branch breaker always @10000 AIC?

[Toros]

Hi,
My friend says that,
no matter what AIC rating the main breakers in the service have (such as, 22000,42000,65000....)
the branch breakers in sub panels can be rated @ 10,000 AIC.

is he correct???
Thank you

 

[ActionDave]

No. 110.9, 110.10

 

[iwire]

Hi,
My friend says that,
no matter what AIC rating the main breakers in the service have (such as, 22000,42000,65000....)
the branch breakers in sub panels can be rated @ 10,000 AIC.

is he correct???
Thank you

Maybe for a particular series rated set up but in general no.

 

[JoeStillman]

For panels fed by 208 V transformers of a standard size and impedance, you can have a degree of confidence that you know the required AIC. A rule of thumb calculation is enough, but it's still a calculation. You can't tell just by looking at the panel's main rating or branch circuit size.

 

[tom baker]

The minimum AIC is 5K per UL listings. Most are 10K
There is a change in the 2011 and 2014 NEC related to this see 110.24, also for background see 110.9 and especially 110.22

 

[jim dungar]

Hi,
My friend says that,
no matter what AIC rating the main breakers in the service have (such as, 22000,42000,65000....)
the branch breakers in sub panels can be rated @ 10,000 AIC.

Definitely an 'old wives tale'.
As others mentioned, 110.9 and 110.10 are the applicable NEC references and they have not changed in my memory. I first came across this 'AIC is an issue only at the service entrance' as far back as the early 80's.

 

[petersonra]

Hi,
My friend says that,
no matter what AIC rating the main breakers in the service have (such as, 22000,42000,65000....)
the branch breakers in sub panels can be rated @ 10,000 AIC.

is he correct???
Thank you

I am going to answer the question you actually asked.

The AIC rating of the main breaker has no bearing on the required AIC rating of the breakers in the sub-panel.

 

[augie47]

 

[tom baker]

Hi,
My friend says that,
....
is he correct???
Thank you

With your attitude (questioning is this is right) you will go far in the electrical trade. There is a lot of misinformation around, passed on for generations.
Ask for code sections - don't assume -
Look this up
Anacoro Imparo