iggy2
Senior Member
- Location
- NEw England
I'm surprised this has not come up, but a search for "406 etc. seems to yield nothing....
406.4(D)(4) reads: "Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection. Where a receptacle outlet is supplied by a branch circuit that requires AFCI protection as specified elsewhere in this Code, a replacement receptacle shall be one of the following: (1) A listed outlet branch circuit type... (2) A receptacle protected by a .... (3) A receptacle protected by..." (emphasis added)
My question is - does replacement of a non-GFI kitchen countertop receptacle with a GFI receptacle trigger the requirement that the receptacle outlet have AFCI protection? The branch circuit is existing (and happens to be a multi-wire circuit), and is not being "modified, replaced or extended". Since the branch circuit is existing, it does not require AFCI protection "elsewhere in this code", and I do not see where the AHJ can force this existing circuit to now be AFCI protected (which he has).
Does anyone have any official guidance on this? Preferably from NFPA, IAEI, etc.??
As a side note, since the receptacle must be GFCI, the only way to accomplish AFCI protection is via the circuit breaker; but since that is a multiwire circuit, the AFCI must be a 2 pole CB (or have a handle tie). I'm not sure if a 2 pole AFCI can be used on a multi-wire circuit, or if a 1 pole AFCI and 1 pole non-AFCI handle-tied can be used on a multi-wire circuit....
406.4(D)(4) reads: "Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection. Where a receptacle outlet is supplied by a branch circuit that requires AFCI protection as specified elsewhere in this Code, a replacement receptacle shall be one of the following: (1) A listed outlet branch circuit type... (2) A receptacle protected by a .... (3) A receptacle protected by..." (emphasis added)
My question is - does replacement of a non-GFI kitchen countertop receptacle with a GFI receptacle trigger the requirement that the receptacle outlet have AFCI protection? The branch circuit is existing (and happens to be a multi-wire circuit), and is not being "modified, replaced or extended". Since the branch circuit is existing, it does not require AFCI protection "elsewhere in this code", and I do not see where the AHJ can force this existing circuit to now be AFCI protected (which he has).
Does anyone have any official guidance on this? Preferably from NFPA, IAEI, etc.??
As a side note, since the receptacle must be GFCI, the only way to accomplish AFCI protection is via the circuit breaker; but since that is a multiwire circuit, the AFCI must be a 2 pole CB (or have a handle tie). I'm not sure if a 2 pole AFCI can be used on a multi-wire circuit, or if a 1 pole AFCI and 1 pole non-AFCI handle-tied can be used on a multi-wire circuit....
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