Timeline for Does NEC require junction boxes to be accessible without tools?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
12 events
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| Sep 23, 2022 at 0:59 | comment | added | trawson | @Harper-ReinstateMonica true enough. But as it stands now I can't leave an opening and hang a picture over it, the wall needs to be closed. Looking at replacing the LB with a junction box is an interesting exercise. For under 1000V bend radius seems to be up to the manufacturer, and most spec 4 - 8 times the wire OD. For #2 THHN Al that's a max of 8 x ~0.36" so say 3". That's not so bad. The other issue is 314.28(A), which requires a 9" box for 1-1/2" conduit, but that might just work. | |
| Sep 22, 2022 at 22:11 | comment | added | Harper - Reinstate Monica | @trawson Dude. It could be a junction box cover visible in the wall. You can always replace an LB with a junction box. It simply needs to be big enough for the wire bending space rules. (pretty big if that feeder requires a 1-1/2" conduit). | |
| Sep 22, 2022 at 1:08 | comment | added | trawson | @whatsisname for my specific situation (which really was not the original question -- that was about the code), if it were just a junction box cover visible in the wall I wouldn't care. It's an LB in a stud bay and something needs to cover the stud bay, so it needs some kind of panel. | |
| Sep 21, 2022 at 23:59 | comment | added | whatsisname | @trawson as others are saying, forget the plywood. Just hang a picture over the spot. Looks better, and is compliant. | |
| Sep 21, 2022 at 21:33 | comment | added | trawson | @Harper-ReinstateMonica the question is really the original one which is, does the code require junction boxes to be accessible without tools? People say it does but I have not seen any reference to a section that says that, and one answer to this question says the opposite. There’s a specific code reference to accessibility without tools in the definition of “readily accessible” but that does not apply to junction boxes. Re screwed down plywood panels, that came in from the other thread and it was not the clearest example -- though I don't see a "crystal clear" prohibition of it either. | |
| Sep 21, 2022 at 19:37 | comment | added | Harper - Reinstate Monica | @trawson rationalize your heart out, but Code is crystal clear on this point, and you repeatedly re-asking and re-asking isn't going to change the answer. Plywood panel screwed down = Code violation. Done. Move on. Why are you stuck? | |
| Sep 21, 2022 at 17:25 | vote | accept | trawson | ||
| Sep 21, 2022 at 17:25 | |||||
| Sep 21, 2022 at 14:16 | comment | added | manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact | It wouldn't damage the building finish until the next guy decides to paint "the ugly plywood with the exposed screw heads" a different color. He does a really good job, so you can't even see the screw heads any more (just like you can't see the screw heads in properly installed and finished drywall). Now what do you say? | |
| Sep 21, 2022 at 12:43 | vote | accept | trawson | ||
| Sep 21, 2022 at 17:17 | |||||
| Sep 21, 2022 at 12:29 | comment | added | trawson | Thanks. Re the plywood, it would be intended as an access panel with a small number of visible screws to remove it. It is certainly part of the building finish, but removing it would not damage the building finish because it would be designed for removal. | |
| Sep 21, 2022 at 12:24 | history | edited | Robert Chapin | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added 65 characters in body
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| Sep 21, 2022 at 12:18 | history | answered | Robert Chapin | CC BY-SA 4.0 |