400.8(A) Violation?

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charlie b

charlie b

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Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
I saw something in a newly remodeled space about a week ago, and it made me wonder. Here is the situation:
  • Junction box mounted to the structural ceiling. No suspended ceiling below, so the junction box is visible.
  • Flexible cord is connected at the junction box, and hangs down. There is a Kellum Grip supporting the weight of the cable.
  • At a height of about 4 feet above the ground (about 1 foot above the working desktop surface), the cable connects to 4x4 box. There is another Kellum Grip supporting the weight of the box.
  • There are two duplex receptacle outlets installed within the 4x4 box. Miscellaneous desktop items are plugged into these receptacles.
  • This installation is repeated about a dozen times in the same room.
  • These hanging cables are generally in the middle of the room, with no walls or columns nearby.

Part of me sees a flexible cord being used to supply a receptacle outlet, and that brings 400.8(A) to mind. The other part of me wonders how this could be any different than installing an overhead plug-in busway, installing plug-in units that have built-in receptacle outlets, and hanging a cord down to the user's level.

Opinions?

I resisted an urge to take a photo with my cell phone, because this was the place of work of a friend of mine, and I didn't want to cause anyone trouble.

 
314.23 (H) Pendant Boxes. An enclosure supported by a pendant
shall comply with 314.23(H)(1) or (H)(2).
(1) Flexible Cord. A box shall be supported from a multiconductor
cord or cable in an approved manner that protects
the conductors against strain, such as a strain-relief
connector threaded into a box with a hub.
 
dkidd said:
314.23 (H) Pendant Boxes. An enclosure supported by a pendant shall comply with 314.23(H)(1) or (H)(2).
(1) Flexible Cord. A box shall be supported from a multiconductor cord or cable in an approved manner that protects the conductors against strain, such as a strain-relief connector threaded into a box with a hub.
Click to expand...
And very few field made pendant boxes use a box that has a hub and are a violation of the rule.
 
What about 400.7 uses permitted? I don't see this application as allowed, unless the desks are moved around.
Perhaps this was done as it was a simple way to drop power down over using power poles.
 
400.7 Uses Permitted.
(A) Uses. Flexible cords and cables shall be used only for
the following:
(1) Pendants.
:happysad:
 
In my "industrial days" this was commonplace. I have seen it rejected on the basis of the Code section don quoted and by an OSHA inspector for similar reasons (knockouts in the box vs hubs).
We switched to a 2 gang FS style box.. as I recall they were also rubber coated for 'head protection'..

3210.jpg
"woodhead" box pictured
 
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don_resqcapt19 said:
And very few field made pendant boxes use a box that has a hub and are a violation of the rule.
Click to expand...
But the code only gives "box with hub" as one example. If you can get substantially the same strength and reliability you can meet the "such as" option. Subject to AHJ evaluation, of course.
 
charlie b said:
Thanks, everyone. One question: what is a "hub," in the context used above?
Click to expand...
This box has a hub.

cch_f_fs_fdmulti_220.jpg
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
And very few field made pendant boxes use a box that has a hub and are a violation of the rule.
Click to expand...

charlie b said:
Thanks, everyone. One question: what is a "hub," in the context used above?
Click to expand...
Technically you can add a Myers hub to a 4sq box and it is compliant with the section quoted earlier. May not be the intent, but the section does not exclude non-integral hubs. And for scrutinizers, you can order kellem grip cord connectors with NPT threads.
 
Smart $ said:
Technically you can add a Myers hub to a 4sq box and it is compliant with the section quoted earlier. May not be the intent, but the section does not exclude non-integral hubs. And for scrutinizers, you can order kellem grip cord connectors with NPT threads.
Click to expand...
OSHA will cite you for using a 4 square box like that.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
I don't see the threaded entry on a bell box as being a hub.
Click to expand...
In a bell box most of the threaded body of the "connector" is inside the box, while we commonly think of hubs as having most or all of the thread outside the outline of the box.
Either way the length and strength of thread seems comparable. I call it a hub either way.
 
GoldDigger said:
In a bell box most of the threaded body of the "connector" is inside the box, while we commonly think of hubs as having most or all of the thread outside the outline of the box.
Either way the length and strength of thread seems comparable. I call it a hub either way.
Click to expand...
Not even remotely close as far as strength...you might have two threads engaged in the bell box, but 5 or more in a hub. Also the bell box walls don't have much strength as compared to FS type boxes with hubs.
 
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