210.12(4)

[Surf3]

I have an inspector telling me AFCI devices are not allowed because no breaker manufacture make a compatible breaker with the AFCI. I understand the code to read the device should be able to protect the line and load side wiring with AFCI protection and that meets code requirements.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

He is correct, there is no product on the market that meets the requirements of that section.

This was left in the code as result of the breaker manufacturer's sending people to vote on a floor motion at the annual meeting for the 2017 code. It is intended to prevent the outlet manufacturers from gaining additional AFCI market share. The code making panel had voted to delete the requirements of 210.12(A)(4)(d), but that was subjected to a floor motion and the 2016 NFPA annual meeting and the deletion was voted down. The CMP did not agree, but since there was no consensus between the NFPA membership and the CMP, the rules required that the code revert to the language of the previous code.