afci's required?

[0308wayne]

are afci breakers required on a residential branch circuit that supplies lighting outlets only? art. 100 has two definitions, outlet and lighting outlet, and 210.12B specifies outlets

 

[augie47]

any and all outlets in the designated areas.
When the Code reference lighting or receptacle outlets it will use those terms.
Note the Code definition:
"Outlet. A point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment."
so the term outlet is not limited to receptacles and lighting. A smoke detector, for instance, meets the Code definition of an outlet.

 

[al hildenbrand]

are afci breakers required on a residential branch circuit that supplies lighting outlets only? art. 100 has two definitions, outlet and lighting outlet, and 210.12B specifies outlets

Revisit the Article 100 Definition of lighting outlet:

2008 NEC Article 100 Definitions

Lighting Outlet. An outlet intended for the direct connection of a lampholder or luminaire.

The Article 100 Definition term "outlet" is used to help define the term "lighting outlet".

In my opinion, there is a common meme in the trade that equates "outlet" with receptacle. Actually, outlet is a broad general term and a source of extended debate. The definition is deceptively short, but it is not simple . . . the longest thread this Forum has ever had came from trying to understand and agree upon the meaning of the term "outlet".

 

[480sparky]

An outlet can be:

A receptacle.
A smoke detector.
A ceiling fan.
A recessing light.
Track lighting.
et al.

 

[al hildenbrand]

An outlet can be:

A receptacle.
A smoke detector.
A ceiling fan.
A recessing light.
Track lighting.
et al.

Exactly.

And, consider, a hard wired 120 Volt piece of equipment has an outlet at the connection of the wirenuts, and an AFCI has to protect this if in an area or room listed in Article 210.12. (A small hardwired electric heater that is 120 Volt, 15 or 20 Amp).

This is an "outlet" that is easy to overlook.