We know that splices in j-boxes must remain accessible.
What about a section of NM cable that was used to feed a range hood and is now capped off in a wall case with a blank cover, with an undercabinet microwave installed in front of it.
Or, for that matter, what about any box that has a circuit that is dead ended (no splices), blanked and spackled over?
So long as the circuit remains de-energized at the source, I see no problem. I would cut the wires out of the panel just to be sure no one re-connects them at a future date. Or, at least, identify the wires in the panel with an attached note detailing where the other end of the circuit is.
Thanks early,
I'm talking about live wires that are fed from an unknown point. The box would be obscured by a microwave, but it does not contain a splice, just dead-headed wires. I'm interested in code references, please.
314.29 - "wiring ... rendered accessible without removing any part of the building"
The definition in article 100 does not clarifiy this either. It would be easy to say the microwave is just an obstacle thus rendering the box not "readily accessible."
So the question is does the AHJ consider a pemenantly mounted microwave part of the building?
I could stretch things and say if typically the appliance is permently mounted and goes with the building when sold, that it is part of the building. But, that is a call for the AHJ in this case.
Shane
By the way spackle is part of the building, thus the last question is a clear violation of 314.29. See definition of accessible dealing with finish removal.
Equipment is not building finish, otherwise you couldn't hang a luminaire.
That ain't what the guy at Home Depot told me
Dnk....
[This message has been edited by Dnkldorf (edited 11-09-2005).]
In my humble opinion, even a kitchen cabinet can be removed; I've done it plenty of times. To me, as long as the building finish doesn't cover the box, it's accessible, although not readily accessible.
Ideally, it would be better to find the other end of this section of cable and disconnect it, but it's not mandantory.