2001 AFCI in unfinished basements

[chris kennedy]

Question that I find interesting doing little dwelling unit work and not having basements here came up on the Building Code Forum.

Under 2011 NEC, are you seeing AFCI's required in unfinished basements by RDP's or comments from plan review?

Thanks

 

[rcarroll]

Not here in my town. However, (there's always a however in life), some electricians install them.

 

[mopowr steve]

Don't usually see afci's for unfinished part of basement although I think there is a recommendation (not required) that if the area is likely to be used in the future as a circuit that does require afci then it should be installed.

 

[kwired]

It is not a requirement and I would challenge the request to do something not required. Now if you have other outlets requiring AFCI on a circuit also supplying the basement outlet in question - then the other outlets being on the circuit make that basement outlet incidentally have protection as well.

I think it is a requirement in 2014 though. Not much at all in 2014 that isn't required to be AFCI - garages and outside outlets is about all there is.


If the room is finished off later into a space that requires AFCI, then the AFCI is not required until the room has been later finished off into the new use classification.

Requiring the AFCI before then is like wiping your behind before you poop:roll: