When is a junction box not accessible?

W

WD40

Member
Location
Philly
Occupation
Electrician
Question for the residential folks in the group, I know its code a junction box has to be accessible not sure where it says that but I know it in there.
I am having a friendly debate with a colleague about putting a bunch of junction boxes in a attic, its a fairly tight attic almost a flat roof no floor, I could never crawl in there but somebody much thinner than me could (its now open from below), they are planning to fill the space with blown in insulation, when is junction box not considered not accessible?
 
infinity said:
Look at the definition of Accessible in Article 100.
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Sorry if this is a dumb question but is a residential junction box equipment or a wiring method or both ? Like a few 1900 box's some NM cables?
In commercial for equipment in a attic I'd have a to put down a plywood floor, have a GFCI and a light.
I got a text into my buddy who knows the building code here about what qualifies as an accessible attic in the building code hoping to get some insight on the NEC.
 
If you can't get anyone larger than a typical 2 year old back into the space, I would say it's not accessible. Have seen many times that at some point what may have started as accessible became a hidden J box after the second round of insulation guys came with blow in. Try to trouble shoot that one with "there's got to be a j box somewhere but where is it?"

Accessible (as applied to wiring methods).
Capable of being removed or exposed without damaging the building structure or finish or not permanently closed in or blocked by the structure, other electrical equipment, other building systems, or finish of the building.

Is insulation considered to be part of an "Other Building System"? It is referred to in IBC and ICC as a "Thermal Insulation System".
 
WD40 said:
Sorry if this is a dumb question but is a residential junction box equipment or a wiring method or both ? Like a few 1900 box's some NM cables?
In commercial for equipment in a attic I'd have a to put down a plywood floor, have a GFCI and a light.
I got a text into my buddy who knows the building code here about what qualifies as an accessible attic in the building code hoping to get some insight on the NEC.
Click to expand...
The rules for that box are found in Chapter 3 and Chapter 3 only covers wiring methods.
 
infinity said:
I always try and think about the next guy who may need to access the box. More often than not that next guy is me. :rolleyes:
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Dude, me too. Always. I tend to be the guy pushing the gang box on the truck and I have to deal with what everyone was too inept to do earlier
 
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