Residential Boxes & Ground Clips

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Greg Swartz

Greg Swartz

Senior Member
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ok, I got a question for you all...

My guys just failed an inspection yesterday, and the inspector said that we needed ground clips in the plastic box.

I'm not going to fight the issue, but can anyone tell me why am I grounding a plastic box?

I'm guessing it is the round boxes, because most of them come with a ground clip, (and a couple did not) and there is no place to ground a square / rectangular box.

I don't mean to sound like a n00b... but thanks.
 
Greg Swartz said:
Ok, I got a question for you all...

My guys just failed an inspection yesterday, and the inspector said that we needed ground clips in the plastic box.

I don't mean to sound like a n00b... but thanks.
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I am really sorry to hear that such foolishness is actually really happening. There is such great access to information today, I cannot see how this is even happening.

Please ask him what the purpose of the ground clip is.


The only saving grace may be that your men misunderstood what he was asking for.
 
bphgravity said:
I think you need to give the inspector a call. There has to be some sort of miscommunication going on in the mix...
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I agree and if not have site a code section.
 
Are these the boxes in question?

BK1B22.jpg


If so, I don't understand why they need that little ground clip either, or why they even make them that way. It's certainly not an NEC requirement. That fact that they make them suggests there is a demand for them, so there must be some reason why they are used.
 
peter d said:
Are these the boxes in question?

BK1B22.jpg


If so, I don't understand why they need that little ground clip either, or why they even make them that way. It's certainly not an NEC requirement. That fact that they make them suggests there is a demand for them, so there must be some reason why they are used.
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As far as those 4" rd boxes think of a metal blank cover.
 
iwire said:
They make plastic device plates as well but you still have to provide a way to ground them. :smile:

M. D. said:
What:-? :-?

iwire said:
404.9(B) ...................
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I thought iwire had finally lost his mind...


....then I remember how clever iwire is :cool:

Just because it's provided does not mean it must be used:smile:
 
Greg Swartz said:
Ok, I got a question for you all...

My guys just failed an inspection yesterday, and the inspector said that we needed ground clips in the plastic box.

I'm not going to fight the issue, but can anyone tell me why am I grounding a plastic box?

I'm guessing it is the round boxes, because most of them come with a ground clip, (and a couple did not) and there is no place to ground a square / rectangular box.

I don't mean to sound like a n00b... but thanks.
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I give up, why would you ground a plastic box? Or was he complaining that the box came with the little ground clip for the fixture wire and it was missing, therefore he was truly worried about the UL listing of the box? Or something? I personally don't fret that stuff. I like bigger issues. Like phase legs having the GEC tied into them and stuff.:cool:
 
M. D. said:
Not sure I understand all these short answers. Is this the section ??
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404.9(B) if you read the section requires that a means be provided to ground metal switch plates even if plastic plates are used.
 
I still fail to see why a plastic box is required to have a ground clip ??? What am I missing??
 
M. D. said:
I still fail to see why a plastic box is required to have a ground clip ??? What am I missing??
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I have no idea why the OPs inspector is requiring a ground clip in a plastic box

My comments in this thread relate only to Peter D's picture and question of a 4" rd plastic box with a factory provided grounding screw and why the manufacturer of that box felt the need to provide it.

Do not try to extend any of my comments into the OPs situation. :smile:
 
iwire said:
I have no idea why the OPs inspector is requiring a ground clip in a plastic box

My comments in this thread relate only to Peter D's picture and question of a 4" rd plastic box with a factory provided grounding screw and why the manufacturer of that box felt the need to provide it.

Do not try to extend any of my comments into the OPs situation. :smile:
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OK,.. just as long as we agree it is the device that 404.9 (B) is talking about and not a box with or without a grounding clip...
 
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