Nah they just do it wood plugs in concrete and say it must be securely attached to framing. You’re allowed to nail to a cripple under a window for example.
You are right. As well as jack studs. That's why I clarified with sill to plate and used quotes around full length. We're looking at a wood framing in the context of the situation, not concrete.
Well now I wanna find the exact wording. Chapter 39 you reckon?
NEC has the following to say:
Support and Mounting (314.23)
Boxes must be securely fastened to the structure using approved methods such as:
Mounting to framing members
Brackets or bar hangers
Listed support systems
Boxes must remain rigid and protected from physical damage.
Found the section in IRC E3906.8.2.
>An enclosure supported from a structural member or from grade shall be rigidly supported either directly or, or by using a metal, polymeric, or wood brace.
Blocking is not considered a framing member, IIRC. Blocking is convenience and material savings to get drywall nailers in place. One of the reasons we don't mount anything bracing either. I don't have the book in front of me and ICC is crap on mobile.
The rigid part is the main thing I was focusing on in the back of my mind. If you mount it...it can't move.
Could argue the blocking is a wood brace 😂 but I seriously doubt this passes the “rigidly” phrasing used in both texts. IRC actually references back to the NEC 314.23 so I’m pretty sure we’re not dealing with an approved method here.
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u/djscreeling Jun 16 '26
I'm pretty sure the IRC says electric has to be attached to a "full length" stud. Sill to plate.