Can I cover up an electrical junction box?
Junction box covers must remain accessible; they cannot be covered with drywall or other surface material. A junction box is most often used where an electrical circuit branches off in two or more directions from a location where an outlet or fixture is not practical.
What happens if you cover a junction box?
Building Code
Short-circuits and wiring issues are possible in junction boxes; if one of these issues took place in a box hidden from view, it could light and catch the interior of the home’s wall on fire before you noticed.
Can you bury an electrical junction box in a wall?
As far as the US electrical code is concerned, it directly says no – as in it should NEVER be attempted. If you really must bury something behind the drywall, it should be a continuous run of wire. The code requires that any sort of connection, be it repair work or a splice, should be easily accessible.
How do you cover a wall junction box?
As long as there are no wires inside the box, you can cover it with drywall. If the box is still acting as a junction box, however, and wires are joined inside it, the electrical code mandates a removable cover. Covers come in plastic or metal, and you attach them with machine screws.
Do junction boxes need to be covered?
A: It is important to cover an electrical junction box no matter where it’s located. When one or more electrical wires are twisted together, the connection causes resistance to the flow of electricity, which in turn creates heat.
