Electrical Box fasteners (plastic tabs)

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Peter James

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I am finishing up the rough in wiring on a new residence in the frigid cold of Wisconsin. Several of the fastening tabs on the plastic boxes have broken and the inspector has written that each of these boxes be replaced with new. Not understanding with wire staples within 4" of each box why the tabs would be a requirement. Are there other solutions other than changing the box, such as silicone ?
 
Did he say where it's written that those tabs must remain in place? Is it part of the listing of the box? I have seen boxes where the design allows you to completely remove those tabs to install the cable. What kind of boxes are you using?
 
Broken Tabs

Broken Tabs

I am using the standard (cheap) Menard's plastic electrical boxes. In temperatures of 0 - 10 degrees, these tabs/fasteners often break off.:mad:
 
Is his reason for closing the hole? If so then why can't you use fire putty? The romex staple at 4" would cover the attachment issue. I see where your coming from, those ears will almost always break off in that temp.
 
electricmanscott said:
Seems like onsense to me. The carlon blue boxes have a knockout that comes out completely. :-?
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Those were the ones I was thinking about. The box has a rectangular shaped KO. It is designed to be removed.
 
In the Carlon blue multigang boxes, the flaps are to remain for the section Greg cited, 314.17(C). The NM is to be clamped to the box, and the cheezy flaps that snap off in the frigid (< 40 degrees :rolleyes: ) cold are that clamp.

Switch to Allied Fiberglass, they're cheap but the clamps are less of a headache, IMO.

I'd say the inspector has you dead-to-rights, on the multigang boxes.

For single-gangs, stapling within 8" gets you out of the requirement, see the exception to the rule cited above. The Carlon singles are designed so the piece the NM comes through snaps out completely (same for the Allied fiberglass).
 
Whoa, I just noticed your profile states you are a Mechanical Engineer. If you do not wire houses for a living, then this would be a DIY thread, which is prohibited by the forum rules.

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