blocking access to cord plugged into receptable

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mark thomas

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Power strip plugged into regular wall receptacle, and carpenter then bolts cabinet to wall in front of it. Now no way to unplug power strip or reach receptacle. There's gotta be a rule against this, no?
 
None that I know of. Someone might play the "400.8(A) card," but I don't think it applies.

Welcome to the forum.
 
with due respect to charlie b. who's got a few more posts than I, I think once a cabinet, or other piece of furniture is permanently installed, it becomes a part of the building. This would make 314.29 applicable: "boxes...shall be installed so that the wiring contained in them can be rendered accessible without removing any part of the building..."
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
I am also with iMuse. It would be similar to have a receptacle behind a kitchen cabinet, the back of the cabinet would need to be cut out to expose the receptacle/box.
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What if the cabinet can be removed by unscrewing 3 or 4 screws? It takes that much to access the J-box on a recessed can, and that's attached to the building, too.
 
LarryFine said:
What if the cabinet can be removed by unscrewing 3 or 4 screws? It takes that much to access the J-box on a recessed can, and that's attached to the building, too.
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I suppose that's not too problematic, but if the handyman/carpenter who attached the thing to the wall was actually handy, he'd have done a perfect little cutout in the back of the cabinet for access.
 
LarryFine said:
What if the cabinet can be removed by unscrewing 3 or 4 screws? It takes that much to access the J-box on a recessed can, and that's attached to the building, too.
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In this case, two screws, so not much screwdriver work. Unloading the 1,000 pounds of material in the cabinet is a bit more hassle...

Imuse, I guess it turns on the definition of "permanently installed" as the criteria for becoming part of the building. There might be a definition of something like this in the UBC. But no one would look at this cabinet and intuitively call it part of the building. It's just metal shelving. The screws are just to prevent tip-over in earthquake. And in fact it's the loading of the cabinet that makes the plug inaccessible, more than the screws.

Thanks. Great forum.
 
Larry
I am not sure of your position.

Accessible (as applied to wiring methods)
Capable of being removed or exposed without damaging the building structure of finish or not permanently closed in by the structure or finish of the building.


I would consider the cabinets as part of the building finish, thus they are concealing the box/receptacle. Cut an access in the back of the cabinet and one does not have to think about it anymore.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
I would consider the cabinets as part of the building finish,
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I do as well.

In general if you where to remove the cabinets the wall behind it will be 'unfinished' as in not sanded or painted because the cabinets are intended to serve as the 'finish'. Sort of like 3 dimensional wall paper. :wink:
 
I am having '3-dimensional wallpaper' installed (umm...a built-in wall unit) next week. I am having the cabinet maker cut out the back where the quad is located. All he wanted to do was cut a hole for the cord.

P.S.
3-dimensional wallpaper is much more expensive than just plain ole wallpaper. ;)
 
iwire said:
I do as well.

In general if you where to remove the cabinets the wall behind it will be 'unfinished' as in not sanded or painted because the cabinets are intended to serve as the 'finish'. Sort of like 3 dimensional wall paper. :wink:
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What about a picture screwed to the wall? Is it not some of that 3D paper? What about artwork screwed to the wall? At what point does it become a permanent part of the structure? What about a cabinet screwed to the wall in a nursery that will be removed when the child gets older? I think Larry is thinking of cabinets as not-so-permanent.

For the record, I'm in the "can't cover a j-box with cabinets" camp.
 
mivey said:
What about a picture screwed to the wall? Is it not some of that 3D paper? What about artwork screwed to the wall? At what point does it become a permanent part of the structure? What about a cabinet screwed to the wall in a nursery that will be removed when the child gets older?
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I can not disagree with anything that you have said, deciding where to draw the line is always tough.

However considering removing kitchen cabinets almost always results in permanent damage to some part of the installation, moldings, counter tops, cualking, wall finish etc. IMO kitchen cabinets are not even close to the line.
 
mivey said:
What about a picture screwed to the wall? Is it not some of that 3D paper? What about artwork screwed to the wall? At what point does it become a permanent part of the structure? What about a cabinet screwed to the wall in a nursery that will be removed when the child gets older? I think Larry is thinking of cabinets as not-so-permanent.

For the record, I'm in the "can't cover a j-box with cabinets" camp.
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If a cabinet is screwed to the wall, it is now permanent. In 5 years when the child grows up and it is removed, it is no longer permanent.
Sort of like coming into a house and removing a wall for construction, that wall is no longer permanent.
 
iwire said:
I can not disagree with anything that you have said, deciding where to draw the line is always tough.

However considering removing kitchen cabinets almost always results in permanent damage to some part of the installation, moldings, counter tops, cualking, wall finish etc. IMO kitchen cabinets are not even close to the line.
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What about the line around a painting after it has been hanging for years...that is terrible damage requiring a fix right away...just ask my wife. :grin:
 
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