Depends on the fixture.

Some are designed to be mounted on a box (their wiring is connected externally behind it). Some can take the wire feeding it through an appropriate fitting and make the connection internally without the need for a box.

I would call the township to check on local codes. And, whatever is fire safest, which I would think would be to contain it in a box.

"...I would think would be to contain it in a box."

Some fixtures are their own box.
It is just as safe as a separate wall box if UL listed.

Florescent lights commonly can be fed directly with cable.

Putting a box near them is OK for a hanging ceiling, but you are not allowed to bury a box behind a fluorescent fixture.

Junction boxes must remain accessible.

>you are not allowed to bury a box behind a fluorescent fixture.

Could you please clarify this, brickeyee? Don't most permanent luminaires "bury" a junction box behind them to some extent?

"you are not allowed to bury a box behind a fluorescent fixture.

Junction boxes must remain accessible."

In such a case I believe the "junction box", if it serves a luminary (light fixture) actually becomes an "outlet box" and is thus exempt from the general accessibility rule. It would have to or else every box with a fixture mounted to it is illegal.

You are not allowed to place a 'discharge lighting fixture' on a ceiling with a box behind the fixture enclosure.

The rule is rarely enforced, but it is buried in the code.

You can usually use the fixture pan itself as the box and terminate an approved wiring method directly to the fixture.

Brickeye wrote:
You are not allowed to place a 'discharge lighting fixture' on a ceiling with a box behind the fixture enclosure.
The rule is rarely enforced, but it is buried in the code.

You didn't provide any code reference, but I'm thinking that you meant 410.14(B) Access to Boxes.

"Electric-discharge luminaires (fixtures) surface mounted over concealed outlet, pull, or junction boxes and designed not to be supported solely by the outlet box shall be provided with suitable openings in the back of the luminaire (fixture) to provide access to the wiring in the box."

There is no explanation of what constitutes a "suitable opening... ...to access the wiring in the box", but if one is actually "provided" then there is no problem covering the box with the fixture. I wouldn't want to enforce this section either.

The "suitable opening" is that 3" round knockout in the back of most(some) fluorescent fixtures.

OK, what if the box's function is merely ancillary? For example, our 48" kitchen fluorescent luminaire is mounted over an outlet box that once supported a basic incandescent lampholder when we moved in. The power originates at the switch, so there is only one cable to/from the box. Its conductors pass immediately through a 1/2" chase nipple into the fluorescent housing, where they are spliced to the ballast conductors/fixture ground. While there is a 2" (IIRC) or so knockout on the back of the housing, positioning it over the box would have required placing the fixture way off-center with the room. The fixture is supported by toggle bolts only.

From the sound of 410.14(B), The Code would rather I'd ripped out the box that the NM is clamped securely to, mounted the luminaire 18" off-center, and tried to pull the NM directly into the fixture... assuming it would have even reached.

Kinda asinine, if you ask me.

>I wouldn't want to enforce this section either.

+1. :-)

"From the sound of 410.14(B), The Code would rather I'd ripped out the box that the NM is clamped securely to, mounted the luminaire 18" off-center, and tried to pull the NM directly into the fixture... assuming it would have even reached."

Say what??

You either make the box line up with the large knockout on the back of the fixture, or the cable enters directly.

If you need another hole for a cable clamp then punch one out.

A box behind a discharge fixture 9and that is what a fluorescent light is) needs access.

What is the problem with having the cable enter the fixture?
Most have multiple knockouts for a cable entry, and you can always punch another one.

Sorry, dyslexiated I the sentence, did. What it should have read was:

"From the sound of 410.14(B), The Code would rather I'd ripped out the box that the NM is clamped securely to and tried to pull it directly into the fixture... assuming it would have even reached, or mounted the luminaire 18" off-center"

>You either make the box line up with the large knockout on the back of the fixture, or the cable enters directly.

Well, honestly, the large knockout isn't all that large, at least not enough so where you could get your fingers up through it. And the cable does enter directly (albeit sans the sheath)... just passes through the outlet box first. :-)

>If you need another hole for a cable clamp then punch one out.

Never said I needed one... I'd just replace the chase nipple with a clamp if I did.

>A box behind a discharge fixture 9and that is what a fluorescent light is) needs access.

I understand that that's The Code but, common sense-wise, why? If the wiring merely passes uninterrupted and protected through the box and into the fixture, and any splices are done inside the fixture, honestly, what is there to access?

>What is the problem with having the cable enter the fixture?

Basically, I'd have to rip out a perfectly good outlet box in order to free the cable for direct entry, risking damage to the cable and leaving a big hole (hidden as it may be) in my ceiling for no apparent benefit.

Please, and with all due respect, if there's logical explanation as to why I should take down the fixture and redo everything, I'd like to hear it.

There is no way to inspect the box to tell if the cable passes through uninterrupted since it is concealed.

Do as you wish, but the code does not allow boxes behind discharge lighting.

So what about installing kitchen appliances where the manufacturer's installation instructions say to use a junction box *inside* the base cabinet to make the premise wiring to fixture whip connection? What's the proper, compliant way to come through the wall with that cable, since the connection isn't supposed to be made in an in-wall box?

"What's the proper, compliant way to come through the wall with that cable, since the connection isn't supposed to be made in an in-wall box?"

The cable attaches directly to the fixture with the correct clamp.

Fluorescent lights normally have knockouts under the ballast and wiring cover.

Use the most convenient one.

I understand that for a luminaire. I was asking about something related - an appliance where the install instructions specifically state to make the connection in a handy box sitting in the base cabinet, outside the wall. Is it okay to just poke a hole in the drywall and stick the cable through it, or how should that hole in the wall be handled? This is for an appliance that does NOT have an integral junction box, it has a whip and wants the end of that whip joined to premise wiring in a junction box *outside* the wall.

If it wasn't so explicit in the instructions I'd just do the junction in the wall normally, but the manufacturer was specific.