Recessed light labels don't make sense!

[Michael Larson]

56. TYPE NON-IC — Recessed luminaires that are NOT suitable for installation in direct contact with
combustible materials or thermal insulation, including insulation installed over the top of the luminaire that
entraps heat (Type Non-IC) are marked “DO NOT INSTALL INSULATION WITHIN 76 mm (3 in) OF ANY
PART OF THE LUMINAIRE.”

57. TYPE IC — A luminaire marked “TYPE IC” may be installed where insulation and combustible materials
are placed in direct contact with the sides and the top of the luminaire.

58. LIGHT BLINKING, THERMAL PROTECTION — Recessed luminaires provided with thermal
protection to sense overheating conditions are marked “BLINKING LIGHT OF THIS THERMALLY
PROTECTED LUMINAIRE MAY INDICATE OVERHEATING” to alert the user of a potential overheating
condition.

59. INHERENTLY PROTECTED — luminaires that are intended for installation in direct contact with
thermal insulation and combustible material, and are designed so that overheating conditions cannot be
caused by overlamping or mislamping, are not thermally protected and are marked “INHERENTLY
PROTECTED.”

[jtedesco1]

More information here too:

410.65 Category Code: None

2005 NEC Section Category Code UL Product Category

410.65(C) IEZX Incandescent Recessed Luminaires DETAILS

410.65(C) IFAH Incandescent Recessed Luminaires, Convertible, Non-IC/IC DETAILS

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by Marc D. Shunk

Many cans have a similar label, with the instruction to peel it off.

These cans can be used in IC or non-IC applications, depending on the lamp wattage, lamp type, and trim type. This is normally listed on another sticker inside the can, or on the manufacturer's literature. Certain lamp sizes and trim types can only be used on these cans in a non-IC application, since they make and trap too much heat. Other lamp and trim combinations are okay for an IC application, so you peel off the warning label in that case.

Were there other labels on this can, with a chart that shows IC and non-IC lamps and trim part numbers?

Sorry for the late reply. I didn't see any other labels. But I didn't look inside the can at all. The ceiling was too high and I'm not taking a light fixture apart during an inspection.

Thanks for all your help.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by Marc D. Shunk

Wow... all that information is profoundly untrue. They might be decent rules of thumb that might apply much of the time, but it is totally bad information if you go by it all the time. Sorry. I'd edit that page, if I was you.

I'll try to budget some time this weekend to put together a more comprehensive guide if you're interested?

Marc, I'd love to see what you've got, it's hard to find good information.
When I was researching this, that's the information I found. In looking at new fixtures, that's how they were labeled. Tell me where to look and I'll search for it.

[Marc D. Shunk]

Sorry, Kenton. I actually forgot about this thread. I think my wife's going away this w/e, so I should have some time to put something decent together then. I've got this bad habit of having good ideas and good intentions that lack follow through.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

In suggesting the silver is IC and and white is non-IC I was suggesting a way to tell IC from Non-IC when you don't see a label. So... that's wrong because sometimes they're other colors... right?

[Marc D. Shunk]

Originally Posted by kshepard

In suggesting the silver is IC and and white is non-IC I was suggesting a way to tell IC from Non-IC when you don't see a label. So... that's wrong because sometimes they're other colors... right?

No, you can have a silver or white one that's convertible.

[Brian E. Kelly]

If the dumfux installing the lights do not remove the labels I call it out.
As I am just a lowly HI and not that smart.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Well, it looks like the simple answer is... there's no simple answer.
Personally, I'm not squirming back into the lowest headroom of an insulation-filled attic and digging out all light fixtures on the chance that there might be a label I can read which will tell me about IC rating.

However, I will look up into a recessed lighting fixture and mention that although I don't guarentee it, the color of the can indicates that it might be compliant with modern practices.