AFCI Poll.......now with poll.

[76nemo]

This is such a broad poll. If we have to set a sub in older occupancies with AL wiring, than I say charge for it. Do AFCI's serve a purpose, sure they do. It is a purpose that CAN protect the occupants. Do I think they should be mandated on every heavy up, no, I do not. We have to go in and make the decisions for ourselves whether or not it is mandated. Should it be left up to a licensed EC, yes Sir/Maam, I DO believe so. Should they be required on new construction, well Sir/Maam, if you say so, they're going in.

Were AFCI's engineered to sell a new product, I say not, but who am I to say??????????????????

 

[charlie]

. . . Were AFCI's engineered to sell a new product, . .

No, but the code was used to sell the product after they were built. I was fairly close to the process where the manufacturers were selling the idea to the code panels.

 

[76nemo]

No, but the code was used to sell the product after they were built. I was fairly close to the process where the manufacturers were selling the idea to the code panels.

Well Charlie, if we abide by a code panel that is persuaded by newly manufactured products than we need to fight harder.

 

[iwire]

I am not going to waste my time fighting something that is a done deal. Especially an issue that makes so little difference to me one way or the other.

News flash, the code has always been influenced by manufacturers.

 

[M. D.]

A sure way to spot a crappy National code rule ?,... see how many local amendments there are ,.. How many are there on 210.12 ??

 

[iaov]

:smile::-? I did not vote ,.. Cuz i don't even know what the flipping requirement is:-?:d

210.12.......

 

[M. D.]

210.12.......

I know where it is ,.just not sure it covers new branch circuit wiring to outlets on pre xxx.12 branch circuits ,.. but I digress ,.. forgive ,. a not so young,.. fool.:smile:

 

[slick 50]

As to AFCI's I bitch about them at every opportunity. The State guys cringe when they see me at a meeting!! We don't have to install them in Wi. until 2010. I know people compare them to GFIC's in the early days haowever GFIC did not add over a thousand dollars to the cost of wiring a house. Or hundreds of dollars worth of inventory to the truck. If they were going to be required anywhere I would think it would be in old houses with loose wiring and fixtures. long nails pounded in all over, and worn out sockets. That I could see. But new houses?? Houses that are being inspected during construction and should be being( and for the most part are) wired by well trained, competent proffesionals. I still think this is what happens when manufacturers sit on code making panels. There, I have ranted and now I will sit back and suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous outrage.

I agree with you in some aspects but new construction have loose connections and bad devices straight from factory sometimes and once a HO moves in guess what they start doing..... Hanging cabinets in garage , pictures all over house, changing some light fixtures they dont like etc etc. I think if qualified electricians were the only people working with electric, then we would not need extra protection. BUT that will never happen with Home Depots and Lowes stores all over the world.

 

[electricmanscott]

There is nothing in the poll I would choose.

I am all for the added safety aspect of the AFCIs. If they worked as advertised and were perfected. I don't believe either is true.

Side note. The poll should be edited so the first choice makes some sort of sense.

 

[Hendrix]

It still makes my blood boil that the code was used to sell a product.

Me Too

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

Forget about AFCI and make it illegal for ANYONE without an electrical license or working under a licensed EC, to do electrical work. They have homeowners, house flippers, and carpenters doing alot more damage to electrical wiring and they are not using AFCI.

To me.. its all BS making it a code.

You are going to be had pressed to win this one. There are a lot more HO than EC out there. They not going to let the government strip their rights away concerning their own property. Besides around here it works fairly well. Any HO can do any work on his own home but it has to have a permit and be inspected. What they SHOULD be doing is keeping the HO more informed and making it easier for the HO to file permits. They make it so difficult that HO seem to get frustrated and say forget it. Of course this makes for a much less safe installation when the inspectors don't get a look at it.

 

[M. D.]

In Mass the whole permit process seems to depend on whether or not a person is hired to install wiring ..

MGL 143
No person shall install for hire any electrical wiring or fixtures subject to this section without first or within five days after commencing the work giving notice to the inspector of wires appointed pursuant to the provisions of section thirty-two of chapter one hundred and sixty-six. Said notice shall be given by mailing or delivering a permit application form prepared by the board, to said inspector.