One article on understanding—
Fire protection, installation, and selection of fiberglass junction boxes
With NEC's new regulations in 2026,
what changes is facing the industry?
The 2026 edition of NEC (National Electrical Code) has been officially released and adopted by all 50 states in the United States. As of March 2026, 28 states have completed the NEC renewal process.
One major change: 2-hour fire protection no longer accepts the 2-inch concrete scheme; the new regulations require at least 5 inches (127mm) of concrete to reach the 2-hour fire resistance level.
What does this mean? Contractor costs have risen sharply, construction space has been compressed, and renovation projects have become more difficult.
There is a material that doesn't require 5 inches of concrete or an extra fireproof layer to easily pass a 2-hour fire test—
Glass Fiber Reinforced Polyester (BMC) junction boxes.
What is a BMC
fiberglass box?
What is BMC? Bulk Molding Compound is an acronym for Bulk Molding Compound, a thermosetting polyester material reinforced with glass fibers. Similar examples include SMC (Sheet Molding Plastic) and PMC (Powder Molding Plastic)—product material names, not product names.
Correct product name: fiberglassBOX, model example FGB120 — "FGB" is an abbreviation, "1" stands for 1 position (can install 1 switch/socket), "20" indicates a volume of 20.5 cubic inches.
Core Advantages of the Material:
1. Non-conductive, no grounding required
2. Non-corrosive, does not deform or melt at high temperatures
3. Resistant to breakage in freezing environments
4. Thermal insulation performance
Why choose
BMC fiberglass boxes?
ETL Certified 2-Hour Fire Rating:All fiberglass boxes are ETL certified and suitable for walls or ceilings with a 2-hour fire resistance rating.
Real-world fire testing: In real-world fire tests conducted at ETL laboratories according to UL263 standards, the products fully meet all testing requirements.
Key differentiation — no additional fire protection layer:
It can be directly installed in the same wall hole of the fire-resistant wall
No putty pad required
No need for mineral wool insulation layers
No other construction plans are needed
Compared to traditional solutions:ordinary plastic boxes have installation restrictions within firewalls, whereas fiberglass boxes can be installed compliantly within the same wooden frame.
Tested models include: FGB237, FGB356, FGB475 (deepest 1-4 digits), and round FGBR22.5, among others
Industry pain point: In townhouse and duplex housing projects, the Party Wall must meet a 2-hour fire resistance rating. Traditional standards require that electrical boxes cannot be installed back-to-back and must be staggered by at least 12 inches.
Fiberglass box solution: The above models, which have passed a 2-hour fire resistance test, support back-to-back installation—no misalignment or additional fireproof materials.
Customer Value:
Saves wall space
Reduce material and labor costs
No additional grounding is required
Three major additional features
Fiberglass boxes share the same three major features as competing products on the market, but with superior performance:
Fire Protection Certification
(2-hour ETL certification — core advantage)
Soundproofing
(no additional soundproofing material required)
Airtightness
(prevents air leaks, blocks moisture and heat loss)
Special reminder: Models with the suffix "VS" (Vapor Seal) use vapor sealant, suitable for single-layer drywall applications, featuring moisture resistance, thermal insulation, heat insulation, and sound insulation.
How do you read the model? What does a suffix represent?
FGB120 = 1 × 20.5 cu.in
FGB237 = 2 × 37 cu.in
Z-type bracket model: such as FGB120-1/4B, bracket height selected according to gypsum board thickness (1/4 inch or 1/2 inch)
How to choose ceiling fans and lighting fixtures?
There are four load-bearing specifications for ceiling models:
FAN model: Can install ceiling fans and other dynamic heavy objects, supports 35LB (15.9KG)
FGB-4FB / FGB-4FB-VS:动态重物,承重70LB(32KG)
FGBR16-MF and other aftermarket models: load capacity 15LB (7KG)
Other ceiling models: load capacity 50LB (23KG)
The 2026 NEC regulations have stricter fire prevention requirements, significantly increasing construction and time costs for traditional solutions
The North American plastic electrical box market is about $6 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $10.34 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.3%.
Fiberglass boxes, with their 2-hour fire resistance certification + no additional protection required + back-to-back installation + soundproofing and airtightness, are becoming the preferred choice for more and more North American contractors
As a manufacturer certified by UL/CUL, ETL/CETL, and CSA, LINSKY offers a full range of 78 BMC models, covering new construction projects, old renovation projects, ceiling fans/lighting installations, and other scenarios
Want to learn more product details or get selection advice?
Feel free to contact sales@shlinsky.com
https://www.shlinsky.com/Products.html
[SHANGHAI LINSKY ELECTRICAL CO.,LTD.]
An integrated company focused on providing American standard UL electrical industrial products.
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