Omniblock | Electrical Installation

Electrical Installation

How the electrical installs and is integrated into Omni Block is a major advantage. Standard electrical boxes may be configured and installed for every high voltage and low voltage situation or requirement.

The most common electrical application is a single gang box that is located in the very center of the interior side of the Omni Stretcher block. Since the top of the second course of block is at 16″, the top-of-box is at 16″, which is a standard electrical box height dimension. The electrical box shown is a 4″ square box with 3/4″ knock-outs attached to a 1 1/2″ mud ring. The 3/4″ knockouts are important because 3/4″ conduit is attached to the boxes. Notice that the back of the electrical box is abutted by the middle lineal wall of the block which makes it impossible for the box to move once installed.

This photo illustrates a high voltage and low voltage situation. Both electrical boxes are the same so the electrician can determine when he is pulling wire which box is low voltage and which one is high voltage.

Once a box is set and the block above is laid, the electrical box face is flush with the block face. A skim coat, followed by a texture coat of drywall compound applied to the block interior surface is all that is necessary for an Omni Block wall to be finished to match other interior frame drywall. All block cuts that are required for electrical box locations are performed on the job site.

When a double switch is required in the block wall, the top of the 6th course of block is at 48″, so the top-of-box is at 48″, which is a standard wall switch height dimension. A double gang box is shown with two 3/4″ PVC conduits allowing for “in” and “out” wiring. The photo on the right shows that the grounding wire is aways attached and inside the electrical box.