John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum

Hi, everybody. I have a couple of small rooms I intend to use for a studio, but I have some safety related questions regarding the wall outlets!

I posted this in Installation and Wiring already, but it's been almost two weeks and I think Aaron is seriously busy lately (cheers to success, hopefully ), so I figured I'd try here and link the original topic to this one.

As we all know, the best way to avoid compromising our hard-earned isolation walls is to use surface-mount electrical boxes. Unfortunately, for reasons I won't go into, I was forced to use in-wall boxes.

To summarize what I did, basically, I built wooden enclosures that were nailed and sealed to the wall studs for the purpose of surrounding the plastic outlet boxes and acoustically isolating them from the air mass of the wall cavity. For more details see the picture at the bottom and for more read below.

My walls are of staggered-stud construction with 2x6 top and bottom plates with 2x4s staggered 8" on center. I was able to use the extra depth to construct wooden isolation boxes with 2x4s and 1/2" plywood. I cut three small sections of 2x4 and nailed them together in a "C" shape (one vertical, two horizontal and nailed to the first piece and then sealed with acoustical caulk). I then nailed the ends of the "C" shape to the wall to surround the electrical box with at least a 1" clearance all around the side, top and bottom and sealed it to the original stud with acoustical caulk.

Then I cut a piece of 1/2" fire resistant plywood to cover the entire back of the wooden isolation boxed, applied caulk and secured it with nails to the back, blocking all air paths through the electrical box into the wall cavity. Next, I packed rigid, fire-rated acoustic insulation into the cavity between the isolation box and the electrical box. Finally, I applied caulk to the face of the box before the drywall went on (the face sits flush with the drywall) to completely seal it.

After reading about the putty packs in the reference area, I decided that this was comparable, but I must have missed one key bit of information. Upon reviewing the reference area again (I like to sharpen up before I move on to the next phase of a project), I found this statement:




SOURCE

My electrical boxes aren't filled with insulation, but they are surrounded by insulation. The safety inspector didn't seem to have a problem with them, but, as we all know , a mistake on the safety inspector's part doesn't absolve us of the responsibility of sticking to building codes (and it certainly COULD absolve the insurance company of any responsibility to pay up in the case of an accident, not to mention worse possibilities(?)).

Thanks for any responses. I'd hate to have to rip holes in my nice new isolation walls , but safety is obviously the most important thing here.

Thanks, guys!
-Dany

Here's a jpeg to clarify exactly what I did.

Hi - I spent about 10 minutes searching for a studio build here where I know I saw this done.

There was a question from Rod about the ground wire being within the same hole into the box that was constructed for this - within the same chase if you will...

I'll search later tonight as well, - My history of last week when I browsed this thread is on my home computer and I am currently in the office...

Perhaps this may give you some relevant terms to search for it yourself. But, it's a nearly finished studio and it was a very classy looking studio with treatment applied from what I recall..

good luck.

edit: damnit if I can't find that thread, but I think I know that it was in the thread where this picture appeared. I forwarded it to my wife while trying to explain to her what the corner of the room was going to look like...

if anyone sees this photo and can link it to the thread, much appreciated...

As long as the boxes are not filled with insulation - you are doing just fine.

Rod

_________________
Ignore the man behind the curtain........

Cram and Rod, thank you so much. I've really been worrying about this, but you've put my mind at ease. Now I can get my mind onto other things, e.g., acoustic treatment.

Thanks, guys.
-Dany

_________________
If it's not broken, don't fix it. If it is broken, keep the spare parts.