If a box is added to a vertical electrcial riser (480 volt) in an non-accessible shaft (slab at each floor) solely to accomodate a support bushing and support wedge does this box need to be accessible? There are no splices in the box, and the box is not required for pulling purposes.
Vertical Riser Cable Support
- Thread starter wjfee79
- Start date
- Status
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
WJ, welcome to the forum! 
I would think access, though not ready access, is required in case, for example, the conductors ever need replacing.
I would think access, though not ready access, is required in case, for example, the conductors ever need replacing.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I agree, access is required. The code does not give exceptions for boxes that are there for support. If someone should pull the cable out and not pull a rope along with it, then it would be difficult to get a line thru there.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I agree the box requires access. This is a common problem when running risers vertically through buildings that have ten story lobby's. :roll:
About 8 years ago, I went to look at a job at the Prudential Center in Boston to run a couple of 4" conduits from the basement to the roof.
It was about 50 floors.
The route was a smoke shaft that had many other conduits that were existing.
This shaft was similar to an elevator shaft, but it was open on the roof and had a door on every floor with a chain link gate.
I was told that the only way to access this shaft was with a bosons chair rigged from the roof.
I got a quote to rig the shaft and it was about $10,000.
The shaft had support boxes on the walls.
It wasn't very easy or cheep, but it was accessible.
It was about 50 floors.
The route was a smoke shaft that had many other conduits that were existing.
This shaft was similar to an elevator shaft, but it was open on the roof and had a door on every floor with a chain link gate.
I was told that the only way to access this shaft was with a bosons chair rigged from the roof.
I got a quote to rig the shaft and it was about $10,000.
The shaft had support boxes on the walls.
It wasn't very easy or cheep, but it was accessible.
OZ Gedney Cable Support Device
OZ Gedney Cable Support Device
FYI
I found an OZ Gedney cable support device, the QA 12, which provides intermediate support of vertical conductors where a pull box is "unavailable". Per OZ Gedney this device meets NEC 300.19(A). (Probably as "a method of equal effectiveness" per NEC 300.19(C)(4)).
Thank you all for your responses to this issue.
OZ Gedney Cable Support Device
FYI
I found an OZ Gedney cable support device, the QA 12, which provides intermediate support of vertical conductors where a pull box is "unavailable". Per OZ Gedney this device meets NEC 300.19(A). (Probably as "a method of equal effectiveness" per NEC 300.19(C)(4)).
Thank you all for your responses to this issue.
- Status