C.E.C 300.4 Protection against Physical Damage.

[Rick 0920]

I've thought about this many times, but just figured the inspector knew that it was impossible to maintain the 1.25" clearance required. I always took my cables after stapling and pulled them to the center, minimizing the length of Romex that was within the 1.25". I guess if I had an inspector that was enforcing this, I would just scab a short piece of 2x4 onto the original framing member and put my box to that. Then my argument would be that my box is even 1.5" away from the original framing member. It would be a pain to do that for every box, but the scrap pieces of 2x4's are plentiful around the site.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

It’s interesting that there is nothing commercially available for this situation……..

 

[former inspector]

I've thought about this many times, but just figured the inspector knew that it was impossible to maintain the 1.25" clearance required. I always took my cables after stapling and pulled them to the center, minimizing the length of Romex that was within the 1.25". I guess if I had an inspector that was enforcing this, I would just scab a short piece of 2x4 onto the original framing member and put my box to that. Then my argument would be that my box is even 1.5" away from the original framing member. It would be a pain to do that for every box, but the scrap pieces of 2x4's are plentiful around the site.

Totally agree, but then who would install the small piece of 2 x framing to move away ? The electrician ? Framers ? Then the location and we know that electrical boxes sometimes get moved or relocated....

 

[former inspector]

It’s interesting that there is nothing commercially available for this situation……..

There actually is a product out there designed exclusively for this protection. It's called the EBP-1 and manufactured by Metal Products Company out of Oregon. They are kind of like Simpson. I will try to see if I can get hold of one and post it here.

 

[LarryFine]

Totally agree, but then who would install the small piece of 2 x framing to move away ? The electrician ? Framers ? Then the location and we know that electrical boxes sometimes get moved or relocated....

I have nailed or screwed up plenty of spacer blocks. Carpentry is part of our work.

 

[LarryFine]

SAFETY PLATES OFF-SET - Metal Products Company

(Stud Guards, Nails Plates) Self-Nailing. Helps prevent damage from sheetrock nails. CATALOG NO.DESCRIPTIONGACASE QTY.CASE WT.PALLETSP316100-3-NOS3" × 3" OFF SET161001612800SP516100-3-NOS3" × 5" OFF SET16100246400SP616100-3-NOS3" × 6" OFF SET1610028

metalproducts.com

FRISCO PLATE STRAPS - Metal Products Company

Available with 6 or 8 holes on each end. CATALOG NO.DESCRIPTIONGAQTY.CASE WT.PALLETFPS1816-3-8 HOLE3" × 18" 8 HOLES EACH END1625212000FPS0616-66" × 6" 6 HOLES EACH END1625163750FPS0616-6-8 HOLE6" × 6" 8 HOLES

metalproducts.com

 

[Greentagger]

It’s interesting that there is nothing commercially available for this situation……..

There actually is a product called a stacker which secures several NM cables running up parallel with framing member. Maybe not exactly the protection part this post is referencing but protection not needed as stacker keeps multiple cables more than 1 1/4” from edge of framing member.

 

[LarryFine]

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

SAFETY PLATES OFF-SET - Metal Products Company

(Stud Guards, Nails Plates) Self-Nailing. Helps prevent damage from sheetrock nails. CATALOG NO.DESCRIPTIONGACASE QTY.CASE WT.PALLETSP316100-3-NOS3" × 3" OFF SET161001612800SP516100-3-NOS3" × 5" OFF SET16100246400SP616100-3-NOS3" × 6" OFF SET1610028

metalproducts.com

FRISCO PLATE STRAPS - Metal Products Company

Available with 6 or 8 holes on each end. CATALOG NO.DESCRIPTIONGAQTY.CASE WT.PALLETFPS1816-3-8 HOLE3" × 18" 8 HOLES EACH END1625212000FPS0616-66" × 6" 6 HOLES EACH END1625163750FPS0616-6-8 HOLE6" × 6" 8 HOLES

metalproducts.com

Great. Now I’ve found another part I need to stock on the already overstuffed service body.

Thanks a lot, Larry!

 

[Rick 0920]

Totally agree, but then who would install the small piece of 2 x framing to move away ? The electrician ? Framers ? Then the location and we know that electrical boxes sometimes get moved or relocated....

The electrician installs the small pieces of 2x4's prior to installing the box. There are scrap pieces laying around. Now, any wiring is 1.5" away from the original framing member that the sheetrockers are going to screw to. An 1 1/2" usually won't make a difference on switch and gen. purpose receptacles. If over a countertop, well, you need to be able to read a scale ruler to determine which side you need to scab onto to keep your spacing requirements.

 

[Rick 0920]

View attachment 2573819 View attachment 2573820

Larry, I think the OP is referring to the cables entering the openings in the boxes. They are always going to be further back, making your cables being much less than 1.25" from the framing members. Those cable stackers are awesome when you have multi-gang boxes and several cables.

 

[former inspector]

Larry, I think the OP is referring to the cables entering the openings in the boxes. They are always going to be further back, making your cables being much less than 1.25" from the framing members. Those cable stackers are awesome when you have multi-gang boxes and several cables.

Totally agree. This is why I posted this to see actually what folks are doing. It is in the code to protect. When I was an inspector I always call this section of the code, when I saw wiring closer then the 1.25 space. It was mostly at the bores, top plates, bottom plates, ETC...But the location is no different at the back of the boxes. I missed it also. Its required, but most miss it or look past it, ignore it or just completely turn a blind eye. I am sure many on this thread, protect bored holes and other locations but just miss the back of boxes. I have one electrical contractor that I know state " Yes it is required...but nobody does it ". Then, you have the wiring inside the box all made up and I have seen a lot of wiring made up in a box completely pushed up against the back and not meeting the 1.25 distance. The 300.4 is code and was written into it for a reason... I know people do not want to do extra work or buck the trend, or give reasons for why they don't protect.

 

[former inspector]

Larry, I think the OP is referring to the cables entering the openings in the boxes. They are always going to be further back, making your cables being much less than 1.25" from the framing members. Those cable stackers are awesome when you have multi-gang boxes and several cables.

Those stackers or clips work great but after they leave or enter the back of the box, but that location is still in violation of 300.4 where they enter. I have seen them within a 1/4" to framing member edge.

 

[former inspector]

Here is something commercially made to protect this location....

 

[former inspector]

Another view, this is what I am using on my homes that we are building. My inspector was like "That's awesome " and provides the protection

 

[infinity]

Here is something commercially made to protect this location....

Where can you buy them?

 

[former inspector]

Here is the EBP-1 that I have installed in my houses prior to rock and even Lath install. They are so easy and just push in and done, some with the bigger boxes have a screw hole attachment. These protection brackets work great.

 

[former inspector]

Where can you buy them?

Here, I took a photo of the boxes that I order for my jobs. It's a pretty new product that is out

 

[former inspector]

SAFETY PLATES OFF-SET - Metal Products Company

(Stud Guards, Nails Plates) Self-Nailing. Helps prevent damage from sheetrock nails. CATALOG NO.DESCRIPTIONGACASE QTY.CASE WT.PALLETSP316100-3-NOS3" × 3" OFF SET161001612800SP516100-3-NOS3" × 5" OFF SET16100246400SP616100-3-NOS3" × 6" OFF SET1610028

metalproducts.com

FRISCO PLATE STRAPS - Metal Products Company

Available with 6 or 8 holes on each end. CATALOG NO.DESCRIPTIONGAQTY.CASE WT.PALLETFPS1816-3-8 HOLE3" × 18" 8 HOLES EACH END1625212000FPS0616-66" × 6" 6 HOLES EACH END1625163750FPS0616-6-8 HOLE6" × 6" 8 HOLES

metalproducts.com

Yes, that is the same company that produces the box protector. They are new to producing the EBP-1.... But same company. Those plates work fine but attached to the stud face and usually get removed from the sheet rock/planers, because of the hump on the framing member. And when they remove them to plane the stud, they never put them back on...

 

[former inspector]

Great. Now I’ve found another part I need to stock on the already overstuffed service body.

Thanks a lot, Larry!

Great. Now I’ve found another part I need to stock on the already overstuffed service body.

Thanks a lot, Larry!

LOL, love chatting Code with you though !!! And value your input and thoughts !!!!!