How are 2023 NEC accessibility requirements for electrical boxes and handhole enclosures different from previous codes?
314.29 Boxes, Conduit Bodies, and Handhole Enclosures to Be Accessible
Overview
| Boxes, conduit bodies, and handhole enclosures play a crucial role in supplying electricity to buildings. The choice of installation site is critical as it impacts the accessibility and ease of addressing potential issues. NEC Section 314.29 specifies that all electrical boxes, conduit bodies, and fittings must be easily accessible without requiring removal of any part of the building structure or finish. In the 2023 version, this section was updated to include specific requirements for underground listed boxes and handhole enclosures. |  |
Applying the 2023 Code
Boxes, conduit bodies, and fittings are installed either within or near buildings to house and safeguard electrical connections, junctions, and terminations. Regular inspections and maintenance are essential for their proper operation. However, these tasks can only be carried out if the wiring and devices are accessible to maintenance personnel. Therefore, accessibility is a critical consideration when choosing installation locations. Improved accessibility enhances the safety, reliability, and functionality of the electrical system, facilitating prompt resolution of any issues that may arise.
Section 314.29 in previous versions of the NEC specified permissible installation locations for boxes, conduit bodies, and fittings to maintain accessibility. It mandated that these components must be accessible within buildings and structures without requiring structural removal. For underground installations of handhole enclosures and boxes, the code required accessibility without excavating sidewalks, paving, or earth, with exceptions allowed for covered installation under gravel, light aggregate, or noncohesive granulated soil. These materials permit easy excavation, when necessary, provided installation locations are effectively identified and accessible for excavation. In the 2023 version, this section has been updated to prioritize detailed location descriptions over mere identification. Rather than just identifying locations, the code now mandates that detailed descriptions of the location must be available to authorized inspection and maintenance personnel. This change enables personnel to accurately and efficiently locate boxes and handhole enclosures for inspection or maintenance, enhancing the overall safety and maintainability of the electrical system.
What’s New for the 2023 NEC?
The table below presents a comparison between the 2020 NEC and the 2023 NEC regarding Section 314.29.
| 2020 NEC | 2023 NEC |
| 314.29 Boxes, Conduit Bodies, and Handhole Enclosures to Be Accessible
Boxes, conduit bodies, and handhole enclosures shall be installed so that wiring contained in them can be rendered accessible in accordance with 314.29(A) and (B). (A) In Buildings and Other Structures Boxes and conduit bodies shall be installed so the contained wiring can be accessed without removing any part of the building or structure. (B) Underground Underground boxes and handhole enclosures shall be installed so they are accessible without excavating sidewalks, paving, earth, or other substance that is to be used to establish the finished grade. Exception: Listed boxes and handhole enclosures shall be permitted where covered by gravel, light aggregate, or noncohesive granulated soil if their location is effectively identified and accessible for excavation. |
314.29 Boxes, Conduit Bodies, and Handhole Enclosures to Be Accessible
Boxes, conduit bodies, and handhole enclosures shall be installed so that wiring and devices contained in the boxes, conduit bodies, or handhole enclosures can be rendered accessible in accordance with 314.29(A) and (B). (A) In Buildings and Other Structures Boxes and conduit bodies shall be installed so the contained wiring and devices are accessible. (B) Underground Underground boxes and handhole enclosures shall be installed so they are accessible without excavating sidewalks, paving, earth, or other substance that is to be used to establish the finished grade. Exception: Listed boxes and handhole enclosures shall be permitted where covered by gravel, light aggregate, or noncohesive granulated soil if their location is effectively described and accessible for excavation. The location description shall be available to those authorized to access, maintain, or inspect the wiring. |
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