Unfinished & AFCI

[ptonsparky]

I don't do many new homes. One a year if I am unlucky.

Unfinished areas in basements do not require AFCI protection. Why leave out this area?

Do you, after spending $500 protecting?? the rest of the small home, run a specific circuit just for the unfinished area?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

You can but you don't have to. I generally keep floors separated in my circuits anyway except for smokes and possibly bathroom receptacles.

I guess they figure that saws and other such equipment may be used down there. I suspect that eventually the afci will be needed there also.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Unfinished areas in basements do not require AFCI protection. Why leave out this area?

Do you, after spending $500 protecting?? the rest of the small home, run a specific circuit just for the unfinished area?

To me, the idea of adding another circuit specifically for the area lighting required for an unfinished basement of a new construction house is choosing to do work because I want to do it for free.

As for AFCI protection? I'm still prone to tagging the basic unfinished basement pull chain light off of what ever is closest, which, in most cases, is still a receptacle in the room on the floor above. IF that circuit is AFCI protected, then, so's the light.