ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Existing wire ratings with 90C Fixtures

I have seen several work arounds and heard of others.

1. If you see this is a box on a bar hanger, remove the box, attach a second handy box to one side with a chase nipple or offset nipple. Move the NM to the new box. Make a splice to some NM-b or THHN in the second box and put a cover on it. Then you can shove the whole cludge up past the bar and reattach it. This is still "accessible" since you installed it without disturbing the finish.

2. Some kind of shrink tubing to bring the NM up to 90c standards YMMV on this with the AHJ.

3. Knock the old "nail on box" out, splice the NM to NM-b with an Enerflex device and install an old work (bar hanger) box. Or see #1 once the box is gone.

In chicago and burbs, there is very little NM. The boxes are all hard piped, this makes changes a little more difficult. Of course it makes it easier to repull new wires. But a homeowner isn't happy to hear they have to rewire part of the house to change out a light fixture.

Now the other question is, does the listing require the wires connected to the fixture wires to be 90C or all the wires in the J-box? When the J-box is part of the assembly of the fixture such as can lights, I can see it, but a j-box mounted in the ceiling? If it is just the connected wires, then add some new pigtails to the old wire.

If the old insulation is falling off the existing wires, then it is not really insulation anymore and must be replaced anyways.