ICC Residential Electrical Inspectors Practice Exam

A surface mounted switch located outside of a building shall be enclosed in a weatherproof ____________ or cabinet.

1. fixture

2. junction box

3. enclosure

4. cover

The correct answer is: enclosure

The correct choice is "enclosure" because it specifically refers to a protective casing that is designed to keep electrical devices safe from the elements when placed outdoors. Weatherproof enclosures are built to resist moisture, dust, and other environmental conditions, ensuring that the switch remains functional and safe regardless of external weather conditions. In contrast, the other options do not adequately capture the requirement for outdoor installations. A fixture typically refers to a light or a similar device, which does not provide the needed protection for a switch. A junction box is used for wire connections rather than housing a switch. Lastly, while a cover may provide some level of protection, it does not inherently imply air-tight or water-tight sealing which is crucial for outdoor environments. Therefore, "enclosure" is the most suitable term for complying with safety standards in external electrical installations.