Is a staple required when NM enters a box when it is very close to a drilled hole?

[richwaskowitz]

I know that cables have to be secured to a framing member (stud / joist) at the required disances before they enter an outlet box. My question is, what if the cable is entering the space above the box through a drilled hole in teh stud which is only a few inches away from the box (let's say that the box does not have integral clamps) and there is no room to even get a staple in there? I have run into this when for example an outlet is located near the floor and under a tall window where the space between the bottom plate and roughed-in sill is only 6 inches. There is barely space to get a hole in there. Is a staple required when the cable is so close to the box. If the box has clamps, does this change anything?

 

[augie47]

May vary with inspectors. Here's what the Code says:

314.17 (C)
Exception: Where nonmetallic-sheathed cable or multiconductor Type UF cable is used with single gang boxes not larger than a nominal size 57 mm ? 100 mm (2? in. ? 4 in.) mounted in walls or ceilings, and where the cable is fastened within 200 mm (8 in.) of the box measured along the sheath and where the sheath extends through a cable knockout not less than 6 mm (? in.), securing the cable to the box shall not be required. Multiple cable entries shall be permitted in a single cable knockout opening.

 

[cowboyjwc]

The hole is "supported", the staple is "secured".

 

[dana1028]

I know that cables have to be secured to a framing member (stud / joist) at the required disances before they enter an outlet box. My question is, what if the cable is entering the space above the box through a drilled hole in teh stud which is only a few inches away from the box (let's say that the box does not have integral clamps) and there is no room to even get a staple in there? I have run into this when for example an outlet is located near the floor and under a tall window where the space between the bottom plate and roughed-in sill is only 6 inches. There is barely space to get a hole in there. Is a staple required when the cable is so close to the box. If the box has clamps, does this change anything?

Put your staple on the other side of the block...instead of running your cable straight through that last hole, give yourself a little extra cable and staple it before going through the last hole. You might be a couple of inches over the 8" rule but at least the cable is secured.

As an inspector I realize in your situation you might not get that staple in the 8" requirement, but I do want to see that cable stapled somewhere close to the requirement.