Code Regulations Arch Fault Breakers (Georgia)

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bsims

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Hogansville, GA
I am currently renovating 18 units of public housing. I am only changing out the breaker panels and doing no new wiring. The code inspector says I have to install Arch Fault Breakers for the bedrooms. These units were builts in the 1950's, therefore the wiring codes did not require the bedroom be on seperate breakers. If I install Arch Fault Breakers on the bedroom breakers now they will not work. The bedrooms are wired in connection with other rooms in the unit and this causes an overload on the Arch Fault Breaker. I have had three electricians tell me that they are unsafe. Is there any thing in the code that say renovations of just installing the panel box don't require the Arch Fault Breakers. I know I read on this Forum there was an addendum for another state. Is anyone familiar with this being the case for Georgia?
 
I worked for the Talla housing auth. I relpaced over 100 panels and they did require AFCI (permit) and the troubleshooting was intense....ie... they were tripping...loose terminals, damaged devices, the older 60c wiring at fixtures "cooked" so to speak...etc.
 
Also, bedrooms are not required to be on seperate circuits. Just thought I would mention that and the 08 NEC may require all to be on AFCI
 
The areas I work in Ga, have all told me if I touch the service, then new gfcis where required, new arcfaults, where required and inter-connected smokes if not already done so. They will not make me rewire baths on their own circuits. This is the way it is in the county just north of you. I don't see how you would overload the arcfaults, it the current breakers are not overloaded. You may trip the arcfaults because of the things stated by triphase.
 
triphase said:
I worked for the Talla housing auth. I relpaced over 100 panels and they did require AFCI (permit) and the troubleshooting was intense....ie... they were tripping...loose terminals, damaged devices, the older 60c wiring at fixtures "cooked" so to speak...etc.
Click to expand...

Could you elaborate on "cooked". Do you mean as in if left could have caused a fire?
 
In addition to the issues mentioned by Triphase, it's likely you may have one or more multi-wire branch circuits in these units. These circuits, which have two circuits, each with its own "hot" conductor, sharing a single neutral are not compatible with AFCI breakers. Cutler-Hammer makes a dual pole breaker for this use, but they're expensive.

If you have AFCI breakers tripping, and there are no multi-wire circuits involved, I wouldn't assume it's because they are overloaded. If that was the case, a standard breaker would also trip. It's far more likely that there are points in the wiring where a neutral and ground are making contact. That will trip an AFCI breaker but not a normal one.
 
"cooked"....The old 60c rated conductors in the ceiling boxes were brittle... ie... conductor insulation due to the enclosed type incandecsent fixtures they installed over time NEC 410.35 "I think that is the reference" Fire. I don't know?
 
Just a note to the mods. This OP is NOT an electrician or electrical contractor.
He is having this work done by contractors.

I think the OP needs to heed advice he has gotten from other boards and ask this question locally.

Jbfan has given the best comments here so far as he is local to the OP.
 
This is simply a local issue and short of going to court you will likely need to comply.If they are triping its for one of 2 reasons or both.Either they are overloaded or wiring conditions are bad enough to cause the afci to trip.Either way it needs repaired.By chance are the old panels federal pacific ? If so thats why they were not triping.Good luck and your electrician will know how to handle this.
 
Mike03a3 said:
If you have AFCI breakers tripping, and there are no multi-wire circuits involved, I wouldn't assume it's because they are overloaded. If that was the case, a standard breaker would also trip. It's far more likely that there are points in the wiring where a neutral and ground are making contact. That will trip an AFCI breaker but not a normal one.
Click to expand...

Built in the 50's per the OP ... 15A and 20A branch circuits with a ground? I thought that it came somewhat after that. I don't think I saw my first 5-15 until 1960, but that doesn't preclude them grounding the box.
 
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