Vapor proof residential boxes?

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beegee

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MN
I'd like to finish off my basement but its been a long time since I've done any residential work. When I worked residential (almost ten years ago) we were required to use the vapor-proof residential boxes with the flange on any outside wall. Has that changed or is that still a code requirement? Because I'd rather not....they are more expensive and a little harder to work with.
 
beegee said:
I'd like to finish off my basement but its been a long time since I've done any residential work. When I worked residential (almost ten years ago) we were required to use the vapor-proof residential boxes with the flange on any outside wall. Has that changed or is that still a code requirement? Because I'd rather not....they are more expensive and a little harder to work with.
Vaporproof in residential? I hardly think not.
 
You hardly think not? Anyway.......ok maybe vapor proof is not the word for it. They are plastic with a foam insulating pad around a flange on the front of the box and where the romex goes in to prevent air from escaping. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?
 
beegee said:
You hardly think not? Anyway.......ok maybe vapor proof is not the word for it. They are plastic with a foam insulating pad around a flange on the front of the box and where the romex goes in to prevent air from escaping. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Sounds more like an energy-saving feature, like the foam pads you put behind cover plates on exterior walls.
 
beegee said:
I'd like to finish off my basement but its been a long time since I've done any residential work. When I worked residential (almost ten years ago) we were required to use the vapor-proof residential boxes with the flange on any outside wall. Has that changed or is that still a code requirement? Because I'd rather not....they are more expensive and a little harder to work with.

Are you in Canada by any chance?
 
Yeah, air tight. They're similiar to the boxes in the posted link, but slightly different, and all of the boxes I've used have been black. I'm not in Canada, but pretty close........Minnesota. I'm wondering if maybe it was just a local requirement, but I'm curious if its still required. I know they used to try and seal houses extremely tight around here until they realized that the houses were just like plastic bags and they held moisture in. Now they prefer to let the houses breath a little more so maybe they're not required. I guess its a question for the inspector but I thought someone here might have some info......
 
Oh and it was the boxes themselves that had the flange on it.....not a separate airtight box like is in the previous link....
 
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