- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
If I have a fan coil unit in the ceiling of a bedroom on a dedicated 15A circuit, is AFCI protection required?
AFCI for FCU?
- Thread starter George Stolz
- Start date
- Status
IMO yes.
- Location
- Logan, Utah
I would say yes.
Chris
Chris
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Is the "outlet" for the fan coil unit in the bedroom?
Perhaps worded slightly better: Is the "outlet" for the fan coil unit accessed from the bedroom? If not, then where is it accessed from?
Most outlets aren't actually installed "in" the rooms themselves, but rather the structural confines, such as walls, ceilings, floors.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Recessed into the ceiling, accessed through the integral door of the FCU flush in the ceiling.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
The code wording is poor. It does not say how is the outlet accessed. It says all in the bathroom need a AFCI protection. In my opinion this outlet is not in the bedroom. I am sure that the intent is for this circuit to have AFCI protection, but that is not what the words say.
Bathroom???
I know it does not say accessed. It was an attempt towards intent. Say you have a kitchen next to a bedroom. All the outlets of issue are in the dividing wall. None are actually in the kitchen or the bedroom. The outlets are in the wall. The distinguishing difference in the application of the arc-fault requirement is enforced by which side the outlet is accessed from.
Still yes IMO.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Poll added.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
The receptacle outlets are accessed from the room as is a surface mounted light fixture. It appears to me that the outlets for this fan coil unit or for a recessed light fixture are not in the room and not subject to the AFCI rule as it is written. I agree with you that would be the intent, but you can only enforce the written rule, not the intent.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
I tried talking to my phone instead of typing and did not pay close enough attention to what it though I said.
I'm willing to bet a substantial portion of AHJ inspectors will not agree with you on that remark.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Don, the receptacle outlets would be recessed into the wall up to .25". The lighting outlet bearing the surface luminaire is as well. Do you believe box setback negates AFCI protection?
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Since I am not a fan of the AFCI and don't believe that they really provide any meaningful protection, I would like to say that the box setback would negate the rule but I won't go that far. For you application, I don't think the code wording requires AFCI protection. Like I said before I am sure that the intent is that AFCI protection be providrd for that circuit, but the code wording does not support that.Don, the receptacle outlets would be recessed into the wall up to .25". The lighting outlet bearing the surface luminaire is as well. Do you believe box setback negates AFCI protection?
The receptacle outlet is accessible from within the room by just plugging a cord into the receptacle. I see the same for a surface mounted light fixture. I don't see it that way for a recessed light fixture, fan or other equipment that is installed in the ceiling as opposed to on the ceiling.
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
Ditto on yes also.
If the FCU is in the ceiling of the room it serves, the wiring is accessed from that room, the control/T-stat is in that room: I would say it sure seems like it is part of that room.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
One thing that has not come up yet, what is the voltage of this fan coil?
If it is anything other than 120 volts, AFCI is not required - period.
If it is 120 volts, then the outlet "location" is the determining factor. If it is determined to be in the bedroom or any other room listed in 210.12 as requiring AFCI protection then yes AFCI protection is required.
If it is anything other than 120 volts, AFCI is not required - period.
If it is 120 volts, then the outlet "location" is the determining factor. If it is determined to be in the bedroom or any other room listed in 210.12 as requiring AFCI protection then yes AFCI protection is required.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I would have to go with Don on this. The outlet is not in the bedroom.
I see the recessed can as being accessible from the bedroom as the socket is available from the room thus afci is required. The socket is the true outlet the JB is just a connection.
I see the recessed can as being accessible from the bedroom as the socket is available from the room thus afci is required. The socket is the true outlet the JB is just a connection.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Then fluorescent lighting need not be on AFCI's the voltage at the presumed outlet (socket) generally is not 120 volts.
I think the outlet is the point of connection from premises wiring to the luminaire.
This does bring up questions like the one in the OP though that I have never considered before, when the point of connection is in a flush box, or a recessed luminaire, and other similar items.
- Status