Fixture Wire

[gary b]

4-foot surface-mounted florescent luminaries are installed in an office building. There is a 4-s box with a round plaster ring installed in the ceiling serving as a junction box. There are three wires (switch leg, a grounded conductor, and a grounding conductor) installed in a conduit and are cut long enough to pull though the box without splice into the fixture though a ? chase nipple between the fixture and the box. The fixture in independently mounted from the box. Is this compliant with 410.14 (B) and 410.16(B)?

 

[jwelectric]

Re: Fixture Wire

Read the part in bold real careful.

410.14 Connection of Electric-Discharge Luminaires (Lighting Fixtures)
(A) Independent of the Outlet Box Electric-discharge luminaires (lighting fixtures) supported independently of the outlet box shall be connected to the branch circuit through metal raceway, nonmetallic raceway, Type MC cable, Type AC cable, Type MI cable, nonmetallic sheathed cable, or by flexible cord as permitted in 410.30(B) or 410.30(C).
(B) Access to Boxes Electric-discharge luminaires (fixtures) surface mounted over concealed outlet, pull, or junction boxes and designed not to be supported solely by the outlet box shall be provided with suitable openings in the back of the luminaire (fixture) to provide access to the wiring in the box.

 

[kevinware]

Re: Fixture Wire

If you have to remove the fixture to have access to the wiring in the J-box? If so look again at 410.14(B)

"410.14(B)
Electric-discharge luminaires surface mounted over conceald outlet,pull, or junction boxes and designed not to be supported solely by the outlet box shall be provided with suitable openings in the back of the luminaire to provide access to the wiring in the box."

Is the box concealed? (See Article 100)

[ September 16, 2005, 12:30 PM: Message edited by: kevinware ]

 

[kevinware]

Re: Fixture Wire

Sorry for the repeat Jwelectric, I am a slow typer.

 

[infinity]

Re: Fixture Wire

pull though the box without splice into the fixture though a ? chase nipple

Simple answer is this is a violation for the reasons mentioned in the other posts.

 

[steve66]

Re: Fixture Wire

This is a new one for me. I don't see why someone couldn't just remove the fixture to access the box. Are you all sure the 1/2" knockout isn't a "suitable opening in the back of the luminaire"? In not, then how about a 3/4" knockout? Seems like any wiring could be accessable by pulling it into the luminaire?

Steve

 

[iwire]

Re: Fixture Wire

Steve many times the fixtures will come with a 3" KO in them to access the box.

As far as why can't we take the fixture down, well that can be diffacult sometimes if it is a large fixture or in the middle of a run of fixtures.