Floor Mounted Recepticles

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Chris Philipp

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Lib Pic.jpgI failed this inspection. These are floor mounted 4-plex receptacles mounted above the walking surface and not water tight. These were in our public library and an obvious trip hazard. The box on the right had receptacles in it when I did the inspection. The electrician insists that this is code compliant. He suggested that he could attach the boxes to the desk, which I told him I would not allow. By the way the bottom drawers on the desk do not open, they hit the flexible conduit. Looking for input from others. I used a couple different NEC 2014 Code sections but cannot find anything in the code that will not allow furniture as support for boxes/conduit. I would like to give him a direct code reference.
 

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Well, I guess I'll try.
Why do they need to be "water tight"?
What is/are the code section(s) you failed it for? 406.9(D) Protection of floor receptacles?
406.5(F) Receptacles in seating areas & other similar surfaces?
I don't see a problem with mounting to the desk or the lower drawers opening. Inconvenient, yes. Violation, not that I know of.
Just trying to help. :)
 
Hard to tell from the pic but I don't see any connectors from that peice of flex to the 1900 box

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rcarroll said:
Well, I guess I'll try.
Why do they need to be "water tight"?
What is/are the code section(s) you failed it for? 406.9(D) Protection of floor receptacles?
406.5(F) Receptacles in seating areas & other similar surfaces?
I don't see a problem with mounting to the desk or the lower drawers opening. Inconvenient, yes. Violation, not that I know of.
Just trying to help. :)
Click to expand...

Yes failed for both of those and 314.27(B). Supports section 314.23 does not specifically spell out furniture as a support, but furniture is not structurally part of the building and could be picked up and moved at any time, with no consideration to the live circuit attached to the desk. My question is first, is my thinking reasonable on failing the original installation and second, would you agree that furniture is not adequate support by code definitions? Either way, thanks for the input as you can tell I'm a little unsure on the furniture as a support. It's great to have a forum like this to check other's code interpretations.
 
Chris Philipp said:
Yes failed for both of those and 314.27(B). Supports section 314.23 does not specifically spell out furniture as a support, but furniture is not structurally part of the building and could be picked up and moved at any time, with no consideration to the live circuit attached to the desk. My question is first, is my thinking reasonable on failing the original installation and second, would you agree that furniture is not adequate support by code definitions? Either way, thanks for the input as you can tell I'm a little unsure on the furniture as a support. It's great to have a forum like this to check other's code interpretations.
Click to expand...

IMO 314.27(B) would not apply as it applies to floor boxes installed "in the floor". 314.23 requires the box to be rigidly secured to the building or "other surface", IMO it does not prohibit the boxes from being mounted on furniture. I also don't believe that 406.5(E) applies either as it is not a countertop or similar work surface. And 406.9(D) deals with the standpipes for floor receptacles and would not prohibit the installation. All that being said I would not allow it using 348.12(7). :)
 
I think 348.12 is clear. I can't see how that is not subject to damage. I do agree with Ron that attaching to the desk would be compliant.

348.12 Uses Not Permitted. FMC shall not be used in the
following:
(1) In wet locations
(2) In hoistways, other than as permitted in 620.21(A)(1)
(3) In storage battery rooms
(4) In any hazardous (classified) location except as permitted
by other articles in this Code
(5) Where exposed to materials having a deteriorating effect
on the installed conductors, such as oil or gasoline
(6) Underground or embedded in poured concrete or aggregate
(7) Where subject to physical damage
Click to expand...
 
nickelec said:
Hard to tell from the pic but I don't see any connectors from that peice of flex to the 1900 box...
Click to expand...

I'm assuming it's this kind:
halex-conduit-fittings-28441-64_1000.jpg


Never heard "1900 box" but I'm assuming that's what I learned as a "4-S box."
 
rcarroll said:
Well, I guess I'll try.
Why do they need to be "water tight"?
What is/are the code section(s) you failed it for?...
I don't see a problem with mounting to the desk or the lower drawers opening. Inconvenient, yes. Violation, not that I know of...
Click to expand...

These are my thoughts as well.

Did you provide Code references at the time of failing the inspection?

I'd hate to have a job like that because I'd hate to leave it looking like that, but I'm not sure what would cause it to fail if secured.

I certainly don't see being watertight as an issue.
 
MAC702 said:
I'm assuming it's this kind:
halex-conduit-fittings-28441-64_1000.jpg


Never heard "1900 box" but I'm assuming that's what I learned as a "4-S box."
Click to expand...
Yes 1900s are a 4 inch square box, I was told once where that name came from but it's slipping my mind right now

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Chris Philipp said:
...the way the bottom drawers on the desk do not open, they hit the flexible conduit...
Click to expand...

Missed that. Looks like they'd go over it, but maybe that bottom piece is also attached to the drawer. Installing electrician may have made that same mistake and never checked. Oops.

What was the job, to add that far right box to the circuit of the far left box, having to go around the data box against the far left box? What a PITA for a few feet. Could they have just used a power strip plugged in to the existing box? Would have been just as secure from "physical damage" as the ugly flex.

And sucks that the two left boxes are right in the feet/chair area of the desk. Is it used as a desk? Could a footrest be built over the top of them?
 
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