Plastic box approved for ceiling fan?

KE2KB

Hi;
I just re-installed a ceiling fan which had been installed about 10yrs ago, then removed and stored for about 7yrs.
The box that is in the ceiling is a plastic RAYCO, which does not look like a normal box. It has a large section in the middle which takes up a lot of the volume of the box, and this is secured by two large, recessed screws.
The box itself appears to be securely attached to the joist, but I did not go into the attic to check, since there was already a fan there.

I had always thought that only metal boxes were approved for a ceiling fan, so I am a little concerned. That said, there is an identical fan in another room that was installed by the same electrician at the same time as this one, and I assume (I did not take the fan down to check) that it is also a plastic box. That fan has been up and running for ten years with no problems at all.

Thanks for your advice/opinion.

FW

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Jim Port

The box only needs to be fan rated if it provides the sole support for the fan. It sounds like the bracket screws into a framing member and not the box.

Some plastic fan boxes also have a metal plate above the box to provide support.

I suspect you have a box that straddles a joist. A pic would confirm this.

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Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

KE2KB

The fan bracket screws into the box, using a pair of what are probably #10 screws, which are very long, but I doubt they go any further than the bottom of the bosses in the box.

Since the fan was mounted this way before, and the other one is mounted same way, I don't think it's going to be a problem, but I think I will go up in the attic and see how the box is secured. Should be easy, since the floorboard was removed or cut to install the box.

EDIT: Just checked the RACO site, and learned of something called "The Insider", a plastic insert for the box when type NM cable is used. This may be what I have. I will have to check from the attic.

FW

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Jim Port

The Raco Insider is a NM cable connector. It can be used in a 1/2" knockout.

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Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

KE2KB

I'll check it out, but the original installation was approved by the inspector. Don't know whether a new install using same would be code today... But I think the Grandfather clause should cover this. Only issue could be that because the fan was removed, then re-installed some years later, if the code did change in the intervening time, I might have to change the install to meet the new code. Have a copy of 2008 NEC. I'll check it in the next day or so.

FW

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SD515

Does it look something like this?

Attached Images

 

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Kyle

Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should