Use of OBC AFCI receptacles

[mlnk]

The Code talks a lot about installing an OBC AFCI receptacle on the first outlet of a circuit and the circuit is fed with a branch circuit AFCI circuit breaker. It seems this would be an extremely rare situation - because the old AFCIs have not been sold for over 10 years.
I think the normal (and much easier) procedure is to protect the entire circuit with a combo AFCI ( CAFCI) and then use standard receptacles downstream.
Also if you use OBC devices you must place your first outlets carefully so they do not get blocked by future furniture, making them not readily accessible. This accessibility problem happens in retro-fit situations where the first outlet on the circuit is randomly placed.

 

[Adamjamma]

the code requires the GFCI or AFCI outlet that is protecting the rest of the circuit to be placed in the first outlet position. It says this should be readily accessible. But, it does not say an electrician must become the interior designer.
As an electrician we do not have any idea what people will put along any wall. So, we cannot plan for where our first outlet will be. Do we then put our first outlet behind a door so it is harder to use? But the door will block it sometimes!

No, only in certain environments, such as in Factories, can we tell the property owner that they must always have access to a certain spot. In a home, as long as you did your best, if the homeowner now puts a big book case in front of the afci or gfci outlet for that room, that is their problem later on. You as an installer cannot tell them how to put stuff in their home.

Now, if they tell you that they plan on putting a big bookcase there... that is a different story.

 

[kwired]

No, only in certain environments, such as in Factories, can we tell the property owner that they must always have access to a certain spot.

Actually we can't even make them comply with that, but we can remind them that other safety compliance people may give them troubles be it OSHA, insurance, etc. representatives if they don't comply.