Residential Services AFCI/GFCI

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Fordean

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Been out of the loop for a while. In residential. Panels. Do they need to be all GFCI and AFCI breakers. Big cost difference. Where is the Fine line.? Do you use a regular breaker any more?
 
There are outlets that require GFCI protection, but this does not have to be a GFCI type circuit breaker providing the protection, it can be a GFCI type receptacle or other device providing the protection.

AFCI where required must protect the entire branch circuit therefore protection must come from the branch circuit device (the breaker).

2011 NEC has conditions added that may allow an outlet type device provide AFCI protection - supposably they were expected to be on market before 2014 NEC comes out, has anyone heard if any are available yet?
 
kwired said:
There are outlets that require GFCI protection, but this does not have to be a GFCI type circuit breaker providing the protection, it can be a GFCI type receptacle or other device providing the protection.

AFCI where required must protect the entire branch circuit therefore protection must come from the branch circuit device (the breaker).

2011 NEC has conditions added that may allow an outlet type device provide AFCI protection - supposably they were expected to be on market before 2014 NEC comes out, has anyone heard if any are available yet?
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Referring back to Code Update classes. Seems Instructor mentioning. All Circuits, Not only Bedrooms, Need AFCI. And other are GFIC (this is same as before.). I havent looked in code on this yet. Due to not being in Residential(Circus) field in a while. They work to cheap.
 
Fordean said:
Been out of the loop for a while. In residential. Panels. Do they need to be all GFCI and AFCI breakers. Big cost difference. Where is the Fine line.? Do you use a regular breaker any more?
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You need to be more clear with your question.

It's not the service or the panel that makes any difference it's if this is new construction.

You may do a service change on an existing house and not use any GFCI or AFCI breakers and use all new regular breakers.

Rewire mentioned code cycle but it can also be how your local area has chosen to adopt the new code.
 
Fordean said:
Referring back to Code Update classes. Seems Instructor mentioning. All Circuits, Not only Bedrooms, Need AFCI. And other are GFIC (this is same as before.). I havent looked in code on this yet. Due to not being in Residential(Circus) field in a while. They work to cheap.
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You could just open up a code book and read it yourself - it is not too complicated and not really that much reading that covers this.

210.8 contains the GFCI requirements - they have had little change in last few editions of NEC,

210.12 contains the AFCI requirements. One sentence contains most of what is important.
 
Fordean said:
Been out of the loop for a while. In residential. Panels. Do they need to be all GFCI and AFCI breakers. Big cost difference. Where is the Fine line.? Do you use a regular breaker any more?
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AC, furnace, disposal, diswasher, microwave, dryer, range gas or electric, cooktop gas or electric, bath fan, frig, just a few.
 
jxofaltrds said:
AC, furnace, disposal, diswasher, microwave, dryer, range gas or electric, cooktop gas or electric, bath fan, frig, just a few.
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Some of those items may be on AFCI protection in some cases. The determining factor is that it is on a 120 volt branch circuit 15 or 20 amps and is in one of the rooms/areas mentioned in 210.12.
 
Rewire said:
Check your code cycle for your area 05,08,11 ?
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Exactly, if your area has not adopted all of 2008 or 2011(even if it was discussed in the Code Update Class) than you probably only need the AFCIs in the bedrooms.

Yes, you are correct it is significantly more expensive for AFCI Breakers than standard breakers.

-Josh
 
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