AFCI in unfinished basements

[tom baker]

What has been the experience for AFCIs in an unfinished basement? 210.12 says "similar spaces", but IMO an unfinished (and its clearly that, storage, furnace, water heater). I need to add a few lights, GFCI receptacles....

 

[Joe.B]

I would not require AFCI in an unfinished basement. GFCI, yes.

 

[augie47]

I would not require AFCI in an unfinished basement. GFCI, yes.

same

 

[suemarkp]

Is finished even relevant? Isn't it more the type of room, and utility and storage rooms don't need AFCI. An unfinished basement bedroom would. My furnace room is finished and in the basement, but I don't plan to AFCI it.

 

[Joe.B]

Is finished even relevant? Isn't it more the type of room, and utility and storage rooms don't need AFCI. An unfinished basement bedroom would. My furnace room is finished and in the basement, but I don't plan to AFCI it.

True, intended use would dictate, regardless of finish. I assume by "unfinished bedroom" you mean a space intended to be a bedroom but isn't complete yet? In that scenario I would say yes it should be AFCI protected, but I don't think I could require it until it's actually finished. That's a pretty edge case though.

 

[suemarkp]

The definition of "finished" seems grey anyways. What I meant by unfinished basement bedroom would be an unpainted concrete floor, exposed joist ceiling, unpainted concrete walls on exterior perimeter with a legal egress window, and two framed walls with a closet and door. Maybe a rug on the floor. Legal bedroom, but what makes it "finished" versus "unfinished"? I'd say it needs an AFCI if its a room that appears to be a sleeping room with a closet, whether the floor, ceiling, and some walls are finished or not. For GFCI's rules, the inspectors I've talked to seem to focus on the floor -- if exposed concrete, it is unfinished and needs GFCI. But I'd then ask what if the floor was tiled (to me that makes it finished but still a shock hazard) and the concrete walls are exposed?

 

[Joe.B]

The definition of "finished" seems grey anyways. What I meant by unfinished basement bedroom would be an unpainted concrete floor, exposed joist ceiling, unpainted concrete walls on exterior perimeter with a legal egress window, and two framed walls with a closet and door. Maybe a rug on the floor. Legal bedroom, but what makes it "finished" versus "unfinished"? I'd say it needs an AFCI if its a room that appears to be a sleeping room with a closet, whether the floor, ceiling, and some walls are finished or not. For GFCI's rules, the inspectors I've talked to seem to focus on the floor -- if exposed concrete, it is unfinished and needs GFCI. But I'd then ask what if the floor was tiled (to me that makes it finished but still a shock hazard) and the concrete walls are exposed?

All good points, I would definitely believe a room was intended to be a bedroom under those conditions. Food for thought, I've seen more than a few houses that are built on a slab, and even a few that have polished concrete as the "finished" floor. Should every outlet in the house be GFCI protected if the entire floor was polished concrete?