Answer:

Gangable Steel Boxes have removable sides that allow additional boxes to be joined (ganged) together to accommodate more than one device. For instance, a single gang box can be expanded to become 2-gang, 3-gang, 4-gang, etc. The limiting factors regarding how many switch boxes may be ganged together would be proper support of the ganged boxes, availability of multi-gang cover plates, and the common sense requirement that installations must be done in a neat and workmanlike manner (refer to NEC110.12).

	1. Using a screwdriver, loosen the retaining screw on the side of the gangable box and remove the side panel by twisting it out of the interlocking tabs.		3. Join the two boxes together by positioning the screw slots under the heads of the set screws.
	2. Next, remove a side panel from the second gangable box.		4. Tighten the set screws securely. You now have a two-gang box.

Follow the above steps for 3-gang and more, by removing both sides of the box(es) to be located in the middle between the right and left ends of your final assembly. Distributors and contractors can stock our single-gang switchboxes and can assemble multiple-gang boxes with ease.

For a listing of “Gangable” Switch Boxes, please refer to O-Z/Gedney catalog section FF or Appleton’s Commercial Products catalog section.

The technical question and answer above were featured in the December 14, 2011 edition of the ECM Wednesday Weekly online newsletter.