210.12

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monkey_man_100

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I know that you have to have bedroom outlets on arc fault, but is the hallway and closet leading to the bathroom in the master bedroom considered part of the master bedroom. The inspectors in South Florida think so. Thats what I have been told. Also in your experiance how many 14-2 homeruns do you have for a 2500 sq. ft house.
 
A 2,500 ft? home would require 5 - 15A branch circuits. (2500 ft? x 3 va = 7500 / 120V / 15A = 4.16 > 5 circuits.)

Your first question depends on the circumstances of the room layout. If the hallway leading into the bathroom is within the bedroom, then yes, afci protection is required for outlets in that area. If the hallway is apart of the bathroom, then no.

You can usually make this determination by the flooring and/or entry ways into each area. If the hallway is carpeted, it is probably apart of the bedroom. If it is tiled, I would consider it in the bathroom. A door or header into the hallway area may also indicate a new room, where an open ceiling to the hall wouldlead me to believe the hallway is in the bedroom.

Always check with your local AHJ for their requirements. Don't asume anything in South Florida.
 
Authority Having Jurisdiction. In my opinion, a bedroom closet, (clothes closet) is a very good place to have afci protection. A freind of mine had a major fire start in her bedroom closet (something plugged in) and all those clothes make good tinder.
 
JohnJ0906 said:
Authority Having Jurisdiction. In my opinion, a bedroom closet, (clothes closet) is a very good place to have afci protection. A freind of mine had a major fire start in her bedroom closet (something plugged in) and all those clothes make good tinder.
Click to expand...

maybe its time to actually put grounds on extension cords?
 
In Washington State there is a state code rule that clarifies that type of locaion, if you access the space thru the master bedroom then AFCI is required.
 
I asked my supervisor and he said that he has a local book that says that a closet is not part of the bedroom. Should I tell him to throw that book out?
 
I agree that a closet is not part of the bedroom. Whether it is a good idea to protect it with an AFCI or not is another argument.


Roger
 
Ok so according to strickly the code it is not required. Thanks for the help. The way I have been doing it is, if the hall to the bathroom has a door seperating it I don't put it with an afci. But if it dosen't, I always put it with Afci.
 
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John,
A freind of mine had a major fire start in her bedroom closet (something plugged in) and all those clothes make good tinder.
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[FONT=&quot]Unfortunately the currently available AFCIs provide almost no protection for that type of fault. The combination type that are requried starting 1/1/08 are said to provide that type of protection, but they are not on the market yet as no one has been able to make them work.
Don
[/FONT]
 
Being one of those South Florida inspectors, I use the floor covering, door, header method. Then I ask, "Is this called the masterbedroom closet".?............I get my AFC
 
Cavie, what's the difference in a masterbedroom closet and a living room closet beside location?

Roger
 
Who remembers the thread about should a bedroom closet light be required to be afci protected ????? That one went on for ever,without a definitive answer.
Outlet - A point where electricity is utilized........... As I remember it the argument was well argued until the subject of a lighted switch in the bedroom changed many opinions :)
 
210.12

I see many electricians putting the hallway lighting on the afci bedroom circuit,only so they will not have to provide a non afci protected circuit to the second floor. I don't like the idea of leaving the hallway in darkness if the afci trips at night.

If it was gfci I think it would be a violation. Just a thought.
 
JohnJ0906 said:
In my opinion, a bedroom closet, (clothes closet) is a very good place to have afci protection. A freind of mine had a major fire start in her bedroom closet (something plugged in) and all those clothes make good tinder.
Click to expand...

Just how would an AFCI been beneficial?
 
I think that the 2008 text, if it passes, will help clarify the issue of whether or not the closet is part of the bedroom.

Article 100
Clothes Closet. A non-habitable room or space intended
primarily for storage of garments and apparel.
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The closet is a room. A room, all by itself....

But then as we scroll down to 210.12 (O eight).
210.12 Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection.
(B) Dwelling Units. All 120-volt, single phase, 15- and
20-ampere branch circuits installed in dwelling units shall
be protected by a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter, combination
type installed to provide protection of the branch
circuit.
Click to expand...

So it will get cleared up and become a minute point.

Jim
New Hampshire
 
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