Hi everyone,
I’m a new inspector in the Savannah GA area. I came across this am I’m not sure how to assess it. It’s in a half-bathroom, newer build house (built in 2020). It’s a drainage pipe coming from the second floor laundry room and the builder cut the electrical box to fit around the pipe. The box is for a wall mounted light.
I’m having a hard time finding anything regarding if this would constitute a material defect and any electrical code violations.
It’s a very common problem when dumb plumbers run their vent lines straight up through the area where the light fixture box is needed. The box in the photo is not designed to be cut and altered in that matter so this would certainly violate the listing of the box. They do manufacturer “pancake” boxes for this type of problem.
110.3(B) Installation and Use.
Equipment that is listed, labeled, or both shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.
Home inspectors are not code compliance inspectors. Sometimes, you just have to use a little common sense. It should be obvious that the electrical box is not intended to house plumbing. Being a dumb thing to do doesn’t mean that it will affect the habitability or value of the home, thus, it is not a material defect. If we listed every stupid thing builders do (or allow to be done), as a material defect almost every house would have material defects.
Here is the pancake junction box that Robert mentioned that would have been a better choice in this situation. I do not think there is anything dangerous about the current installation, just unorthodox and impractical (dumb).
I agree. The PVC pipe isn’t going any problems but it’s still incorrect. While we’re at the Sheetrock screw holding the mounting plate in is wrong too.
Pretty confusing. Looks like the PVC pipe was there BEFORE the box was added (box has ears on the OUTSIDE of the drywall). You can fault the plumber for not reading the blueprints, but the electrician isn’t too bright either.
The J-box is now open to the stud cavity due to the plumbing vent, so it’s still a fire issue if the electrical connections fail, especially with how great the workmanship on the electrical install is so far.
Not saying it’s required for this installation but many plastic electrical boxes have a 2-hour fire rating. Boxes are also designed to keep any arcing that may occur within the box which as Yu has pointed out the box has been compromised. With readily available code complaint options this amounts to potentially dangerous hack work.
That’s not an old work box. It’s not a box of any kind. It is a flange used for communication and low voltage wiring. Power wiring needs to be in a box.
