arc fault for refrigerator

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klineelectric

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electrical contractor
I received an e- mail from my building department saying that all outlets in houses that dont require gfci must be afci. It states that refrigerators , garages and laundry rooms must be afci. I know they will fall back on the " and similar areas" but why does the code have definitions of a "bathroom" a "kitchen" a "garage" and a "laundry room"and then not specifically list them in in 210-12 arc fault when it specifies other rooms....family room, living room, parlor etc. Seems to me if there intent was to have all other outlets that arent required to be gfci to be afci they should have worded it that way......I guess that would be too easy.
 
The following is that e- mail ..................................07/21/2010

CITRUS COUNTY BUILDING DIVISION
NOTICE
JULY 13, 2010
To: Electrical contractors, general, building and residential contractors,
owner/builders, and interested parties
From: The Citrus County Building Division
Subj: 2008 NEC 210.12 ? ARC Fault Protection
The following constitutes our interpretation and application of 2008 NEC 210.12 ?
ARC Fault Protection:
? All single phase 120 volt 15 and 20 ampere branch circuits supplying outlets,
(NEC 100 defines outlets to include receptacles, lighting and smoke
alarms installed in dwelling units)
? Family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms,
sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms or areas
shall be protected by a UL approved combination type ARC fault breaker
? Branch circuits that supply power to receptacles that are required to be
GFCI protected per NEC 210.8-1 thru 8 are exempt from ARC fault
protection. These areas include kitchen countertops, bathrooms, unfinished
basements, laundry rooms, garages and outdoors.
Lighting outlets in the aforementioned area shall be ARC fault protected
Fixed in place appliance circuits such as washing machine, microwave oven,
garbage disposal, and dishwasher are exempt from ARC fault protection as well
as GFCI protection. If sink is within 6? of washing machine then GFCI required
on washer receptacle.
Kitchen refrigerator receptacles will be ARC fault protected
240 Volt circuits are exempt from ARC fault protection
 
IMO 210.12(B) could use some work as the current wording leaves too much gray area, but I would say that including utility rooms and garages as a "similar room or area" is reaching too far. In which of those listed rooms do we normally park our car or wash out clothes? If a garage is similar to those listed rooms, then it must be because it has walls and a ceiling. There would be no room in the house that wouldn't be similar. There is nothing in the code wording that mentions gfci receptacles. Using that to determine whether an area is similar or not without a local amendment is as I said IMO reaching too far.
 
klineelectric said:
I received an e- mail from my building department saying that all outlets in houses that dont require gfci must be afci. It states that refrigerators , garages and laundry rooms must be afci. I know they will fall back on the " and similar areas" but why does the code have definitions of a "bathroom" a "kitchen" a "garage" and a "laundry room"and then not specifically list them in in 210-12 arc fault when it specifies other rooms....family room, living room, parlor etc. Seems to me if there intent was to have all other outlets that arent required to be gfci to be afci they should have worded it that way......I guess that would be too easy.
Click to expand...

Your building dept. has it a little wrong. If the refg. is in the kitchen then it is not requried to be arc faulted. 210.12 B dose not list kitchens as an area that requires AFCI. As far as a definition a kitchen is not a similar area to a bath or living room. Unless you wire off of the SABC for the refg. which is GFCI then a dedicated circ. can be ran for the refg.
 
After reading your second post, it looks to me like they are not including garages or laundry rooms in the list of areas that need arc fault. However, I don't see any language in the code section that would support requiring arc fault for the refrigerator receptacle in the kitchen, but not the counter top receptacles.
 
they are requiring lighting outlets in the laundry and garage they say " lighting outlets in these aformentioned areas (garage, bath, kitchen and laundry) shall be arc fault. The e-mail is a little hard to understand ......as is thier interpretation of the code.:D
 
Fixed in place appliance circuits such as washing machine, microwave oven,
garbage disposal, and dishwasher are exempt from ARC fault protection as well
as GFCI protection. If sink is within 6? of washing machine then GFCI required
on washer receptacle.
Kitchen refrigerator receptacles will be ARC fault protected
Click to expand...

So how is a washing machine considered fixed in place but a refrigerator isn't?

The last line about fridge receptacles seems to be just thrown in there and not part of the NEC. I believe their interpretation is wrong.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
So is this an ammendment in writing or just a letter saying opinion ? Not the same
Click to expand...

klineelectric said:
The following is that e- mail ..................................07/21/2010

CITRUS COUNTY BUILDING DIVISION
NOTICE
JULY 13, 2010
To: Electrical contractors, general, building and residential contractors,
owner/builders, and interested parties
From: The Citrus County Building Division
Subj: 2008 NEC 210.12 ? ARC Fault Protection
The following constitutes our interpretation and application of 2008 NEC 210.12 ?
Click to expand...

I think there lies your answer. Question mark and all.
 
Any one from Georgia

Any one from Georgia

As far as I know Ga has never adopted the arc fault except in the bedrooms. There is an Ga amendment for that. If this has been changed will some one let me know.. I think this whole house arc fault is a bunch of bull , there will be major complaints of tripping for no apparent reason.
 
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