I saw this letter on my bosses desk today and had to take a picture of it to make sure i was understanding it correctly. From what i gather, it is requiring AFCI breakers for a service change. That is going to make the price go up a lot. Especially when trouble shooting comes into play. What is everyone's experience with this?
Am i reading this right? WAC requires AFCI for panel change
- Thread starter rhovee
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
I don't see anything there other than a requirement to use the AFCI rules as found in the 2014 NEC. The 2014 NEC does not require the installation of AFCIs on a panel change. The AFCI requirement is triggered when you install a new branch circuit or extend or modify an existing branch circuit. The purpose of the exception following 210.12(B) is intended to permit a panel change without a requirement to install AFCI breakers.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
I don't know anything about your state's requirements. But what I read here doesn't necessarily answer the question asked at the beginning of the page you posted.
Also there is something in the 2014 about being able to extend a circuit up to 6' without having the AFCI requirements kick in. It was meant to relate to panel changes. I don't have the 2014 so I don't know if it's a regular code article or an exception to one.
Dennis Alwon, one of the mods made the proposal which led to this change.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
Sorry Don, looks like we posted at the same time!
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
What the Electrical Currents is stating is Washington is adopting the 2014 NEC. The 2014 NEC does not require AFCI if the branch circuits conductors are extended less than 6 ft, the intent is to allow a panel change.
Keep in mind Washington was on the 2005 NEC for AFCI protection, so going to the 2014 NEC is a big change. The last three editions of the electrical currents have had articles on AFCI. And don't wait for your boss to tell you whats in the electrical currents, you should have your own subscription.
Go to subscribe: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Main/Listservs/Electrical.asp
Knowing the WACs (our state code rules) is critical, as the WAC adopts the NEC and fixes a lot of the mistakes
All: The Electrical Currents is published by our state chief electrical inspector. Often, it will have official interpenetration and changes to the NEC.
The last three editions have had changes to the NEC, IE we won't require this, or here is a change due to a mistake in the NEC.
Keep in mind Washington was on the 2005 NEC for AFCI protection, so going to the 2014 NEC is a big change. The last three editions of the electrical currents have had articles on AFCI. And don't wait for your boss to tell you whats in the electrical currents, you should have your own subscription.
Go to subscribe: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Main/Listservs/Electrical.asp
Knowing the WACs (our state code rules) is critical, as the WAC adopts the NEC and fixes a lot of the mistakes
All: The Electrical Currents is published by our state chief electrical inspector. Often, it will have official interpenetration and changes to the NEC.
The last three editions have had changes to the NEC, IE we won't require this, or here is a change due to a mistake in the NEC.
- Status