What are the rules about receptacle heights. I'm not talking about around countertops. Just normal switches and receptacle heights above the finished floor. I personally cannot find anything in the codebook about vertical heights. Any help would be appreciated.

If you are talking about the required (wall space) receptacles in article 210.52, 1.7M or 5½ feet is the max. No minimum is specified, in fact it can be floor mounted within 18" of the wall.
The ADA has guidelines but most of this does not apply to single family dwellings.

It's all up to the one who designed the plans, and if this is a custom house or not.

For the most part, I was taught to place them either 12" or 18" to the bottom of the box. I practice 12" mainly.

Then, go from there for any customization on special placement ones.

If you want to be a team player with the drywall guy you'll mount the switch boxes at 48" to the top so he don't have to cut out two pieces of drywall. Plus it makes a nicer job for you on the finish.

Agreed George, That's where I put them.
But then you always end up with a box full of mud. I even had them tape right over switch boxes and then sand and finish it smooth. But I always mark the floor so know where to find them later.

Blessings,
Mark

Interesting all this talk of measurements to the top or bottom of the box.

I was taught and all the plans I see show the measurements to the center of the box.

Since we use many types of boxes the measurement to the top or bottom would end up being inaccurate, unless you are measuring to the 6/32 hole.

I agree that most times there is no requirments for receptacle heights. Unless the ADA is in effect. However, if the plans call for receptacles to be at a certain height, I believe that the AHJ can fail you for not installing them at that height.

Reprint from the Macmikeman universal meglomaniac electrical codebook, section 4385.2250.(980)(qrst) Receptacle outlet heights shall be determined to be such that the top of the receptacle outlet box shall be mounted at the same height as the approximate length of the hammer device located in the right hand of the applicable installation machinery technician.

Is there some sort of mark at the center of the box? How do you get that exactly right?

George I agree about helping the sheetrockers out but you have to measure down from an eight foot ceiling 48 inches plus either 1/2 or 5/8 inches from the ceiling drywall as most rockers start the ceiling then go to the walls and start at top and work down so at the floor they usually have to trim the rock and usually it is covered by the base. Any ceiling up to 12 feet doesn't matter since the switch will be cut out somewhere in the second sheet.

Just plain old regular George,


Most times yes, you have to remember I almost never see plastic nail on boxes.

Here is the most common box and bracket we use.



The bracket has a > notch right on center.

Here is another way we mount.



In this case the bar gets mounted 18" AFF to center and the boxes get screwed to the bar.

Here I used the bar as the specifications gave a finish measurement of 2" between the voice / data plate and the receptacle plate.

[This message has been edited by iwire (edited 09-05-2005).]

I haven't seen MC run to boxes without external MC connectors on them. Pretty wild.

Nice service loop on the Cat-5. You have to punch your own holes for that, for the grommets? You use 1/2" or 1.25"? Seems like you use 1/2".

-Just me

Actually what you see there is blue MC.

For the voice / data we owned a box and 3/4" raceway from the ceiling to the box.

Another contractor had the contract to provide and install the cable and jacks.

We use manual stud punches if the studs are not to thick.



We also have battery operated stud punches for thick studs, last resort is a hole saw.



Genrally we punch around 1.25"

These walls are now filled with sound insulation so we did not bother with anti rattle clips in the holes.