Exterior lights on stucco walls

[mike9593]

I will be installing several exterior lights for new construction on a home with stucco walls. As per the 2011 code, it appears that I cannot use NM, MC, or even UF through the wall to the back of the box if I am reading this correctly. Is stucco considered concrete? Aggregate? I was going to use NM to the back of a stonco box, but now I'm not sure.


I see that Arlington has a box #FR420F. this may be the way to go.....

 

[ActionDave]

NM can be used if it is going through plywood into the j box, it's not eembedded in the stucco the box is.

 

[Sierrasparky]

NM can be used if it is going through plywood into the j box, it's not eembedded in the stucco the box is.

Yeah that is what I was thinking.
Next the CMP will say that was not the intention.

To me what is the difference if the Box is on the surface or attached to the Plywood or a block within the wall. The NM really is exposed to the same outside conditions.

 

[Ponchik]

You are OK using the NM cable and ending it inside a enclosure that faces the outside.

If it leaves the outside envelope then it MAY become an issue.

ADDED, that is a pretty cool box from Arlington.

 

[starbolin]

Yeah that is what I was thinking.
Next the CMP will say that was not the intention.

To me what is the difference if the Box is on the surface or attached to the Plywood or a block within the wall. The NM really is exposed to the same outside conditions.

The box is 'protection' for the cable. The cable ends where the sheath ends 1/4" inch inside the box. The NM is not 'in' the stucco, it's in the hole which is in the stucco. The main concern is damage to the cable sheath from the metal mesh.

I never had an inspector say anything about the practice other than to caulk the box and maybe tape the NM where it passed through the stucco. The CMP is aware that NM runs often terminate in outside outlets.

We run NM into outside panel boards all the time and they are way less weather proof than an outdoor rated receptacle box.