Horizontal safe zone with 'dry lining' back boxes

[JohnW2]

Hi folks,

I the eyes of those who feel that the letter of the regs should be strictly complied with, is there any way (other than trying to drill a hole in upper/lower parts of the side of the box) of utilising the horizontal 'zone' ('safe' or 'dangerous', depending on how one looks at it!) created by an accessory mounted on a 'dry lining' back box ?

On the face of it, given that the only intended cable entries are on top and bottom of such a box, it would seem that if one wanted to run a cable horizontally from the accessory, a (very small) part of the cable (near the top corner of the box) would not be within either the horizontal or vertical zones created by the accessory.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

On the face of it, given that the only intended cable entries are on top and bottom of such a box, it would seem that if one wanted to run a cable horizontally from the accessory, a (very small) part of the cable (near the top corner of the box) would not be within either the horizontal or vertical zones created by the accessory.

Would the dry lining box, even be obviously a dry lining box, with the accessory connected and screwed up in place?

 

[Murdochcat]

I would drill a hole in the back of the box

 

[JohnW2]

Would the dry lining box, even be obviously a dry lining box, with the accessory connected and screwed up in place?

No it wouldn't - but 'so what' ?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

No it wouldn't - but 'so what' ?

Then the horizontal safe zone must exist, and can be made use of. What's to prevent you taking the cable out of a top, or bottom entry, and around the corner to the horizontal safe zone? Common sense, suggests that no one would attempt to drill or nail, that close to an accessory.

 

[JohnW2]

Then the horizontal safe zone must exist ....

That's obviously true, no matter how the accessory is 'attached.

.... and can be made use of.

That's not inevitable, and is why I asked the question.

What's to prevent you taking the cable out of a top, or bottom entry, and around the corner to the horizontal safe zone?

As I said, that bit 'around the corner' would be in neither the horizontal nor vertical zone created by the accessory.

Common sense, suggests that no one would attempt to drill or nail, that close to an accessory.

I agree (in terms of common sense) but that's why I said my question related to those who felt that the regs should be 'strictly adhered to'. I've certainly seen occasions when, here and elsewhere, people have been told that cables are 'outside of permitted zones' (hence 'not acceptable) when they are only very slightly outside of the zone!

 

[JohnW2]

I would drill a hole in the back of the box

Yes, that's an obvious solution (provided one could drill the hole without destroying the box!) - but one which makes me realise that I was being silly in my thinking ...

In the situation I'm thinking about, I could not do as you suggest, since the plasterboard is attached to battens on a brick wall, such that there is only just about enough space for a dry lining box (i.e. it would be virtually touching the brick wall). However, the truly 'obvious' solution (which had not initially occurred to me) would be to simply attach a metal back box to the bricks behind!

 

[Murdochcat]

Some dry line boxes have knockouts on the top and bottom edges which may help you

 

[JohnW2]

Some dry line boxes have knockouts on the top and bottom edges which may help you

If the knockout went at least slightly 'around the corner' (onto the side of the box) that would certainly address the problem I was talking about, but I don't think I've ever seen a box such as you describe - do you know what makes might be like that?

 

[Scally-Ho]

Then the horizontal safe zone must exist, and can be made use of. What's to prevent you taking the cable out of a top, or bottom entry, and around the corner to the horizontal safe zone? Common sense, suggests that no one would attempt to drill or nail, that close to an accessory.

 

[JohnW2]

As I said, I totally agree as regards common sense, and I would personally not hesitate to run a cable 'around the corner' of a backbox.

However, as I said, I was asking the question in relation to the minds of those who felt that strict adherence to the regs was 'essential' (some of whom, unfortunately, undertake EICRs ) - since, strictly speaking, what we're talking about would be 'non-compliant'

 

[pete01]

How? You come out of the side it's in the zone?

 

[JohnW2]

How? You come out of the side it's in the zone?

That's obviously what one would ideally do.

However, as I've said, I personally have never seen a 'dry lining' box with manufactured provision for cable entry at the side. Much of the side is invariably taken up by the 'gripping mechanism', so one could only 'come out of the side' if (as I mentioned in the OP) one could successfully drill a hole near the top of the bottom of the side without damaging something.

 

[pete01]

That's obviously what one would ideally do.

However, as I've said, I personally have never seen a 'dry lining' box with manufactured provision for cable entry at the side. Much of the side is invariably taken up by the 'gripping mechanism', so one could only 'come out of the side' if (as I mentioned in the OP) one could successfully drill a hole near the top of the bottom of the side without damaging something.

I see what you mean now, usually there will be space behind so come out the back and then go left or right.

 

[pete01]

To be honest I only use a fast fix if I really have to you cant beat a metal box on a noggin....