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Electrical Code ® (®) AFCI Requirements

This document discusses definitions of different types of arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) from UL 1699 and the history of National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements for AFCI protection. It outlines how the NEC first mandated AFCIs in 1999 for bedroom receptacles and has since expanded requirements to include more areas of dwelling units. The NEC definitions of AFCIs have remained the same, focusing on recognizing characteristics unique to arcing faults, while requirements have grown to include additional circuit locations and allow combination AFCIs to be located at the first outlet in some cases.

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Simbu Arasan
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133 views2 pages

Electrical Code ® (®) AFCI Requirements

This document discusses definitions of different types of arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) from UL 1699 and the history of National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements for AFCI protection. It outlines how the NEC first mandated AFCIs in 1999 for bedroom receptacles and has since expanded requirements to include more areas of dwelling units. The NEC definitions of AFCIs have remained the same, focusing on recognizing characteristics unique to arcing faults, while requirements have grown to include additional circuit locations and allow combination AFCIs to be located at the first outlet in some cases.

Uploaded by

Simbu Arasan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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AFCI Definitions from UL 1699 (Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters) and History of National

Electrical Code ( NEC ) AFCI !e"uirements


AFCI Definitions
Four of the relevant AFCI definitions from UL 1699 are:
Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) - A device intended to mitiate the effects of arcin faults !"
functionin to de-eneri#e the circuit $hen an arc-fault is detected%
&ranch'Feeder Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter - A device intended to !e installed at the oriin of a
!ranch'circuit or feeder( such as at a panel!oard% It is intended to provide protection of the
!ranch'circuit $irin( feeder $irin( or !oth( aainst un$anted effects of arcin% )his device also
provides limited protection to !ranch circuit e*tension $irin% It ma" !e a circuit-!rea+er t"pe
device or a device in its o$n enclosure mounted at or near a panel!oard%
,utlet Circuit Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter - A device intended to !e installed at a !ranch circuit
outlet( such as at an outlet !o*% It is intended to provide protection of cord sets and po$er-suppl"
cords connected to it ($hen provided $ith receptacle outlets) aainst the un$anted effects of
arcin% )his device ma" provide feed-throuh protection of the cord sets and po$er-suppl" cords
connected to do$nstream receptacles%
Com!ination Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter - An AFCI $hich complies $ith the re.uirements for
!oth &ranch'Feeder and outlet circuit AFCIs% It is intended to protect do$nstream !ranch circuit
$irin and cord sets and po$er-suppl" cords%
National Electrical Code ( NEC ) !e"uirements
/0C 1999
)he National Electrical Code1 (NEC1) first mandated the use of AFCIs in 1999 for the protection
of !ranch circuits suppl"in !edroom receptacle outlets% )he effective date $as 2anuar" 1( 3443%
#1$-1#% Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter &rotection
(A) Definition% An arc-fault circuit interrupter is a device intended to provide protection from
the effects of arc faults !" reconi#in the characteristics uni.ue to arcin and !" functionin
to de-eneri#e the circuit $hen an arc fault is detected%
(') D(ellin) Unit 'edrooms% All !ranch circuits that suppl" 135-volt( sinle phase( 15- and
34-ampere receptacle circuits installed in d$ellin unit !edrooms shall !e protected !" an
arc-fault circuit interrupter(s)% )his re.uirement shall !ecome effective 2anuar" 1( 3443%
/0C 3443
6rotection $as !roadened from !edroom receptacles to !edroom outlets% )here $as additional
stress on protection for the entire !ranch circuit%
#1$-1#% Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter &rotection
(A) Definition% An arc-fault circuit interrupter is a device intended to provide protection from
the effects of arc faults !" reconi#in the characteristics uni.ue to arcin and !" functionin
to de-eneri#e the circuit $hen an arc fault is detected%
(') D(ellin) Unit 'edrooms% All !ranch circuits that suppl" 135-volt( sinle phase( 15- and
34-ampere outlets installed in d$ellin unit !edrooms shall !e protected !" an arc-fault circuit
interrupter listed to provide protection of the entire !ranch circuit%
/0C 3445
1
Com!ination AFCIs $ere mandated for the protection of !ranch circuits suppl"in !edroom
outlets( $ith the continued use of &ranch'Feeder AFCIs !ein permitted until 2anuar" 1( 3447% An
e*ception( $ith re.uirements( $as added for AFCIs located $ithin 1%7 m of the loadcenter%
#1$-1#% Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter &rotection
(A) Definition% An arc-fault circuit interrupter is a device intended to provide protection from
the effects of arc faults !" reconi#in the characteristics uni.ue to arcin and !" functionin
to de-eneri#e the circuit $hen an arc fault is detected%
(&) D(ellin) Unit 'edrooms% All 134-volt( sinle phase( 15- and 34-ampere !ranch circuits
suppl"in outlets installed in d$ellin unit !edrooms shall !e protected !" a listed arc-fault
circuit interrupter( com!ination t"pe installed to provide protection of the !ranch circuit%
&ranch'feeder AFCIs shall !e permitted to !e used to meet the re.uirements of
314%13(&) until 2anuar" 1( 3447%
F6/: For information on t"pes of Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters( see UL 1699 - 1999(
Standard for Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters.
Exception: The location of the arc-fault circuit interrupter shall be permitted to be at other
than the origination of the branch circuit in compliance ith !a" and !b":
!a" The arc-fault circuit interrupter installed ithin #.$ m !% ft" of the branch circuit
o&ercurrent de&ice as measured along the branch circuit conductors.
(b) The circuit conductors beteen the branch circuit o&ercurrent de&ice and the arc-
fault circuit interrupter shall be installed in a metal racea' or a cable ith a metallic
sheath.
/0C 3447
)he use of Com!ination AFCIs $as e*panded to man" additional d$ellin unit locations% Under
specified conditions( Com!ination AFCIs $ere permitted to !e located at the first outlet%
#1$-1#% Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter &rotection
(A) Definition% An arc-fault circuit interrupter is a device intended to provide protection from
the effects of arc faults !" reconi#in the characteristics uni.ue to arcin and !" functionin
to de-eneri#e the circuit $hen an arc fault is detected%
(&) D(ellin) Units All 134-volt( sinle-phase( 15- and 34- ampere !ranch circuits suppl"in
outlets installed in d$ellin unit famil" rooms( dinin rooms( livin rooms( parlors( li!raries(
dens( !edrooms( sun rooms( recreation rooms( closets( hall$a"s( or similar rooms or areas
shall !e protected !" a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter( com!ination-t"pe( installed to provide
protection of the !ranch circuit%
F6/: For information on t"pes of Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters( see UL 1699 - 1999(
Standard for Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters.
Exception: (here )*C+ I*C or E*T or steel armored cable+ T'pe AC+ meeting the
re,uirements of -./.##$+ using metal outlet or 0unction boxes is installed for the portion of the
branch circuit beteen the branch circuit o&ercurrent de&ice and the first outlet+ it shall be
permitted to install a combination AFCI at the first outlet to pro&ide protection for the
remaining portion of the branch circuit. The AFCI installed at the first outlet shall also pro&ide
protection for an' e,uipment connected to that outlet.
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