Building Code Glossary
Cutout Box: Building Code Definition
How the IRC 2009 define cutout box, where the wording differs, and which chapters depend on the term.
On this page
Last updated September 7, 2026 · Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The [ICC code library](https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes) publishes the current model text and the [ICC adoption maps](https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/code-adoption-maps/) show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Direct answer
Cutout box is a defined term in the International Residential Code (IRC) 2009, in Electrical Definitions. The code's own words are: “An enclosure designed for surface mounting and having swinging doors or covers secured directly to and telescoping with the walls of the box proper (see "Cabinet").” No other I-Code in this corpus defines it, so the IRC 2009 definition is the one to work from. The term is used in 3 chapters of this corpus, most often in Electrical Definitions (IRC 2009), Power and Lighting Distribution (IRC 2009), Branch Circuit and Feeder Requirements (IRC 2009). These pages transcribe the 2009 model text; verify the definition against the edition and amendments your authority having jurisdiction has adopted. Record the jurisdiction, the adopted edition, the application date and any local amendment that rewrites the definition before you use it on a live project, because a term redefined by amendment changes every requirement that depends on it.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-09-07 · Updated 2026-09-07.
What does this term mean?
Cutout Box — IRC 2009, Electrical Definitions:
An enclosure designed for surface mounting and having swinging doors or covers secured directly to and telescoping with the walls of the box proper (see "Cabinet").
What must be verified before using this guidance?
Cutout Box is defined once in this corpus, in the Electrical Definitions chapter of the International Residential Code (IRC) 2009:
An enclosure designed for surface mounting and having swinging doors or covers secured directly to and telescoping with the walls of the box proper (see "Cabinet").
Where cutout box is used in the code
The term appears in 3 chapters of the 2009 I-Codes hosted here. The chapters that lean on it hardest are the ones to read next.
| Chapter | Code | Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Definitions | IRC 2009 | 2 |
| Power and Lighting Distribution | IRC 2009 | 2 |
| Branch Circuit and Feeder Requirements | IRC 2009 | 1 |
The term in use
How the code actually writes about cutout box, quoted from the 2009 text hosted here:
Non-combustible surfaces that are broken or incomplete shall be repaired so that there will not be gaps or open spaces greater than ⅛ inch (3.2 mm) at the edge of the cabinet or cutout box employing a flush-type cover.
The terms cutout box is built out of
The definition above leans on 2 other defined terms. Each carries its own code definition, and a local amendment to any of them changes what cutout box covers:
- Enclosure — IRC 2009: The case or housing of apparatus, or the fence or walls surrounding an installation, to prevent personnel from accidentally contacting energized parts or to protect the equipment from physical damage.
- Cabinet — IRC 2009: An enclosure designed either for surface or flush mounting and provided with a frame, mat or trim in which a swinging door or doors are or may be hung.
Cutout Box: what to open, and in what order
Every row is a document this term depends on. The ICC code library and the ICC adoption maps cover the middle rows.
| Check | Where | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Read the definition in the adopted IRC | Electrical Definitions | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Electrical Definitions (IRC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Power and Lighting Distribution (IRC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Branch Circuit and Feeder Requirements (IRC 2009) | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Enclosure | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Cabinet | |
| Local amendment to any of the above | Jurisdiction's amendment list |
A research aid, not a code determination. The authority having jurisdiction decides which edition and which amendments apply.
Where can you explore related guidance?
Sources and method
Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The ICC code library publishes the current model text and the ICC adoption maps show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What is the code definition of cutout box?
The International Residential Code (IRC) 2009 defines it in Electrical Definitions as: “An enclosure designed for surface mounting and having swinging doors or covers secured directly to and telescoping with the walls of the box proper (see "Cabinet").” The 2009 model text is reproduced here; the definition that binds your project is the one in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted, as amended locally.
Which parts of the code depend on cutout box?
In this corpus the term is used across 3 chapters, led by Electrical Definitions in the IRC 2009. Those are the sections whose scope moves if the definition is amended locally, so read them together with Chapter 2 rather than on their own.
What are the requirements for openings in cabinets, cutout boxes, and meter socket enclosures where conductors enter?
Meter is a separate defined term. The IRC 2009 defines it as: “The instrument installed to measure the volume of gas delivered through it.” That is not the same as cutout box, which the IRC 2009 defines as “An enclosure designed for surface mounting and having swinging doors or covers secured directly to and telescoping with the walls of the box proper (see "Cabinet").” — read both before applying either, and confirm the wording in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted.
Related pages
- Cryogenic Vessel: Building Code Definition
Cryogenic Vessel — IFC 2009 definition: A pressure vessel, low-pressure tank or atmospheric tank designed to contain a cryogenic fluid on which …
- Cubic Foot: Building Code Definition
Cubic Foot — IRC 2009 definition: The amount of gas that occupies 1 cubic foot (0.02832 m3) when at a temperature of …
- Curtain Wall: Building Code Definition
Curtain Wall — IECC 2009 definition: Fenestration products used to create an external nonload-bearing wall that is designed to separate the exterior …
- Cylinder: Building Code Definition
Cylinder — IFC 2009 definition: A pressure vessel designed for pressures higher than 40 psia (275.6 kPa) and having a circular …
- Dalle Glass: Building Code Definition
Dalle Glass — IBC 2009 definition: A decorative composite glazing material made of individual pieces of glass that are embedded in a …
- Damper, Volume: Building Code Definition
Damper, Volume — IRC 2009 definition: A device that will restrict, retard or direct the flow of air in any duct, or …