Paint in boxes

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JOHNEO99

JOHNEO99

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Northern Illinois
Can anyone let me know what section if the NEC prohibits paint inside boxes?

I have a inspector who doesnt want any overspray inside boxes and on wires because he thinks it will create more heat.

First time I had this happen in 20 years

Thanks in advance

John
 
He's probably trying to use 110.11, but I have a hard time thinking most interior building paint as being a deteriorating agent.

We actually color code boxes of different systems with paint inside and out

Roger
 
JOHNEO99 said:
Yes I read 110

We use the IRC but The NEC is adopted by it. I dont find where hes getting this stuff.

Bummin me out

J
Click to expand...

The truth is, he is making up his own rules. I would diplomatically ask him to provide back up to his claim.

Roger
 
110.12c

(C) Integrity of Electrical Equipment and Connections.
Internal parts of electrical equipment, including busbars,
wiring terminals, insulators, and other surfaces, shall not be
damaged or contaminated by foreign materials such as
paint, plaster, cleaners, abrasives, or corrosive residues.
There shall be no damaged parts that may adversely affect
safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment
such as parts that are broken; bent; cut; or deteriorated by
corrosion, chemical action, or overheating.
 
Terry, take notice of the words "damaged or contaminated", what is the NEC definition of these words? Will latex paint meet the definition?

Also, if paint "damages or contaminates" how can a busbar be permanatly marked orange (110.15) in the field if a paint can not be applied?

Roger
 
roger said:
how can a busbar be permanatly marked orange (110.15) in the field if a paint can not be applied?

Roger
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that one question it do remain there and i know few panelboard have painted bussbar for wildleg setup.

but otherhand for interor of the box and outside of the box it very typical i do see it painted in diffrent colour depending on what type of circuit it used for.

Merci, Marc
 
I wouldn't argue it I have tried. I now put tape over boxes and cardboard in my panels. Took me 4 hours to clean out a panel once that had a very light primer overspray. Only once has this ever happened though. Takes me very little time to make a cardboard cutout for the panel and less then an hour to tape all boxes. The painters love me they just sweep the wall which they do anyway but now I don't go off on them.


con?tam?i?nate(kn-tm-nt)
tr.v. con?tam?i?nated, con?tam?i?nat?ing, con?tam?i?nates
1. To make impure or unclean by contact or mixture.
2. To expose to or permeate with radioactivity
 
frenchelectrican said:
that one question it do remain there and i know few panelboard have painted bussbar for wildleg setup.

but otherhand for interor of the box and outside of the box it very typical i do see it painted in diffrent colour depending on what type of circuit it used for.

Merci, Marc
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Marc, I agree, I have never seen a busbar marked orange either, but it is allowed.

As far as inside boxes this is very common, and on insulation, if an insulation is marked oil resistant (and even if it's not) I would certainly think it could protect against most "non-etching" type paints.

Roger
 
I am not saying the inspector is right by the way just that if he insists it is in righting in the nec. We all know that it happens all the time. We all also know the nec is subject to other interpretations. I am mearly stating my experience with this and what the inspector backed it up with. He retired thank god. Just easier for me to cover them up no sheetrock mud as well. I think it saves me time and grief if another inspector makes me clean each individual wire and breaker and bussbar in a panel.
 
Terrynistler said:
.


con?tam?i?nate(kn-tm-nt)
tr.v. con?tam?i?nated, con?tam?i?nat?ing, con?tam?i?nates
1. To make impure or unclean by contact or mixture.
2. To expose to or permeate with radioactivity
Click to expand...

And if I apply the paint in a deliberate and planned method, I don't think I'm making it unclean, I'm applying a durable and cleanable finish.

This is just another badly worded section with no real meaning.

Our motor shop uses different coatings in rebuilding motors, some are just paint, so if I used one of these say in red, would this inspector have a issue. :)

Roger
 
I agree with ya roger about the paint but there are some paint that have pretty good contivite espcally with some type of paint.


I have one person whom he is pro painter and he say there are few paints that can conduct the electricity [ he say typically with metal flake paints do that ]

as again the panelboard with orange bussbar that kinda pretty rare and some case it will be specal order myself i personally havent see painted bussbar but the lugs or wire itself yeah it marked

Merci, Marc
 
Who's respondsiblity (wow) is it to keep the paint out ??

Can the painters paint anything they want, with no repercussions ??

If the EI tags you on this, can you take it to the GC and get paid to remove

the paint.

Anybody have the low down on the way around this problem???
 
The key to the section is the words "no damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment". Paint on the inside of a box does none of those things. What about bigger boxes that come from the manufacturer fully painted on the inside?
Don
 
Don,

It's the paint on the wires ie. rough-in that is in question here, somehow it

got turned around to paint in the box. On lots of jobs, after the sheetrockers

finish, they spray paint the walls and all the rough wiring in the boxes are

painted, you have to scrape it off just to see what color conductor you are

working on. What are your feelings on this.
 
The biggest issue that I see from paint(overspray) in the device box is the paint on the bare equipment grounds that has to be scraped off.

How many guys actually perform this step?

I think it's funny that the painters will take great care in taping/plastic/tarping off all kinds of other equipment as to not get paint or overspray on those things, but our electrical items seem to be conveniently overlooked as if to be less important.
 
Frank,
I don't see the paint on the wires as a safety or electrical hazard, assuming that you are stripping them after the paint was applied.
Don
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Frank,
I don't see the paint on the wires as a safety or electrical hazard, assuming that you are stripping them after the paint was applied.
Don
Click to expand...


Yeah, just have to scrape paint off of the insulation to see what color you've got. Thats better than the wires being ate up by a sheetrockers router though.:mad:
 
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