410.118 Access to Other Boxes.

If the box can only be accessed by removing the luminaire below it, then it’s a code violation.
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If the box can only be accessed by removing the luminaire below it, then it’s a code violation.

Code Change Summary: New code section addressing access to junction boxes behind a recessed luminaire.

Access to junction boxes above a hard lid ceiling has always been a major issue. Inspectors often issue red tags when a box is installed above a ceiling where the only way to reach it is to remove a light fixture.

For a service electrician, troubleshooting a circuit can be a nightmare when a box is installed above a hard lid sheetrock ceiling and no one knows it except for the original electrician who initially installed the electrical system for the building.

In the 2020 NEC®, boxes above a hard lid ceiling that are only reached by removing a luminaire are a code violation unless the box is an integral part of the luminaire.

Below is a preview of the NEC®. See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2020 NEC® edition of NFPA 70.

2017 Code Language:

This code section did not exist.

2020 Code Language:

N 410.118 Access to Other Boxes. Luminaires recessed in ceilings, floors, or walls shall not be used to access outlet, pull, or junction boxes or conduit bodies, unless the box or conduit body is an integral part of the listed luminaire.

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410.118 Access to Other Boxes.

Below is a Real Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for Electrical License Renewal:

Based on the 2020 NEC, which of the following is true?

A: Luminaires are not permitted to be recessed in walls.
B: Luminaires recessed in walls shall not be used to access junction boxes unless the box is an integral part of the listed luminaire.
C: Boxes behind a luminaire must be listed for use within a ceiling space.
D: Boxes are not permitted to be an integral part of a luminaire.
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