Classified as a handhole or box or cabinet?

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teejer

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How would you classify a sheet steel enclosure that is open on the bottom and wiring is fed underground up through that open bottom. It is similar to the types of underground enclosures that are used by utilities, but in this case will have to meet NEC requirements. The enclosure is buried into the ground, and often surrounded by concrete but the enclosure will stick up out of the ground about 2 feet or so, so about half of it will be buried. The front and top panel are one piece and are designed to be totally removable for access to the interior of the enclosure. This enclousre will be used as an outdoor junction box for streetlights and likely will be secured to the pole with screws or steel banding. My question is, is this considered a handhole, a box or a cabinet? Under the NEC definitions, it seems that the best description would be handhole, but I just want to double check. Thanks.
 
teejer,

If the peice you are using has a cover with a 'marking' such as "ELECTRIC"

or "STREET LIGHTS" then it would qualify as a 'handhole' 314.30, if not marked

then I see it as a junction box. JMO.
 
We could mark electric on the enclosure to make it a handhole. We would prefer the handhole designation since it would not have to be listed according to the code. An outdoor junction box would have to be listed since it would be in a wet location, according to the code. I could see possible trouble with inspectors with their interpretation, but the customers are municipalities, so that shouldn't be too big of a problem.
 
So far, we haven't reached the Orange County marketyet :smile: . I will take that into account, however, as this would be an obstacle to expanding sales. I would prefer to have this listed no matter what we call it, but I don't make the final call on that.
 
It's not my thread but here is my view:D

This is a handhole.
box.jpg


This is an above ground pedestal.
AG-14_overview.gif
 
barbeer said:
It's not my thread but here is my view:D

This is a handhole.
box.jpg


This is an above ground pedestal.
AG-14_overview.gif
Click to expand...

That's what I had pictured in my head, but he said it was made of sheet steel and sticking out of the ground, maybe kind of like the bottom pic? I guess I would call it a pull or j-box then. My definition of a hand hole would be an access panel built right into the light pole.
 
teejer said:
How would you classify a sheet steel enclosure that is open on the bottom and wiring is fed underground up through that open bottom. It is similar to the types of underground enclosures that are used by utilities, but in this case will have to meet NEC requirements. The enclosure is buried into the ground, and often surrounded by concrete but the enclosure will stick up out of the ground about 2 feet or so, so about half of it will be buried. The front and top panel are one piece and are designed to be totally removable for access to the interior of the enclosure. This enclousre will be used as an outdoor junction box for streetlights and likely will be secured to the pole with screws or steel banding. My question is, is this considered a handhole, a box or a cabinet? Under the NEC definitions, it seems that the best description would be handhole, but I just want to double check. Thanks.
Click to expand...




From the description, it is somewhat difficult to picture this.
As you describe this, I think that it would need some kind of NRTL label/listing. If I was inspecting this, I would look for that as some kind of guidance - I am not saying I would not pass it, I am saying I would like to see some guidance from someone smarter than me for new products.
 
Here are some pictures

Here are some pictures

I finally got some pictures of the box to attach and hopefully the attachment worked. I don't have a bottom view of the box, but it is open. After looking at the pictures of the unit and some drawings, only a relatively small portion of the box is buried below grade - maybe 12" to 18" or so. About 2 to 3 feet of the pedestal is exposed above ground, so that has me thinking this is not a handhole, but should be classified as a junction box. Although, when you look at the definition of a handhole in the NEC, it does not say that the box has to be flush with the ground. However, if they are not considered handholes, I don't know where the NEC covers open bottom junction boxes. What does everyone think about this after looking at the pictures?
 
OK, Now I know what you're talking about. The phone company here uses them and we actually have some meter pedestals in town that look like that.

I would classify it as a pull / junction box.
 
I have a couple of questions if this is designated a pull/ junction box:

1) The bottom of the box is wide open. How do we comply with 314.17(A) which states:

"Openings through which conductors pass shall be adequately closed"

I know that there are meter pedestals and other types of listed boxes out there that are wide open on the bottom. I wish I knew what they mean by "adequately". That is why I initially thought that this might be a handhole.

2) The end user is likely going to use listed free floating insulated connectors for their splices. Under 314.17B, it appears that the conductors have to somehow be secured to the box. Would a cable clamp be adequate? Is that something that the end user would provide or would we need to provide that as part of the box?

Thanks again for all of the responses.
 
There is a product out there called (by some) a "rocket post". They are an open bottom round plastic post that is generally used for lighting, receptacles and small boxes for splicing etc...
The Rocket posts have as small plastic barrier in the bottom portion of the post.

The pictures you posted look just like phone pedestals.
Are you producing these?
 
We do produce these. They are similar to the telephone style. They are used primarily by electrical utilities, but another customer is interested, where it would need to be up to NEC standards. Getting it up to NEC standards, which appears to mean getting it listed in this case, will also allow us to sell it to many more potential customers. Thanks for all of the responses.
 
Still confused

Still confused

I see the analogy of the rocket post in that it is open on the bottom, but is closed at the top where the equipment mounts to it. However, I am still confused by the 314.17 (A) requirement. Other similar items would be meter pedestals for mobile homes and houses and rv's. They all have open bottoms for underground feed and are mostly direct burial type or pad mount, and most of the time there is no barrier before the field wire connections. There are some versions that have a separate cabinet that mounts to the raceway (pedestal), which acts as a barrier, but there are many other designs which encompass all of the electrical devices into one raceway (pedestal) enclosure with no barrier. How are these industry standard enclosures allowed according to the 314.17 (A)? I see a little window of opportunity under 300.5 (H) if you consider these types of enclosures raceways, in that you could use sealant to seal up the bottom opening. The code seems to be something missing here, like an exception, or am I missing something?
 
I'd make sure the pedestal is approved for line-voltage wiring and terminations.


barbeer said:
This is an above ground pedestal.
AG-14_overview.gif
Click to expand...
It looks like a deep Carlon SuperBlue box on top of a halogen flood.

Or, if you're standing farther away, a waste basket on top of an ice chest.


Well, it does! Don't blame me. :cool:
 
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