Arc fault breakers 2011

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Brian Williamson

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I'm currently finished wiring 2 homes in emporia ks, the bedrooms and smoke detectors are on arc fault breakers, and the entire kitchen is GFCI protected, also the garage is GFCI protected. I failed my final inspection because the living room receps were not on a arc fault protected. During the conversation the inspector also stated that my lighting circuits have to be on an arc fault breaker.... I can't find in the 2011 code under 210.12 where lighting doesn't require arc fault breakers. I'm sure some of you guys know the answer to this, any help is appreciated
 
The 2011 NEC requires afci almost everywhere in the home except kitchen , laundry and bath areas. 210.12 shows the areas that require afci-- lights are outlets.... maybe that is why you are confused.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
The 2011 NEC requires afci almost everywhere in the home except kitchen , laundry and bath areas. 210.12 shows the areas that require afci-- lights are outlets.... maybe that is why you are confused.
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Yes I do understand, that light sockets are outlets, It's very disappointing, I separate my lighting load and my receps on separate breakers, I was in hopes of it being a switched circuit separate from the receps, wouldn't fall under having to have afci breaker. I just cost myself, having to replace 27 breakers to afci's. That wasn't a cheap mistake.
 
Brian Williamson said:
Yes I do understand, that light sockets are outlets, It's very disappointing, I separate my lighting load and my receps on separate breakers, I was in hopes of it being a switched circuit separate from the receps, wouldn't fall under having to have afci breaker. I just cost myself, having to replace 27 breakers to afci's. That wasn't a cheap mistake.
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I would have doubled some of them up at the panel. That is a lot of afci breakers
 
frank everingham said:
for residential, the load for plugs and lights is 3 watts per sq ft. for every 600 sq feet, you need 1, 15 amp branch circuit. 600x3= 1800watts \ 120= 15 amps. a 1800 sq ft house needs 3 lighting branch circuits.
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That's fine for tract housing and project housing I guess. That won't fly in the kind of housing I Do. I don't separate lights and outlets in our housing. It gets worse in the 2014. Someday you will see GFI/AFC Mains. That will make it a whole lot easier.
 
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