Is there anything in the NEC which doesn't allow you to cut out the back of a junction box to allow a group of conduits to enter the box. In my example, I have three conduits turned out of a masonry wall and I cut a hole in the back of the junction box to allow the conduits to enter. We grounded the conduits to the box with a ground tail. The inspector is telling us this is not acceptable and that the conduits must be physically connected to the box. Any NEC references you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Cutting Out Junction Boxes
- Thread starter Dynamite
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
What you did is a 300.12 violation unless it meets one of the exceptions and it does not.
Twoskinsoneman
Senior Member
- Location
- West Virginia, USA NEC: 2020
- Occupation
- Facility Senior Electrician
300.12 Mechanical Continuity ? Raceways and
Cables. Metal or nonmetallic raceways, cable armors, and
cable sheaths shall be continuous between cabinets, boxes,
fittings, or other enclosures or outlets.
Exception No. 1: Short sections of raceways used to provide
support or protection of cable assemblies from physical
damage shall not be required to be mechanically
continuous.
Exception No. 2: Raceways and cables installed into the
bottom of open bottom equipment, such as switchboards,
motor control centers, and floor or pad-mounted transformers,
shall not be required to be mechanically secured to the
equipment.
Cables. Metal or nonmetallic raceways, cable armors, and
cable sheaths shall be continuous between cabinets, boxes,
fittings, or other enclosures or outlets.
Exception No. 1: Short sections of raceways used to provide
support or protection of cable assemblies from physical
damage shall not be required to be mechanically
continuous.
Exception No. 2: Raceways and cables installed into the
bottom of open bottom equipment, such as switchboards,
motor control centers, and floor or pad-mounted transformers,
shall not be required to be mechanically secured to the
equipment.
I always love implied standards [sarcasm]. Note the main body of this article subsection does not say raceways and cables must be mechanically connected to the box and such, but rather they must be continuous "between" boxes and such. It is only Exception 2 which implies the main body should be interpretted as meaning connected to the box.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
There are two rules....300.12 for mechanical continuity and 300.10 for electrical continuity. You have to comply with both.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
Not to be to critical, but as an inspector that just makes it look like you didn't plan your job out to well or you were just trying to make it "work".
Inspectors see things like that and they start looking real hard at the rest of the job. It just doesn't build a lot of confidence.
Now I will admit that it would have taken me a little time to find a code violation for it.
Inspectors see things like that and they start looking real hard at the rest of the job. It just doesn't build a lot of confidence.
Now I will admit that it would have taken me a little time to find a code violation for it.
- Status