 Nick_LPremium
join:2003-01-22
Pittsburgh, PA | reply to aurgathor
Re: plastic box vs. metal box (electrical) the question I have (and hopefully someone can answer) is do plastic boxes have a fire rating as compared to metal. I like to dabble in home automation and use/have used x-10, insteon and now Z-Wave. Z-Wave is a wireless mesh technology so obviously plastic boxes are a benifit in that regard. My concern is that with the switches themselves getting more and more complex and having more and more components, the risk of malfunction and fire becomes much greater.
So, do plastic boxes have any kind of fire rating?
Thanks,
Nick |
 MsradellP.E.Premium
join:2008-12-25
Louisville, KY
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| No, the plastic boxes don't have a fire rating, they are however fire resistant in most cases. That means that they will not free burn when the source of ignition is taken away.
However I really wouldn't worry about automation switches bursting into flames. If anything they are probably safer than conventional switches. Anyway if the switch starts burning the box is the least of your problems. |
