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300.14 Clarification of 6” Out of Box Conductors Rule... Spliced or Unspliced?

Revision

Change Summary

  • A new sentence was added to clarify that the mandatory 6 inches of conductors out of the box can be spliced or unspliced.

NEC®Text

Article 300 General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials
300.14 Length of Free Conductors at Outlets, Junctions, and Switch Points. At least 150 mm (6 in.) of free conductor, measured from the point in the box where it emerges from its raceway or cable sheath, shall be left at each outlet, junction, and switch point for splices or the connection of luminaires or devices. The 150 mm (6 in.) free conductor shall be permitted to be spliced or unspliced. Where the opening to an outlet, junction, or switch point is less than 200 mm (8 in.) in any dimension, each conductor shall be long enough to extend at least 75 mm (3 in.) outside the opening.
Exception: Conductors that are not spliced or terminated at the outlet, junction, or switch point shall not be required to comply with 300.14.

Material taken from the National Electric Code. is reprinted with permission from NFPA 70., 2023 edition. National Electrical Code®, Copyright 2022, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. All rights reserved.

Expert Analysis

A new sentence has been added to clarify that the free conductor is permitted to be a splice. The addition of this text makes that clear and free of interpretation.

Figure 1