Covered Outlet box in ceiling???what now?

[chopped]

Hello . In my adventure to replace a ceiling with wood, I came across ,first two electrical boxes with no covers in them ,and they were 'burried'.I understand the law as pertains to it having to be accesible and have a cover so I decided to have them 'show' int he ceiling and have a cover over them.I could mount the two side by side and use a plastic cover ont hem and not look to bad. But then as more ceiling come down I found another one.:confused2::laughing:
So now what?
In an ideal place I understand the law. But I am considering covering them , and leaving them above the ceiling, and possible making the pine ceiling have a removable piece of wood to get to them. Of cource I know where they are.
So my question is, is the law based on being able to access them?? Only or is there some fire hazard involved?
I know the answers on this will be all over the place, and I will do what i do.But id like to know the reasons behind this law.Thanks..

 

[johnrex62]

I am not an electrician and am not aware of any code in my area that requires a junction box to be accessible as you describe, so I cannot comment on the why it is in your area's code.

As to the potential of increased risk, yes. Any connection of electrical wire is more prone to shorts and over-heating than a continous piece of wire, so technically there is a higher risk of fire at a connection than on a solid run. I don't know how an access point mitigates that risk unless you also have a program of routinely opening that access and redoing each wire connection on a regular basis to ensure the tightness of the joints.

I can understand the desire to have access to any junction box for utilitarian purposes. The reason the box is there in the first place is that it made sense at some point to have a fixture there or it was a logical place to split a run into multiple directions. If the need was there once, it is likely that it will be there again.

Why it became a legal requirement? I dunno.

 

[grsthegreat]

I am an electrician..and no you are not allowed by code to cover any junction box. You can leave it in an attic as long as you can get access to it if needed. you are not allowed to bury it in insulation . it has to be visible.

If you place them so it is covered in wood siding, you can install a metal cover plate and paint it to match the wood. Cant bury it though.

 

[Soundguy]

could it be recessed, with an approved metal cover, then a wood coverplate that was removeable, added on top of it in a cosmetic manner?

 

[hr3]

I too am an electrian.. and need more infomation??
#1- Is there any power in the boxes in question ??
#2 - How many wires in each box ??
#3 - Any idea where the wires go ??
#4 - Are you going to be putting in any ceiling lights or smoke's ??

 

[chopped]

I too am an electrian.. and need more infomation??
#1- Is there any power in the boxes in question ??
#2 - How many wires in each box ??
#3 - Any idea where the wires go ??
#4 - Are you going to be putting in any ceiling lights or smoke's ??

#1 Yes there is power 15 amps
#2 wires, two have three the other has one.
#3 Yes absolutly...
#4 no lights etc

 

[hr3]

The one with just one wire do you know where the wire goes so that it can be disconected???

 

[MikeInEburg]

A viable solution may be to re-wire all devices in play - moving junction boxes to a location that would better suit.
Mike

 

[hr3]

A viable solution may be to re-wire all devices in play - moving junction boxes to a location that would better suit.
Mike

Same thing I was thinking Mike,,

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. that's where I was going to next.. relocat ethe box so it's not a celining box.. but rather just move it up into the crawl space / attic.. etc..