Boxes with knockouts in exterior locations

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steve66

steve66

Senior Member
Location
Illinois
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Engineer
Are boxes with knockouts allowed in exterior locations? This is in an open pavilion, so its outside, but under a roof.

So I believe it would be a damp location, but not a wet location.

It might even be considered a dry location - the roof is kind of like an A frame. Sloped on either side, and the lowest boxes are about halfway up the side of the roof.
 
Boxes with KO's are permitted in dry and damp locations when they're installed to keep water out of them. Wet locations have a different requirement.

Part II. Installation
314.15 Damp or Wet Locations. In damp or wet locations, boxes, conduit bodies, outlet box hoods, and fittings shall be
placed or equipped so as to prevent moisture from entering or accumulating within the box, conduit body, or fitting. Boxes,
conduit bodies, outlet box hoods, and fittings installed in wet locations shall be listed for use in wet locations. Approved
drainage openings not smaller than 3 mm ( 1 ∕ 8 in.) and not larger than 6 mm ( 1 ∕ 4 in.) in diameter shall be permitted to be
installed in the field in boxes or conduit bodies listed for use in damp or wet locations. For installation of listed drain fittings,
larger openings are permitted to be installed in the field in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
Click to expand...
 
You may get varying opinions on what is damp and what is wet in such places.

A support post with a box on it may not be wet at all if not near the open outer perimeter. If near the open outer perimeter it may be wet if down low but may only be damp if up high. If you commonly get horizontal rain there may be little that isn't considered wet.
 
jap said:
Nema 1 enclosures also have "Factory KO's".

Factory "Threaded" openings may define a 3r Enclosure but not Factory "KO"s".

JAP>
Click to expand...
For most typical 3R pull/junction boxes and even wireways you often find KO's in the bottom wall. They often are also available with no KO's at all. A definite purpose 3R cabinet, such as a loadcenter enclosure usually will have KO's in the bottom wall and in side walls below live components. Those definite purpose type enclosures can often have bolt on hub options in the top wall.
 
Yes, it's the location of the factory KO's that are intended to be used in wet location on a 3r enclosure.

Not the Factory KO's themselves.

JAP>
 
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