Hey guys quick question. I'm roughing a house and there is a room above the garage only accessible through attic opening in garage. Do the four recepts two lights require afci protection? How bout gfci protection? Thinking no to first and yes to second questions but not sure.
afci required?
- Thread starter cmreschke
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Hendrix
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
I would say yes to first. No to second.
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
Yes , unless it is not similar to what's listed under 210.12
Hendrix
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Would you ark fault circuits in an attic ? I would.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
If there was only a light in there I might not have a big issue though my answer would still be that you needed AFCI. When you start putting receptacles in an area that's only being used for "storage" that's when I start asking questions.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
An attic is an attic therefore GFCI protection is not required. I don't see attics mentioned in 210.12 either so I say, no and no. 
An attic is an attic therefore GFCI protection is not required. I don't see attics mentioned in 210.12 either so I say, no and no.
OP said it is a room accesible through the attic & 210.12 says "similar rooms" so the mentioned room is similar. So I say yes to AFCI
If there are receptacles then there is something else going on besides the original intended storage space.
Don't forget the TR receptacles.
No GFCI
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construct
Senior Member
- Location
- Branson, Missouri
I think you would have to look at the building code in order to decide whether to call it a similar room or area. There are minimum area and ceiling height requirements to be considered a habitable room. Also, if the attic opening is accessed by permanent stairs, the ceiling/floor must be designed and built to carry a 30lb per sq ft load (same as a bedroom floor). May want to get your jurisdiction to determine it's classification.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I could be wrong but I don't think that you find any code, building or otherwise that says a space accessible from a hole in the garage is a habitable room.
rcarroll
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
Agree:thumbsup:An attic is an attic therefore GFCI protection is not required. I don't see attics mentioned in 210.12 either so I say, no and no.
rcarroll
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
I don't know what your local rules are, but habitable does not always mean 2 means of egress. Bedrooms, yes.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
An attic is an attic therefore GFCI protection is not required. I don't see attics mentioned in 210.12 either so I say, no and no.
Agreed x 2!
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I agreed twice so that 's X 4. No gfci or afci required-- you all think a smoke detector is required too.... NOT-- Permanent stairs would certainly change things
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Is a storage room a closet or similar room or area?
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
An attic over a garage a closet? :happyno:
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Don't know what the OP has. It was called a room. Does that mean it has coverings on the walls or is it just a area in the attic that isn't filled with framing members for the ceiling / roof?
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
Garages don't require AFCI any way.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
As far as we know it is not a garage, it is an attic or room that happens to be above a garage.
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