Arc Fault

[Deno4]

In Florida where 2014 was adopted , in a residential building , for example townhouse all 120V receptacle must be Arc Fault protected on top of GFI requirements by code? Incliding washer , bath GFI , small appliance in kitchen , dishwasher / disposal , fridge , micro , hood . Basically every 120 light fixture and outlet without exeption?

 

[al hildenbrand]

The 2014 NEC 210.12 Rule answers your question. 210.12 has a list of rooms / areas that are to have AFCI protected branch circuits for the Outlets in them.

When you read it, it helps to read the Article 100 Definition of "Outlet" first. You will find an Article 100 Definition for "Receptacle Outlet" and "Lighting Outlet". Be aware that, while all Receptacle Outlets and Lighting Outlets are "Outlets", Outlets also covers smoke detectors and hard wired connections of Utilization Equipment.

Ground Fault Protection is described in 210.8.

You will also want to learn from your local Authority Having Jurisdiction if there are Local Ordinances that modify 2014 NEC 210.12 and 210.8.

Where I work, it is NOT "Basically every 120 light fixture and outlet without exception."

 

[peter d]

In Florida where 2014 was adopted , in a residential building , for example townhouse all 120V receptacle must be Arc Fault protected on top of GFI requirements by code? Incliding washer , bath GFI , small appliance in kitchen , dishwasher / disposal , fridge , micro , hood . Basically every 120 light fixture and outlet without exeption?

Bathroom, garage, attic and unfinished basement receptacles are NOT required to be AFCI protected.

 

[Deno4]

Thanks for your detailed explanation , It's clear now...

 

[Deno4]

Thanks

 

[kwired]

It is not just "outlets" anymore. 2014 added "or devices" after the word outlet.

Now that outside light where the "outlet" doesn't need AFCI protection, still will be included if the switch is in one of the rooms mentioned.

 

[mlnk]

2014 NEC where AFCI is not required:
Garages ( if laundry area is in garage, AFCI for laundry area only.)
Attic
Crawl space
Unfinished basement
Storage rooms
240 volt circuits
Exterior outlets - receptacles and lighting, including exterior tankless water heaters receptacles. However, If exterior light is controlled from an interior protected room, that light will be AFCI protected.
Bathrooms, full or half baths. But the lighting will probably share a bedroom circuit which will be AFCI protected.
Sump pumps and septic pumps. (hard wire or single receptacle only)
FAU which may be located in the garage or located in a FAU utility enclosure within the dwelling. FAU should be on a separate circuit and be connected to a single receptacle (not a duplex) or be connected to a Fusetron outlet with a fuse, per manufacturer’s requirements.
The local inspector may exempt other appliances or areas.

AFCI PROHIBITED
There are also circuits that are prohibited from having AFCI protection:
Fire sprinkler system alarm which shall be energized from the service panel with metallic conduit to a metallic box. (Also the alarm is not GFCI protected.)
Home security systems that are monitored off site. These systems usually are smoke and burglar alarm combined. The control panel must be energized with a separate circuit with a single receptacle. Local inspector will determine if metallic conduit to a metallic box is required. (Also the home security system not GFCI protected.)
Snow and ice melting equipment which has GFEP Ground Fault Equipment and shall not be connected to AFCI Protection (Also not GFCI protected).

 

[kwired]

2014 NEC where AFCI is not required:
Garages ( if laundry area is in garage, AFCI for laundry area only.)
Attic
Crawl space
Unfinished basement
Storage rooms
240 volt circuits
Exterior outlets - receptacles and lighting, including exterior tankless water heaters receptacles. However, If exterior light is controlled from an interior protected room, that light will be AFCI protected.
Bathrooms, full or half baths. But the lighting will probably share a bedroom circuit which will be AFCI protected.
Sump pumps and septic pumps. (hard wire or single receptacle only)
FAU which may be located in the garage or located in a FAU utility enclosure within the dwelling. FAU should be on a separate circuit and be connected to a single receptacle (not a duplex) or be connected to a Fusetron outlet with a fuse, per manufacturer’s requirements.
The local inspector may exempt other appliances or areas.

AFCI PROHIBITED
There are also circuits that are prohibited from having AFCI protection:
Fire sprinkler system alarm which shall be energized from the service panel with metallic conduit to a metallic box. (Also the alarm is not GFCI protected.)
Home security systems that are monitored off site. These systems usually are smoke and burglar alarm combined. The control panel must be energized with a separate circuit with a single receptacle. Local inspector will determine if metallic conduit to a metallic box is required. (Also the home security system not GFCI protected.)
Snow and ice melting equipment which has GFEP Ground Fault Equipment and shall not be connected to AFCI Protection (Also not GFCI protected).

2017 210.12(A) exception 3 mentions fire alarm and metallic wiring methods and omission of AFCI, but does not say AFCI is prohibited. Did not look into other items you mentioned - they are not in 210.12 if they are mentioned - but would guess it is similar in that it is permitted to omit AFCI, maybe with conditions, but likely not prohibited to use AFCI.

I can see other codes not wanting AFCI on certain things in certain situations especially fire alarm.

 

[ptonsparky]

My question is if AFCIs work, why would you exempt the BC for FA?

 

[mlnk]

What I mean by prohibited is that the manufacturers instructions say: do not install on AFCI (or GFCI) protected circuit. They do not want to compromise their protection due to a tripped AFCI. I think you would not want to put AFCI on the optional circuits, outdoors, bathrooms, etc. to avoid call backs from nuisance tripping. If you want to install them everywhere you can...go ahead, just not on my house or my jobs. Also, per CA code,CEC, refrigeration equipment can have no GFCI protection. I think you can figure out why. But it needs to be on AFCI, which I think is a bad idea.

 

[kwired]

What I mean by prohibited is that the manufacturers instructions say: do not install on AFCI (or GFCI) protected circuit. They do not want to compromise their protection due to a tripped AFCI. I think you would not want to put AFCI on the optional circuits, outdoors, bathrooms, etc. to avoid call backs from nuisance tripping. If you want to install them everywhere you can...go ahead, just not on my house or my jobs. Also, per CA code,CEC, refrigeration equipment can have no GFCI protection. I think you can figure out why. But it needs to be on AFCI, which I think is a bad idea.

First I am not a big fan of AFCI's, but they are in the code and I do have to comply. I don't have a lot of faith in them doing what they are supposedly going to protect us from. Many the rules of application do make sense - if they do what they say they will do.

GFCI's I have no problem with. They are very effective at preventing shock. I do feel their requirement has been extended to some places where they are not necessarily needed, but still have faith in them doing what they are designed to do.

That said, total avoidance of AFCI for say outside outlets isn't always simple/cost effective. It will mean running separate circuit instead of tapping off convenient circuit already nearby.

When they first removed exceptions for GFCI in certain areas where you could say put a refrigerator in a garage on a dedicated single receptacle, I felt a little same way, who wants to have a fridge/freezer full of spoiled food because a surge event made the GFCI trip or something like that?

But since then I have been on a few service calls of refrigerators/freezers in garages, basements, etc. that have been tripping GFCI's and every one of them I found a fault within the appliance. Have also had calls for old units with only a two wire plug or a missing EGC on the plug and actually are shocking people - same thing did find a ground fault. I now think it is a good idea to still GFCI protect all outlets in garages, basements, etc. even if it gets a freezer plugged into it. If you are worried about spoiled food, get a temp monitor/alarm of some sort. You could just as easily lose power for some other reason and still lose all the contents. That food is worth very little compared to having someone get electrocuted.

 

[ptonsparky]

First I am not a big fan of AFCI's, but they are in the code and I do have to comply. I don't have a lot of faith in them doing what they are supposedly going to protect us from. Many the rules of application do make sense - if they do what they say they will do.

GFCI's I have no problem with. They are very effective at preventing shock. I do feel their requirement has been extended to some places where they are not necessarily needed, but still have faith in them doing what they are designed to do.

That said, total avoidance of AFCI for say outside outlets isn't always simple/cost effective. It will mean running separate circuit instead of tapping off convenient circuit already nearby.

When they first removed exceptions for GFCI in certain areas where you could say put a refrigerator in a garage on a dedicated single receptacle, I felt a little same way, who wants to have a fridge/freezer full of spoiled food because a surge event made the GFCI trip or something like that?

But since then I have been on a few service calls of refrigerators/freezers in garages, basements, etc. that have been tripping GFCI's and every one of them I found a fault within the appliance. Have also had calls for old units with only a two wire plug or a missing EGC on the plug and actually are shocking people - same thing did find a ground fault. I now think it is a good idea to still GFCI protect all outlets in garages, basements, etc. even if it gets a freezer plugged into it. If you are worried about spoiled food, get a temp monitor/alarm of some sort. You could just as easily lose power for some other reason and still lose all the contents. That food is worth very little compared to having someone get electrocuted.

:thumbsup:

mink: IDK if an AFCI actually works, but if they do, wouldn't we prefer the

fire ​

be prevented by its action, vs warned of one after its already in progress? Every hard wired smoke detector I've installed has had a battery in event of power loss anyway.

GFCI nuisance tripping due to transients is rare. I've personally only ran across it once or twice in 30 years. Older ones failed to trip or would not reset. NOT using one where required is not worth the risk.

 

[kwired]

:thumbsup:

mink: IDK if an AFCI actually works, but if they do, wouldn't we prefer the

fire ​

be prevented by its action, vs warned of one after its already in progress? Every hard wired smoke detector I've installed has had a battery in event of power loss anyway.

GFCI nuisance tripping due to transients is rare. I've personally only ran across it once or twice in 30 years. Older ones failed to trip or would not reset. NOT using one where required is not worth the risk.

Smoke alarms are not exempt from AFCI, a true fire alarm system can be. I don't know if they are doing anything much different with true home fire alarms than they are on commercial buildings, never seen one in a home. But your real fire alarm systems also have battery backup and likely will give you trouble signal if main power is lost and/or if battery voltage goes below a certain level.