Magnum Inspections Inc. Serving South Florida Since 1994 Martin County: (772) 214-9929 Broward/Palm Beach Counties: (954) 340-6615 Email me at: ev@magnuminspections.com |
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Starting January 1, 2002, The National Electrical Code , Section 210-12, requires that all branch circuits supplying 125V, single phase, 15 and 20 ampere outlets installed in dwelling unit bedrooms be protected by an arc-fault Circuit interrupter. Eventually they will be in more areas but the NEC selected to require them on bedroom circuits first because a CPSC study showed many home fire deaths were related to bedroom circuits.
There is a difference between AFCIs and G.F.C.I.s.
AFCIs are intended to reduce the likelihood of fire caused by electrical arcing
faults; whereas, G.F.C.I.s are personnel protection intended to reduce the
likelihood of electric shock hazard. Don't misunderstand, G.F.C.I.s are still
needed and save a lot of lives. Combination devices that include both AFCI and G.F.C.I
protection in one unit will become available soon. AFCIs can be installed in any
15 or 20 ampere branch circuit in homes today and are currently available as
circuit breakers with built-in AFCI features. In the near future, other types of
devices with AFCI protection will be available. If a GFCI receptacle is installed on the load side of
an AFCI it is possible for both the AFCI and the GFCI to trip on a fault if the
current exceeds the limit for both devices. It is also possible for the AFCI to
trip and the GFCI to not trip since the two devices could race each other.
However, in no case is safety compromised. Code Section 210-12 (a) Definition: An arc-fault circuit interrupter is a device intended to provide protection from the effects of arc faults by recognizing characteristics unique to arcing and by functioning to de-energize the circuit when an arc fault is detected. (b) Dwelling Unit Bedrooms. All branch circuits that supply 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets installed in dwelling unit bedrooms shall be protected by an arc-fault circuit interrupter (s). This requirement shall become effective November 1, 2002. From the 2005 NEC: 210.12 Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection.
FPN: For information on types
of arc-fault circuit interrupters, see UL 1699-1999, Standard for Arc-Fault
Circuit Interrupters.
Click on the links to the left for more important information.
Martin County: (772) 214-9929 Broward/Palm Beach Counties: (954) 340-6615 Email me at: ev@magnuminspections.com |
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