modx1
New member
- Location
- Bear Delaware USA
When upgrading a service at an existing residence are AFCI breakers required in the new panel?
You need to check with the local AHJ.
It is my opinion that the replacement of a service or other panel does not trigger the AFCI requirement.
That is correct, but I do not count wire within the new panel as an extension of the branch circuit, however some inspectors may.... It is my opinion that it depends if you have to extend the branch circuits or not.
If you end up moving the panel significantly as part of the upgrade and therefore adding more than a few feet of wire to the source end of the circuit, the inspector is more likely to consider it an extension.That is correct, but I do not count wire within the new panel as an extension of the branch circuit, however some inspectors may.
That is correct, but I do not count wire within the new panel as an extension of the branch circuit, however some inspectors may.
It may be desirable to have something find those issues, but at same time it may be undesirable for it to be an AFCI that does it.Requiring AFCI's as the result of a service change is asking for trouble as issues with neutrals due to unqualified hands making modifications over the years can be a nightmare to correct.
I don't see the replacement of the panel as a modification of the branch circuit. The branch circuit starts at the load side of the breaker.From what I recall the 2011 codes says AFCI is required with a modification. So what do you call it when you move a panel or replace it.
mod?i?fi?ca?tion
noun \?m?-d?-f?-?k?-sh?n\ : the act or process of changing parts of something : the act or process of modifying something
: a change
When upgrading a service at an existing residence are AFCI breakers required in the new panel?
I don't see the replacement of the panel as a modification of the branch circuit. The branch circuit starts at the load side of the breaker.
I don't agree that moving the wire from a breaker in the old panel to a breaker in a new panel is a modification of the branch circuit.if you touch it like move conductors from one panel to another you are making a modification.
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I would not count that either but it is very common when doing residential panel swaps for people to cut the circuits back to j-boxes in order to neaten things up and/or get the extra length needed for today larger panels even if the new panel goes right back in the same spot the old one was.
This is clarified in the 2014 NEC with an exception.
One thing that this clarifies (well, strongly implies anyway) is that even in the code 2011 edition, modifications, extensions, etc. are meant to be considered at the origin as well as elsewhere along the circuit.As others have indicated, this seems to vary depending on the AHJ. The NEC through the 2011 edition has not made this type of situation very clear. For the 2014 edition this has been clarified. In the 2014 edition see 210.12(B), Exception.
Agreed, what if you were just relocating the breaker to a different slot to make room for a double pole, or something like that?One thing that this clarifies (well, strongly implies anyway) is that even in the code 2011 edition, modifications, extensions, etc. are meant to be considered at the origin as well as elsewhere along the circuit.
It still leaves open the question of whether just moving the wires without extending them would be a modification under 2011.