210.12

J

Jimmy7

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA
Occupation
Electrician
In Massachusetts they amended 210.12 to state the following listed below. It seems there is confusion among electrical inspectors in regards to afci protection when it comes to replacing receptacles located on the outside of the residence. On more than one occasion I had to replace a faulty receptacle on the outside of a house whether attached to the house or in a garden, and the inspector had a different interpretation if Afci protection was required or not. The word “In” is the sticking point. Although 210 refers to branch circuits, and not devices.. I was curious how you would interpret this?

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Jimmy7 said:
In Massachusetts they amended 210.12 to state the following listed below. It seems there is confusion among electrical inspectors in regards to afci protection when it comes to replacing receptacles located on the outside of the residence. On more than one occasion I had to replace a faulty receptacle on the outside of a house whether attached to the house or in a garden, and the inspector had a different interpretation if Afci protection was required or not. The word “In” is the sticking point. Although 210 refers to branch circuits, and not devices.. I was curious how you would interpret this?

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I’m in mass as well , I’ve never come across an inspector with that interpretation. Like you said it reads all single phase 120 volt 15 & 20 amp branch circuits supplying outlets or devices “IN” a dwelling shall be afci protected
In you’re situation 210.12(b) is not the applicable rule anyways, replacements fall under 210.12(e) and mass doesn’t amend 210.12(E) anyways so the replacement would need to be in a location listed in (B),(C) or (D) and outdoors is not one of those locations
 
If you look at the original 210.12 it isn't required in the 2020 NEC. It is also not included in 210.12(B) of the 2023.

I would show the inspector the classic 210.12(B) and just say "the NEC doesn't require it outside, and the code says "in", so it is reasonable to assume they don't intend to include the areas not within the dwelling unit."

What do they say about garages? That looks like it would be required by Massachusetts but not in the NEC.
 
Elect117 said:
If you look at the original 210.12 it isn't required in the 2020 NEC. It is also not included in 210.12(B) of the 2023.

I would show the inspector the classic 210.12(B) and just say "the NEC doesn't require it outside, and the code says "in", so it is reasonable to assume they don't intend to include the areas not within the dwelling unit."

What do they say about garages? That looks like it would be required by Massachusetts but not in the NEC.
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You’re correct when they say “IN” they mean in the dwelling , so if you run a circuit outdoor receptacles and it does not supply any outlets or devices in the dwelling and only supplies outdoor receptacles no AFCI protection in require the situation he described falls under replacements which is 210.12(E) which refers you back to locations in (B), (c), or (D) and like you said the amendment says all locations “IN” the dwelling so it’s irrelevant , the Amendment would have to read “AT” the dwelling
And when it’s a Attached garage AFCI protect the circuits , detached garage I don’t , its an outbuilding not part of the dwelling
 
Regardless of whether this receptacle is indoors or outdoors, the simple replacement of the device does not require AFCI protection to be added. Based on 210.12(E) Exception.

I have heard of an inspector in MA who believed AFCI protection was required for an outdoor swimming pool. I believe he was finally convinced otherwise.
 
JohnE said:
Regardless of whether this receptacle is indoors or outdoors, the simple replacement of the device does not require AFCI protection to be added. Based on 210.12(E) Exception.

I have heard of an inspector in MA who believed AFCI protection was required for an outdoor swimming pool. I believe he was finally convinced otherwise.
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See 406.4(D)(4)
 
JohnE said:
I'm an idiot, thanks for the correction
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That’s not a correction
406.4(d)(4) is not applicable because outdoors is not a location listed in 210.12(a)(b) or (c)
210.12(E) and its exception are not applicable either this is not modification , extension or replacement of the branch circuit wiring it’s only replacing a outdoor receptacle
There is no rule in the nec or the mass electrical code that requires us to afci protect a outdoor replacement receptacle
 
Jaybone812 said:
406.4(d)(4) says if the replacement in a a location mentioned in 210.12(a) (b) or (c) it needs to be afci protected,
Outdoors is not a location listed anywhere is 210.12 so it doesn’t require afci protection
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JohnE stated it was not required inside or outside.
 
Jimmy7 said:
In Massachusetts they amended 210.12 to state the following listed below. It seems there is confusion among electrical inspectors in regards to afci protection when it comes to replacing receptacles located on the outside of the residence. On more than one occasion I had to replace a faulty receptacle on the outside of a house whether attached to the house or in a garden, and the inspector had a different interpretation if Afci protection was required or not. The word “In” is the sticking point. Although 210 refers to branch circuits, and not devices.. I was curious how you would interpret this?

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406.4(d)(4) is the only real reference for afci protection of replacement receptacles, but for afci protection of replacement 406.4(d)(4) says it’s only required if you replace one in a location mentioned in 210.12(a),(b) or (c) and 210.12(b) in mass says afci protection for all 15 and 20 amp 120 v in a dwelling , so if it was anywhere in the house you’d need afci protection at that receptacle , but it’s not its outside and 210.12 mentions nothing about afci protection of outdoor outlets/devices in the nec or mass electrical code
 
Thanks for highlighting my idiocy!! LOL. Was hoping the thread just slowly died.. I'm kidding of course.

Yes I was thinking that the circuit wasn't being extended, and flaked on the 406..(d)(4)

The enforcement of this varies pretty widely, IME.
 
Jimmy7 said:
In Massachusetts they amended 210.12 to state the following listed below. It seems there is confusion among electrical inspectors in regards to afci protection when it comes to replacing receptacles located on the outside of the residence. On more than one occasion I had to replace a faulty receptacle on the outside of a house whether attached to the house or in a garden, and the inspector had a different interpretation if Afci protection was required or not. The word “In” is the sticking point. Although 210 refers to branch circuits, and not devices.. I was curious how you would interpret this?

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The "in" is a potential sticking point whether that was what they intended or not when they wrote it.

I question why they felt a need to replace what is in NEC with this text? As worded the outside items are somewhat questionable as written, but inside this includes all 15-20 amp 120 volt branch circuits need AFCI protection. There are gas furnaces with variable speed blowers that don't play well with AFCI/GFCI's and though NEC itself now has included kitchens and laundry, there is still some appliances for those areas that don't play well with AFCI/GFCI's as well. They maybe figured it would save confusion since there isn't very many things on 15/20 amp 120 volt circuits in a dwelling that NEC alone doesn't require AFCI protection for?

Going by NEC and not this amendment, often many outdoor outlets end up incidentally having AFCI protection because they are controlled by a switch that is inside in an area on the list in 21.12(B) or they are supplied from a nearby circuit supplying indoor outlets that require AFCI protection.
 
kwired said:
The "in" is a potential sticking point whether that was what they intended or not when they wrote it.

I question why they felt a need to replace what is in NEC with this text? As worded the outside items are somewhat questionable as written, but inside this includes all 15-20 amp 120 volt branch circuits need AFCI protection. There are gas furnaces with variable speed blowers that don't play well with AFCI/GFCI's and though NEC itself now has included kitchens and laundry, there is still some appliances for those areas that don't play well with AFCI/GFCI's as well. They maybe figured it would save confusion since there isn't very many things on 15/20 amp 120 volt circuits in a dwelling that NEC alone doesn't require AFCI protection for?

Going by NEC and not this amendment, often many outdoor outlets end up incidentally having AFCI protection because they are controlled by a switch that is inside in an area on the list in 21.12(B) or they are supplied from a nearby circuit supplying indoor outlets that require AFCI protection.
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I completely agree the sticking point is the word “IN”, and I’ve never had a issue with inspectors on this , and when I rough in resi I keep the outdoor receptacles outlets together and separated from branch circuits that terminate in the dwelling for the most part , so the outdoor receptacles are either going on gfci breakers or standard single pole breakers with gfci duplex receptacles, and I’ve never had this come up
And allot of outdoor outlets do end up afci protected if they feed a outdoor receptacle off a general lighting circuit or like you said if a switch is inside controlling the outlet
But my whole thing on this is 406.4(d)(4) specifically says if the replacement receptacle is located in areas listed in 210.12(a),(b) or (c) the replacement receptacle needs to be afci protected
Outdoors at a dwelling is not a location mentioned anywhere in 210.12(b) in the nec or the mass electrical code
 
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