescent lights) *is required to be* "grounded".

[Shannon Guinn]

And it is quite a long boat ride from China to the U.S., I'm surprised that there's nothing else that was loose!

[Rick Cantrell]

Jerry
Are you saying
If I replace a fixture on an ungrounded circuit, that I must rewire it to make it a grounded circuit?

[Jerry Peck]

Jerry
Are you saying
If I replace a fixture on an ungrounded circuit, that I must rewire it to make it a grounded circuit?

Rick,

Sort of, but not quite.

First, this from the NEC:
- 410.17 General.
- - Luminaires (fixtures) and lighting equipment shall be grounded as required in Article 250 and Part V of this article.

Second, fluorescent fixtures of the rapid start type require the housing to be grounded to help them strike off and light. They 'may' (*may*) light for a while without being grounded, but as the lamps age, that grounding becomes more important for the lamp to strike off and light. However, see the code section above for grounding.

Now, "re-wire" to make it a grounded circuit? No, but I'd want it grounded in some manner, which may mean running an equipment grounding conductor from the light fixture to a known ground somewhere.

[Rick Cantrell]

Thanks for the explanation