Smokes and AFCI's in SC

[Ragin Cajun]

South Carolina specifies that smokes NOT be on an AFCI protected circuit. I agree for a number of reasons.

Kitchen outlets do not have to be AFCI in the 2011 code.

We are finishing up on design for multiple dwelling units, and rather than have a dedicated breaker for smokes we are considering putting the smokes on the dedicated refrigerator circuit (separate from the required two kitchen circuits.). The refrigerator is the only other load on the circuit.

Any reasons why this is either not to code or not a good idea?


Thanks,


RC

 

[Sierrasparky]

To place on a Kitchen appliance circuit is not compliant unless it is a kitchen appliance , Clock, as no other outlets can be on this. ]

What is wrong with placing smokes on the AFCI?
Only other outlets be protected from bad wiring. If the AFCI trips on a bedroom circuit it will get repaired. I would never place smokes on a dedicated circuit as you are looking for someone to disable it. ( my opinion)

 

[Ragin Cajun]

The following if one of the SC code modifications, it is the current one document:

-------------------------------

SOUTH CAROLINA MODIFICATIONS
TO THE 2011 EDITION OF THE
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
As authorized by Section 6-9-40 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976 as amended, the South Carolina Building Codes Council has approved the following modifications to the 2011 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC). The approved modifications under Section 6-9-40 are mandatory for all local jurisdictions and must be incorporated into the National Electrical Code.
The modifications are arranged by the affected NEC section numbers in ascending order. Modifications continued from a prior building code cycle were renumbered to coincide with the 2012 building code cycle numbering, and are distinguished by a note and reference to their prior modification numbers.

Modification Number: NEC 2011 02.
Article: 210.12(B) Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection.
Modification: An additional exception was added to omit arc-fault protection in bedrooms for circuits serving smoke detectors only.
The modified section will now read: (c) A circuit serving no outlets within the bedroom except the smoke detector shall not be protected by an arc-fault protector.
Reason: A smoke detector is a static load most unlikely to create a fault that would lead to arcing, except in reacting to smoke or fire. The current state of the art of arc fault detectors has not proven to be reliable. It is not prudent to entrust the operation of something as crucial to life safety as smoke detectors to circuits with arc fault protection.
Note: Continued modification NEC 2005 01 and 2008 02.
Proponent: City of Rock Hill Electric Advisory Board
Effective Date: July 1, 2007.

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I agree, don't want the smokes on their own circuit. But - which other circuit?

As an aside, do the dual powered smokes alarm on low battery and loss of AC power?


RC

 

[GoldDigger]

To place on a Kitchen appliance circuit is not compliant unless it is a kitchen appliance , Clock, as no other outlets can be on this. ]

What is wrong with placing smokes on the AFCI?
Only other outlets be protected from bad wiring. If the AFCI trips on a bedroom circuit it will get repaired. I would never place smokes on a dedicated circuit as you are looking for someone to disable it. ( my opinion)

The motivation for the rule is that you do not want smokes to be disabled by either a nuisance trip or even a real arc. The circuit may get repaired, but in the meantime you have no smokes.

 

[cowboyjwc]

And just why would you not want to protect the smoke detector circuit with an AFCI? There's nothing that says that you can't have bad wiring going to a smoke detector.

Though I always thought it would be ironic if it was the smoke detector circuit that started a fire.