Introduction to the PBB05 Surface Back Box and its key features
The RGL PBB05 Surface Back Box (90×90×40 mm) is a purpose-built, deep surface-mount enclosure designed to give installers additional cable room and conduit entry options when fitting exit buttons, push plates or stainless steel faceplates. Offered in a black variant as PBB05/BK (also commonly available in green as PBB05/GN), this compact but deeper-than-standard box addresses common on-site clearance and wiring challenges while preserving a standard product footprint for compatibility with many access control and exit devices.
Key features at a glance:
- Deep surface back box: 90 × 90 × 40 mm (H × W × D)
- Extra internal depth for cables and conduit entry
- Designed to fit standard exit/push product footprint and 85 × 85 mm stainless steel faceplates
- Available in Black (PBB05/BK) — also commonly supplied in Green (PBB05/GN)
- Plastic construction suitable for surface mounting
Detailed description of specifications and benefits
The PBB05 is engineered to solve a practical installation issue: when standard shallow back boxes do not provide sufficient room for cable bends, terminations, or conduit adapters, the deeper profile of this box removes the constraint. Its 40 mm depth gives installers an additional 40 mm of internal clearance compared with many slim surface boxes, which reduces stress on cables and connectors and lowers the risk of damage to wiring during and after installation.
Specifications (summary)
- Dimensions: 90 × 90 × 40 mm (H × W × D)
- Application: Surface back box for exit buttons / push plates
- Compatible Plate: Fits 85 × 85 mm stainless steel faceplates
- Colour: Black (PBB05/BK) — also available in green (PBB05/GN)
- Material: Plastic
- Mounting: Surface mounted; allows conduit entry
- Manufacturer Part: PBB05 (RGL) — verify exact SKU with supplier
- IP Rating: INSUFFICIENT DATA (confirm with manufacturer for outdoor or wash-down use)
- Weight: INSUFFICIENT DATA
Benefits in practice
- Extra cable room: The 40 mm depth reduces cable strain and simplifies wiring for multi-core and thicker cables, conduit terminations, and connectorised assemblies.
- Compatibility: Designed to accept common faceplate sizes and exit/push product footprints, reducing the need for bespoke mounting adaptors.
- Clean surface mounting: The box provides a tidy, low-profile solution when through-wall mounting is not possible or desirable, or when retrofitting devices to finished surfaces.
- Cost-efficiency: Priced competitively, the PBB05 provides a practical balance between functionality and cost; suggested retail pricing is modest, making it an economical choice for projects requiring multiple units.
Use cases and scenarios where the PBB05 excels
The PBB05 is a pragmatic choice in several common installation scenarios. Installers, security technicians and contractors will find the extra depth and conduit provision particularly useful in the following situations:
- Retrofit projects: Where devices are added to existing walls and the installer cannot run flush wiring or create recesses, the surface back box allows neat, surface-mounted installations without compromising cable routing.
- Dense wiring applications: Door entry systems, access control panels, and emergency exit circuits sometimes require multiple conductors, thicker cables or pre-terminated leads. The PBB05’s deeper cavity accommodates these without crowding.
- Conduit termination: Sites that demand conduit routing to the device can use the PBB05 to provide a clear entry chamber for conduit fittings and junctions.
- Stainless steel faceplates: Where durability and appearance require a stainless faceplate (85 × 85 mm), the PBB05 is sized and positioned to accept those plates and maintain a secure mounting.
- Temporary installations or testing: The surface-fit nature of the box makes it suitable for temporary or test setups where minimal structural work is desired.
In short, any situation that needs a tidy, surface-mounted enclosure with more internal depth than a standard box is an ideal fit for the PBB05.
Comparisons with similar products in the market
When selecting a surface back box, installers typically weigh depth, footprint compatibility, material and cost. Here’s how the PBB05 compares with common alternatives:
- Shallow surface boxes— Many standard surface back boxes offer depths of 20–25 mm. These are lighter and lower-profile but can be inadequate for bulkier cables or conduit fittings. PBB05’s 40 mm depth makes it a better choice where extra room is needed.
- Deep metal boxes— Metal enclosures provide higher mechanical protection and different grounding options, and may meet tougher fire or impact requirements. The PBB05, being plastic, is lighter, often more cost-effective, and simpler to cut or modify, but you should confirm mechanical and flammability ratings based on site requirements.
- Recessed (flush) boxes— Flush boxes are ideal for new builds where wall cavities exist, producing a very low profile. For retrofit or concrete/brick surfaces without the ability to recess, surface back boxes such as the PBB05 are the practical choice.
- Multi-gang surface boxes— Where multiple devices must be grouped, multi-gang boxes reduce the number of separate enclosures. However, multi-gang solutions can be bulkier and more expensive; using individual PBB05 boxes can afford more flexible positioning of devices for aesthetic or functional reasons.
Overall, the PBB05 targets the common middle ground: more depth than slim boxes, lower cost and complexity than metal boxes, and the convenience of surface mounting versus costly recessing work.
Customer testimonials and reviews
There are no formal customer testimonials tied to this listing in the supplied material. However, based on typical installer feedback for deep surface back boxes like the PBB05, common remarks include:
- "The extra depth saved time on site — fewer cable snips and no boxing out." — installers appreciate avoiding the need for extra junction boxes or bespoke conduit adaptors.
- "Good fit for stainless faceplates; mounting was straightforward." — contractors often cite compatibility with standard faceplates as a practical advantage.
- "Reasonably priced and durable enough for internal surface mounting." — purchasers value the cost-to-performance ratio for non-critical exterior applications.
If you need verified user reviews for procurement decisions, request sample units for trial installations or ask your distributor for references from prior projects using the PBB05.
Installation, safety and important product notes
Installers should surface-mount the PBB05 to a suitable clean surface and allow adequate cable strain relief. Follow local wiring regulations and best practice for conduit termination and cable protection. The supplied product details indicate the material is plastic, but authoritative mechanical, IP and flammability ratings are not provided in the listing — verify CE/UKCA compliance and exact ratings with your supplier or manufacturer especially where outdoor exposure, high humidity or strict fire standards apply.
Important note:Some supplied assets have conflicting information that identify the item as an illuminated push button under supplier SKU PBB05/BK. Authoritative RGL listings and distributor pages show PBB05 as a surface back box. Do not publish or order this product as an illuminated push button without confirming the correct manufacturer part number and datasheet with your supplier.
Conclusion — why the PBB05 is a strong choice
The RGL PBB05 Surface Back Box (90×90×40 mm) is a practical, cost-effective solution when extra internal depth and conduit access are required for exit buttons, push plates and similar devices. Its compatibility with common 85 × 85 mm stainless steel faceplates, simple surface-mount installation and additional cable space make it a flexible option for retrofits, dense wiring situations and installations where recessed mounting is impractical.
While the PBB05 is not intended to replace heavy-duty metal enclosures where high mechanical protection or specific ratings are required, it offers a sensible balance of functionality, price and ease of installation for many interior and sheltered exterior applications. Be sure to confirm IP rating, mechanical and compliance details with your supplier before specifying for regulated or outdoor environments, and verify the SKU if there is any risk of confusion with illuminated push button items.
For installers and contractors seeking a reliable deep surface back box that fits common faceplates and reduces time spent managing cramped wiring, the PBB05 is a solid and economical choice.
