Filling unused holes in a plastic box

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Steviechia2

Steviechia2

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Massachusetts
My employee just told me that We failed a rough for having unused holes in some plastic boxes. He said it must be filled and be an approved method.

Does anybody have an approved method and has anybody been failed for this!?
 
Steviechia2 said:
My employee just told me that We failed a rough for having unused holes in some plastic boxes. He said it must be filled and be an approved method.

Does anybody have an approved method and has anybody been failed for this!?
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What is approved is pretty much up to the AHJ.

If you are talking about trade sized KO's there are non metallic plugs that most AHJ should not reject.

If you are talking about open entries into boxes designed for NM cable - it is often best to just replace the box, you never know what they will allow as acceptable if the original material of the box is gone. Those boxes are just about as inexpensive as any plug may be anyway.
 
kwired said:
What is approved is pretty much up to the AHJ.

If you are talking about trade sized KO's there are non metallic plugs that most AHJ should not reject.

If you are talking about open entries into boxes designed for NM cable - it is often best to just replace the box, you never know what they will allow as acceptable if the original material of the box is gone. Those boxes are just about as inexpensive as any plug may be anyway.
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The open entries for NM. He asked the inspector and he said what ever is UL approved. We are just going to use fires top foam insulation.
Boxes are cheap but the labor not so much.
 
If the unused holes are not open as in plastic boxes that grip the wire then you do not need to seal the hole. Now the new energy code may have something different to say on exterior walls.
 
Some of our inspectors require us to use the fire stop caulking if the hole was knocked out too large in the fiberglass boxes.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
If the unused holes are not open as in plastic boxes that grip the wire then you do not need to seal the hole. Now the new energy code may have something different to say on exterior walls.
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Yes, Each town must adopt the new code in Ma. I know the ones that did adopt it says the box must have a gasket and sealing of holes is required.
We have never been failed for such a small and IMO non safety code violation
 
Steviechia2 said:
Yes, Each town must adopt the new code in Ma. I know the ones that did adopt it says the box must have a gasket and sealing of holes is required.
We have never been failed for such a small and IMO non safety code violation
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IT is a building code violation, I use the special boxes on exterior walls for this purpose.

This is one for the ceiling. There are seals(gaskets) around the ko holes also

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Dennis Alwon said:
Then the inspector is mistaken
Click to expand...
His inspector is not checking for compliance of any energy codes, the thread is about closing unused openings in an electrical enclosure. In particular boxes designed for NM cable entries and the fact there is typically no designed plugs to snap in like there is for standard unused raceway openings.
 
314.17 Conductors Entering Boxes, Conduit Bodies, or Fittings. Conductors entering boxes, conduit bodies, or fittings shall be protected from abrasion and shall comply with 314.17(A) through (D).
(A) Openings to Be Closed. Openings through which conductors enter shall be adequately closed.

Informational Note: See 110.12(A) for requirements on closing unused cable and raceway knockout openings.

110.12 Mechanical Execution of Work. Electrical equipment shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner.
Informational Note: Accepted industry practices are described in ANSI/NECA 1-2006, Standard Practices for Good Workmanship in Electrical Contracting, and other ANSI-approved installation standards.
​
(A) Unused Openings. Unused openings, other than those intended for the operation of equipment, those intended for mounting purposes, or those permitted as part of the design for listed equipment, shall be closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment. Where metallic plugs or plates are used with nonmetallic enclosures, they shall be recessed at least 6 mm (? in.) from the outer surface of the enclosure.
 
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