Overview

NEC Reference
®
Boxes & Covers — Steel City® Metallic Boxes

Article 314 of the National Electrical Code® covers the installation and use of
boxes. The article includes table references that guide the electrician in the
selection of the proper box size necessary to safely accommodate electrical
service requirements. The box capacity table shown (page A-5) is reproduced
in part from the NEC® as a quick reference and guide. The NEC® should be
consulted for complete details.

Article 314 — Boxes and Fittings

314.16 Number of Conductors in Outlet, Device, and Junction
Boxes, and Conduit Bodies.
Boxes and conduit bodies shall be of sufficient size to provide free space
for all enclosed conductors. In no case shall the volume of the box, as
calculated in 314.16(A), be less than the fill calculation as calculated in
314.16(B). The minimum volume for conduit bodies shall be as calculated
in 314.16(C).
The provisions of this section shall not apply to terminal housings supplied
with motors or generators. Informational Note: For volume requirements
of motor or generator terminal housings, see Article 430.12. Boxes and (3) S upport Fittings Fill. Where one or more luminaire studs or hickeys
conduit bodies enclosing conductors #4 AWG or larger shall also comply are present in the box, a single volume allowance in accordance with
with the provisions of 314.28. Table 314.16(B) shall be made for each type of fitting based on the
largest conductor present in the box.
(A) Box Volume Calculations. (4) D evice or Equipment Fill. For each yoke or strap containing one or
The volume of a wiring enclosure (box) shall be the total volume of more devices or equipment, a double volume allowance in accordance
the assembled sections and, where used, the space provided by plaster with Table 314.16(B) shall be made for each yoke or strap based on the
rings, domed covers, extension rings and so forth, that are marked with largest conductor connected to a device(s) or equipment supported by
their volume or are made from boxes the dimensions of which are listed that yoke or strap. A device or utilization equipment wider than a single
in Table 314.16(A). 50mm (2 in.) device box as described in Table 314.16(A) shall have
(1) Standard Boxes. The volumes of standard boxes that are not marked double volume allowances provided for each gang required for mounting.
with their volume shall be as given in Table 314.16(A). (5) E quipment Grounding Conductor Fill. Where one or more equipment
(2) Other Boxes. Boxes 1650 cm3 (100 in.3) or less, other than those grounding conductors or equipment bonding jumpers enter a box,
described in Table 314.16(A), and nonmetallic boxes shall be durably a single volume allowance in accordance with Table 314.16(B) shall
and legibly marked by the manufacturer with their volume. Boxes be made based on the largest equipment grounding conductor or
described in Table 314.16(A) that have a volume larger than is equipment bonding jumper present in the box. Where an additional set
designated in the table shall be permitted to have their volume of equipment grounding conductors, as permitted by 250.146(D), is
marked as required by this section. present in the box, an additional volume allowance shall be made based
on the largest equipment grounding conductor in the additional set.
(B) Box Fill Calculations.
(C) Conduit Bodies.
The volumes in paragraphs 314.16(B)(I) through (B)(5), as applicable, shall
be added together. No allowance shall be required for small fittings such (1) G eneral. Conduit bodies enclosing #6 AWG conductors or smaller,
as locknuts and bushings. other than short-radius conduit bodies as described in 314.16(C)(2),
shall have a cross-sectional area not less than twice the cross-sectional
(1) Conductor Fill. Each conductor that originates outside the box area ofthe largest conduit or tubing to which they can be attached.
and terminates or is spliced within the box shall be counted once, The maximum number of conductors permitted shall be the maximum
and each conductor that passes through the box without splice or number permitted by Table 1 of Chapter 9 for the conduit or tubing to
termination shall be counted once. Each loop or coil of unbroken which it is attached.
conductor not less than twice the minimum length required for free
conductors in 300.14 shall be counted twice. The conductor fill shall be (2) W
 ith Splices, Taps or Devices. Only those conduit bodies that are
calculated using Table 314.16(B). A conductor, no part of which leaves durably and legibly marked by the manufacturer with their volume shall
the box, shall not be counted. be permitted to contain splices, taps or devices. The maximum number
of conductors shall be calculated in accordance with 314.16(B). Conduit
Exception: An equipment grounding conductor or conductors not over bodies shall be supported in a rigid and secure manner.
four fixture wires smaller than #14 AWG, or both, shall be permitted to
be omitted from the calculations where they enter a box from a domed (3) S
 hort-Radius Conduit Bodies. Conduit bodies such as capped elbows
luminaire or similar canopy and terminate within that box. and service-entrance elbows that enclose conductors #6 AWG or
smaller, and are only intended to enable the installation of the raceway
(2) Clamp Fill. Where one or more internal cable clamps, whether factory and the contained conductors, shall not contain splices, taps or devices
or field supplied, are present in the box, a single volume allowance in and shall be of sufficient size to provide free space for all conductors
accordance with Table 314.16(B) shall be made based on the largest enclosed in the conduit body.
conductor present in the box. No allowance shall be required for a cable
connector with its clamping mechanism outside the box.

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A-4 800.816.7809
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Overview
Article 314 — Boxes and Fittings (continued)

Boxes & Covers — Steel City® Metallic Boxes

Table 314.16(A) Table 314.16(B)
Metal Boxes Volume Allowance Required per Conductor
Minimum Size of Free Space Within Box For Each Conductor
Box Trade Maximum Number
Volume Conductor
Size of Conductors*
(AWG) cm3 in.3
mm (in.) cm3 in.3 18 16 14 12 10 8 6
100 x 32 (4 x 11⁄4) Round/Octagonal 205 12.5 8 7 6 5 5 5 2 No. 18 24.6 1.50
100 x 38 (4 x 11⁄2) Round/Octagonal 254 15.5 10 8 7 6 6 5 3 No. 16 28.7 1.75
100 x 54 (4 x 21⁄8) Round/Octagonal 353 21.5 14 12 10 9 8 7 4 No. 14 32.8 2.00
100 x 32 (4 x 11⁄4) Square 295 18.0 12 10 9 8 7 6 3 No. 12 36.9 2.25
100 x 38 (4 x 11⁄2) Square 344 21.0 14 12 10 9 8 7 4 No. 10 41.0 2.50
100 x 54 (4 x 21⁄8) Square 497 30.3 20 17 15 13 12 10 6 No. 8 49.2 3.00
120 x 32 (4L x 11⁄4) Square 418 25.5 17 14 12 11 10 8 5 No. 6 81.9 5.00
120 x 38 (4L x 11⁄2) Square 484 29.5 19 16 14 13 11 9 5 Reprinted with permission from National Fire Protection Association NFPA70-2011.
120 x 54 (4L x 21⁄8) Square 689 42.0 28 24 21 18 16 14 8 National Electrical Code, Copyright© 2010, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy,
75 x 50 x 38 (3 x 2 x 11⁄2) Device 123 7.5 5 4 3 3 3 2 1 MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of the NFPA
75 x 50 x 50 (3 x 2 x 2) Device 164 10.0 6 5 5 4 4 3 2 on the referenced subject which is represented only by the standard in its entirety.
75 x 50 x 57 (3 x 2 x 21⁄4) Device 172 10.5 7 6 5 4 4 3 2 NEC® is a registered trademark of the National Fire Protection Association, Inc.,
75 x 50 x 65 (3 x 2 x 21⁄2) Device 205 12.5 8 7 6 5 5 4 2 Quincy, MA 02269.
75 x 50 x 70 (3 x 2 x 23⁄4) Device 230 14.0 9 8 7 6 5 4 2 Underwriters Laboratories Inc. File Number: E2969 (U.L. 514A)
75 x 50 x 90 (3 x 2 x 31⁄2) Device 295 18.0 12 10 9 8 7 6 3 Canadian Standards Association File Number: LR 12798
Federal Manufacture Number: 56501
100 x 54 x 38 (4 x 21⁄8 x 11⁄2) Device 169 10.3 6 5 5 4 4 3 2
Products designed to meet Federal Specification Number: A-A5924 (formerly W-J-800).
100 x 54 x 48 (4 x 21⁄8 x 17⁄8) Device 213 13.0 8 7 6 5 5 4 2
Verification of file numbers and compliance with federal specifications for individual items
100 x 54 x 54 (4 x 21⁄8 x 21⁄8) Device 238 14.5 9 8 7 6 5 4 2
available upon request.
95 x 50 x 65 (33⁄4 x 2 x 21⁄2) Masonry Box/Gang 230 14.0 9 8 7 6 5 4 2 Box and cover material and plating specification; .062" minimum thickness,
95 x 50 x 90 (33⁄4 x 2 x 31⁄2) Masonry Box/Gang 344 21.0 14 12 10 9 8 7 4 hot-rolled, pre-galvanized steel, minimum spangle.
Min. 44.5 depth FS – Single-Cover/Gang (13⁄4) 221 13.5 9 7 6 6 5 4 2 ASTM G-60-U, AISI C-1008
Min. 60.3 depth FD – Single-Cover/Gang (23⁄8) 295 18.0 12 10 9 8 7 6 3 Bracket material: All brackets except MS style; 16 gauge (.060") hot rolled, pre-
Min. 44.5 depth FS – Multiple-Cover/Gang (13⁄4) 295 18.0 12 10 9 8 7 6 3 galvanized steel AISI C-1008, G-60-U. MS Style bracket; 20 gauge (.036") cold rolled
Min. 60.3 depth FD – Multiple-Cover/Gang (23⁄8) 395 24.0 16 13 12 10 9 8 4 spring steel AISI C-1055, heat treated to R. 35 zinc plated .0005 thick.

*Where no volume allowances are required by 314.16(B)(2) through 314.16(B)(5).

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. File Number: E2969 (U.L. 514A) Metallic Boxes — Fire Resistance Rating
Canadian Standards Association File Number: LR 12798
Federal Manufacture Number: 56501 (Cage Code) Wall Penetrations
Products designed to meet Federal Specification Number: W-J-800
Verification of file numbers and compliance with federal specifications for individual items
Listed single- and double-gang metallic outlet and switch boxes and
octagon ceiling boxes with metallic or non-metallic cover plates may be
available upon request.
used in bearing and non-bearing wood stud and steel stud walls with ratings
Box and cover material and plating specification; .062" minimum thickness, hot rolled,
not exceeding 2 hours. These walls shall have gypsum wallboard facings
pre-galvanized steel, minimum spangle. similar to those shown in Design Nos. U301, U411, and U425. 4 in. square
ASTM G-60-U, AISI C-1008 boxes may be used in 2 hr. fire rated ceilings.
Bracket material: All brackets except MS style; 16 gauge (.060") hot rolled, pre-
galvanized steel AISI C-1008, G-90-U. MS style bracket; 20 gauge (.036") cold rolled The surface area of individual metallic outlet or switch boxes shall not
spring steel AISI C-1055, heat treated to R. 35 zinc plated .0005 thick.
exceed 16 sq. in. The aggregate surface area of the boxes shall not exceed
100 sq. inches per 100 sq. ft. of wall. Boxes located on opposite sides of
walls or partitions shall be separated by a horizontal distance of 24 inches.
The metallic outlet or switch boxes shall be securely fastened to the studs
and the opening in the wallboard facing shall be cut so that the clearance
between the box and the wallboard does not exceed 1⁄8 in.

United States Technical Services

www.tnb.com Tel: 901.252.8000 Tel: 888.862.3289
800.816.7809 A-5
Fax: 901.252.1354