410.118 Access to Other Boxes

[anbm]

410.118 Access to Other Boxes. Luminaires recessed in ceilings, floors, or walls shall not be used to access outlet, pull, or junction boxes or conduit bodies, unless the box or conduit body is an integral part of the listed luminaire.

To comply with above new rule, for the hard ceiling, does anyone know any guides showing how to layout access panel location and panel size? Will this be the architect's job? The arch. asked us for panel location in gypboard ceiling area, thank you.

 

[petersonra]

I don't think the code covers this kind of thing.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

410.118 Access to Other Boxes. Luminaires recessed in ceilings, floors, or walls shall not be used to access outlet, pull, or junction boxes or conduit bodies, unless the box or conduit body is an integral part of the listed luminaire.

To comply with above new rule, for the hard ceiling, does anyone know any guides showing how to layout access panel location and panel size? Will this be the architect's job? The arch. asked us for panel location in gypboard ceiling area, thank you.

I believe that it would be an authority having jurisdiction call. As long as you can reach it and work on the box then there should not be an issue. Heck the JB on recessed cans is accessible thru a 6" opening and 4" cans are smaller yet that is allowed.

 

[infinity]

This is a common sense issue because there is no real definition of what will provide adequate access.

 

[petersonra]

This is a common sense issue because there is no real definition of what will provide adequate access.

Common sense is not in the code

 

[infinity]

Common sense is not in the code

Exactly, so that pits your common sense against the person who's doing the inspecting. Hopefully the inspector is reasonable and the two opinions are the same.