uma685•12d ago

Remember when we had to guess how many wires would fit in a box?

I was cleaning out my old work van and found a box fill chart from 2008. Back then, we'd just eyeball it or cram them in, hoping for the best. Now, with the 2023 NEC changes and those new compact devices, I can fit three more circuits in a standard 4-inch square box. The math is easier, but honestly, the biggest shift was when inspectors around here started actually checking with gauges about five years ago. Anyone else notice their local AHJ getting way more strict on box fill in the last few years?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_hugo12d ago

Way more strict" seems like a stretch, hasn't it always been a rule?

dylan60412d ago

Our inspector brought a micrometer to a trim-out last week, which felt a bit extra.

hollyg5920h ago

Used to think it was overkill, but seeing a melted outlet from an overstuffed box changed my mind.