J Box clearance

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We installed home runs with junction boxes used for pulling and make up purposes and then the fire skrinkler contractor installed his pipe and we have a few areas where his pipe is in front of our j box. The inspector called us on it and I'm gathering my ammunition to have it out with him. (figuratively, don't go calling police on me)
 
We installed home runs with junction boxes used for pulling and make up purposes and then the fire skrinkler contractor installed his pipe and we have a few areas where his pipe is in front of our j box. The inspector called us on it and I'm gathering my ammunition to have it out with him. (figuratively, don't go calling police on me)

Dang pipefitters.

DSC02889a.jpg
 
^ NIIICEEEE !! Man that electrician installed the 2x4 behind that piping !!
WHAT a *** !!!

Um... no. Luminaire was there first. Then the pipefitter.

As proof, here's an earlier shot (light is at center left)

DSC03359a.jpg


You can barely make out the hanger, and the pipe stubbed out of the CMU wall, but the pipe does not extend under the light. I figured the pipefitters were going to 90 or T just short of the light, but they replaced it with another pipe that was longer, and the T ended up under the light.

If the pipe (as shown in the close-up) had been installed prior to the light, I would have told the GC to have the pipefitters move it first.
 
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I see my sarcasm doesn't translate well in Forum Posts ;-)

I'm still looking, the only thing I can find is 300.15 (A) "the covers shall be accessible..." which i think is saying you cannot bury a box in a wall but nothing about frontal clearance of J box for access.

I'm beginning to think it doesn't exist....

...or I'm getting old...........
 
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I think that the code talks about clearance and access. And unfortunately the latter is VERY subjective unless exactly spelled out in a code. However there are so many variables that its is impossible to write down and cover all the angles.

I'm beginning to think that the 6" clearance in front of a J box was just what the way I learned waayyyyy back in the day and never in the NEC. It may have derived from the free conductor section (300.14) or just became common practice. I think the term would better be described as "accessible" and as long as I can make a good argument to prove my point the inspector will tell me his view. We will both be "right" but I'll be moving some junction boxes !!
 
We installed home runs with junction boxes used for pulling and make up purposes and then the fire skrinkler contractor installed his pipe and we have a few areas where his pipe is in front of our j box. The inspector called us on it and I'm gathering my ammunition to have it out with him. (figuratively, don't go calling police on me)



You might try 300.15(A). Although I think there may be a issue with the sprinkler code . But I'm pretty weak in that area.
 
110.26 requires "safe and ready access" to "all electrical equipment". This would include a junction box. That is as close to a code requirement that you are going to find for this.
 
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