Standard 4 square steel junction box

[stonecutter]

Can I use a standard 4 square steel junction box in, for example, an open air parking structure, or even mounted outside on the brick wall of a dwelling. The boxes will be under cover of soffit and structure, but they will still be outside. UL codes QCKW and QCIT are descriptive, but leave me wondering if this is acceptable.
Thank you in advance.

 

[hbiss]

No, they are not listed for damp or wet locations. You can do the same thing with a weatherproof box and cover.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/BELL-2-...0WHp406ViVGEd7pmwbxoCxs0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.homedepot.com/p/BELL-1-...WAva8apn_5uPYYY9uJhoC6rMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

-Hal

 

[Coppersmith]

I would argue that the ceiling of an open air parking garage is a dry location once you're past say two feet from the outside edge. I've never seen rain go totally horizontal, even in a hurricane. Now if you mount it over an expansion area where water can leak down into it, that might be a different story.

 

[hbiss]

You're in FL. Here in NY I've seen the underside of concrete parking structure floors dripping from condensation when the weather conditions are right.

I have no idea what kind of parking structure the OP is talking about though. Seems he is talking residential.

-Hal

 

[BillionYearOldCarbon]

No, they are not listed for damp or wet locations. You can do the same thing with a weatherproof box and cover.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/BELL-2-...0WHp406ViVGEd7pmwbxoCxs0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.homedepot.com/p/BELL-1-...WAva8apn_5uPYYY9uJhoC6rMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

-Hal

Hal, If you are mounting those Bell weatherproof boxes to the exterior of a wall, bringing non metallic cable to the box from the inside of the dwelling without conduit, how do you secure the cable to the box? The screw in clamps are for dry locations only, the push ins don’t fit. I contacted the manufacturer to ask that question. They told me that there is no NEC requirement to secure the cable to the box (I’m not kidding.)
I also know that boxes installed that way can connect to the inside circuits with Romex Nm, but that seems iffy recognizing that it is at least a damp location.

 

[electrofelon]

You're in FL. Here in NY I've seen the underside of concrete parking structure floors dripping from condensation when the weather conditions are right.

I have no idea what kind of parking structure the OP is talking about though. Seems he is talking residential.

-Hal

I'm not sure that makes it a damp location though. Bathrooms and basements are often dripping with condensation and it's all nema 1 stuff there.

 

[mtfallsmikey1]

I would argue that the ceiling of an open air parking garage is a dry location once you're past say two feet from the outside edge. I've never seen rain go totally horizontal, even in a hurricane. Now if you mount it over an expansion area where water can leak down into it, that might be a different story.

There are standard steel boxes used with EMTon the ground and underground levels of our 2 parking garages for lighting.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Hal, If you are mounting those Bell weatherproof boxes to the exterior of a wall, bringing non metallic cable to the box from the inside of the dwelling without conduit, how do you secure the cable to the box? The screw in clamps are for dry locations only, the push ins don’t fit. I contacted the manufacturer to ask that question. They told me that there is no NEC requirement to secure the cable to the box (I’m not kidding.)
I also know that boxes installed that way can connect to the inside circuits with Romex Nm, but that seems iffy recognizing that it is at least a damp location.

There are wp connectors made for UF cable. NM is not allowed in the exterior. If the nm is coming in thru the back then we use a standard nm connector and use silicon around the top and side of the box,

 

[oldsparky52]

If someone has the capability, could you post the definition of Location, Damp (including the Informational Note)?

 

[al hildenbrand]

1