inspector23
Senior Member
- Location
- Temecula, CA
This is long, please bear with me.
My question concerns AFCI requirements per 2005 NEC. Section 210.18 states: Guest rooms and guest suites that are provided with permanent provisions for cooking shall have branch circuits and outlets installed to meet the rules for dwelling units.
Section 210.12 (B) states: All 120 volt, single phase, 15 and 20 ampere branch circuits supplying outlets installed in dwelling unit bedrooms shall be protected by a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter, combination type installed to provide protection of the branch circuit. Branch/feeder AFCI’s shall be permitted to be used to meet the requirements of 210.12 (B) until January 1, 2008.
There is a FPN and two exceptions which do not pertain to my question. The January 1, 2008 requirement for combination AFCI’s is not relevant either.
My question is this – In a guest room or guest suite that is provided with permanent provisions for cooking per 210.18 , is a bedroom branch circuit required to be AFCI protected?
One opinion is yes, it is required because 210.18 states if it does meet the provisions for permanent cooking then branch circuits shall have branch circuits and outlets installed to meet the rules for dwelling units. It does not state all branch circuits, nor does it state kitchen branch circuits. It does not clarify which branch circuits it is referring to. Additionally, Section 210.18, guest room requirements, immediately follows 210.12, the AFCI requirement section, under Part one of Branch Circuit requirements.
The second opinion is no. This inspector takes the following position: “As for the question, you have to determine whether the "room " is a residence or not. Motel rooms are not required to meet the 6 ft. / 12 ft. rule for plug placement because the furniture is fixed in place and they do not want the clients to treat the room as a residence (ie. bring in portable appliances and use them). The code now states that if the room has cooking capability, it will be treated as a regular residential kitchen, with all the code requirements. ( COMMENT – HIS INTERPATATION IS THAT IT IS ONLY REFERRING TO KITCHEN BRANCH CIRCUITS) As for the outlets/lights, if people use the room like their house then arc fault could be required because YOU ( COMMENT - THE INSPECTOR) determined that it is a "residence". As for safety, a fixed in place wall sconce, in a motel room or lobby or commercial building; they create the same hazard. But the commercial or motel lobby would not be required to be arc fault protected. In (his jurisdiction) we will push for arc fault, but the code does not clearly state it "has to be" so if the engineer's design does not show arc fault, we will try to convince him/the owner that it is in his best interest to add the arc fault protection. Technically speaking, the things we do in motels/hotels are different than what we do at home and the code relaxes because of the use and "routine electrical maintenance". As always, with the tough issues, the code is grey enough for you to go either way.
I would appreciate any comments.
My question concerns AFCI requirements per 2005 NEC. Section 210.18 states: Guest rooms and guest suites that are provided with permanent provisions for cooking shall have branch circuits and outlets installed to meet the rules for dwelling units.
Section 210.12 (B) states: All 120 volt, single phase, 15 and 20 ampere branch circuits supplying outlets installed in dwelling unit bedrooms shall be protected by a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter, combination type installed to provide protection of the branch circuit. Branch/feeder AFCI’s shall be permitted to be used to meet the requirements of 210.12 (B) until January 1, 2008.
There is a FPN and two exceptions which do not pertain to my question. The January 1, 2008 requirement for combination AFCI’s is not relevant either.
My question is this – In a guest room or guest suite that is provided with permanent provisions for cooking per 210.18 , is a bedroom branch circuit required to be AFCI protected?
One opinion is yes, it is required because 210.18 states if it does meet the provisions for permanent cooking then branch circuits shall have branch circuits and outlets installed to meet the rules for dwelling units. It does not state all branch circuits, nor does it state kitchen branch circuits. It does not clarify which branch circuits it is referring to. Additionally, Section 210.18, guest room requirements, immediately follows 210.12, the AFCI requirement section, under Part one of Branch Circuit requirements.
The second opinion is no. This inspector takes the following position: “As for the question, you have to determine whether the "room " is a residence or not. Motel rooms are not required to meet the 6 ft. / 12 ft. rule for plug placement because the furniture is fixed in place and they do not want the clients to treat the room as a residence (ie. bring in portable appliances and use them). The code now states that if the room has cooking capability, it will be treated as a regular residential kitchen, with all the code requirements. ( COMMENT – HIS INTERPATATION IS THAT IT IS ONLY REFERRING TO KITCHEN BRANCH CIRCUITS) As for the outlets/lights, if people use the room like their house then arc fault could be required because YOU ( COMMENT - THE INSPECTOR) determined that it is a "residence". As for safety, a fixed in place wall sconce, in a motel room or lobby or commercial building; they create the same hazard. But the commercial or motel lobby would not be required to be arc fault protected. In (his jurisdiction) we will push for arc fault, but the code does not clearly state it "has to be" so if the engineer's design does not show arc fault, we will try to convince him/the owner that it is in his best interest to add the arc fault protection. Technically speaking, the things we do in motels/hotels are different than what we do at home and the code relaxes because of the use and "routine electrical maintenance". As always, with the tough issues, the code is grey enough for you to go either way.
I would appreciate any comments.
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