More I am reading on AFCI the less it makes sense to me. Plus, starting to wonder if the idea of a cross between USA and UK rules on GFCI would be better... but manufacturers and boards would need to be slightly changed to accomplish it...
UK is using one RCD to cover several circuits, each on their own breaker. According to the brochures I am reading on AFCI, the approach here is to add the AFCI to the gFCI... so it covers several breakers, in a ‘split panel’ approach.
Now, so far I have not seen the number of breakers on an RCD defined, but probably just because I missed it somewhere. But, unless the USA switched to this style of system, then to do it would require specially built panels..which is probably never going to happen.
But, if we took the tripping values for the RCD systems, in which the US uses a stricter number, and varied it.. use the higher number in the panel box to cover more circuits, then 8n areas we need more cover, Mainly kitchens and bathrooms, use the outlets at the lower number to increase the protection.
Now, I know this is probably stupid to consider, but, still, it makes sense to me. Perhaps an AFCI system could be put in that works with the surge protector or such.
of course, the drawbacks to my system is the number of circuits to check when a panel RCD or afci pops is more. But it also means less of the specialist breakers.