ABB’s Steel City® 8-inch recessed poke-through floor box named a NECA Showstopper

MEMPHIS, TenNessee | October 17, 2019

ABB’s Steel City^® 8-inch recessed poke-through floor box named a NECA Showstopper

The Steel City^® 8-inch recessed poke-through (RPT8) floor box from ABB Electrification’s Installation Products business was among the Showstopper winners announced at the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Show held in Las Vegas, Sept. 14-17.

The Showstopper winners were chosen from a showcase of 157 new products that exhibitors submitted for consideration for use by electrical contractors on the job. Each winner was selected from one of five categories. The Steel City RPT8 floor box was recognized in the Low Voltage category.  

The Steel City RPT8 floor box features five gangs and is round to fit into an 8-inch diameter drilled hole. Two gangs are dedicated for power, while the remaining three gangs can be individually configured for any combination of power and data. A unique feature is the center compartment, which is rated for a wiring device of up to 50 amps and can accept ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and twist-lock devices. There is also a bottom compartment that can be configured for separate emergency power.

In commercial applications, the increased use of laptops and mobile devices has driven demand for more outlets. The 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) includes section 210.71, which requires the installation of floor boxes in commercial building meeting rooms of more than 215 square feet. The new NEC requirement seeks to reduce the safety hazards that occur when cables run from a table or desk to wall outlets.

“Given the limitations on the number of holes that may be drilled into a floor, it’s important to maximize the outlet capacity of each location,’’ said Michael Martin, senior product manager at ABB Installation Products. “The new NEC requirement and the increase in the use of cabling creates a unique opportunity for contractors, in not just new commercial construction, but also in upgrading the even larger pool of existing commercial building spaces. The Steel City RPT8 floor box is ideal for these installations on the second floor and above in commercial buildings.”

The Steel City RPT8 floor box also features a core-drilled design that eliminates the chance of error when the floor box is installed in a hole that is core-drilled after all walls and cabinetry are set. These errors would otherwise result in costly jackhammering and concrete repairs.

For more information about the Steel City RPT8 floor box, please watch the video at https://youtu.be/WZ01NxvEJrU.

ABB’s Electrification business recently announced $120m in investments to its U.S. operations, including building and production expansions, new hires and equipment improvements.  

ABB (NYSE: ABB) is a pioneering technology leader with a comprehensive offering for digital industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB is today a leader in digital industries with four customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by its common ABB Ability™ digital platform. ABB’s market‑leading Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees.