AFCIs

Come of Age
by Douglas Hansen

ArcFaultCircuitInterrupterswerethenewkidontheblockwhentheyfirstappearedinthe1999National
ElectricalCode(NEC).Sincethenwehaveseenthetechnologyadvancetoanewgenerationofdevices,
alongwithincrementalexpansionoftherequirementsforAFCIsineachnewcodeedition.Thenext(2014)
editionwillcontinuethattrend.

Why AFCIs?
Anarcresultsfromanelectricalcurrentpropagatedthroughair.Acommonexampleofthedischargeof
electricitybetweenelectrodesisthesparkpluginacarengine.Snapswitcheswillsometimescauseanarc
asthecontactsmakeorbreakcontinuity,thoughthosearcsaremomentaryandrarelydamaging.A
sustainedarccanoccuratalooseconnectionorbetweenconductorsthathavedamagedinsulation.These
electricalarcscanproducetemperaturesofseveralthousanddegreeswhilestilldrawinglesscurrentthanis
necessarytotripaconventionalbreaker(seetable1).Theyaretheoriginofmanyhousefires.
Approximately13%ofhomefiresareelectricalinorigin.TheNationalFireProtectionAssociation(NFPA)
estimates46,500residentialelectricalfiresoccurredin2010,resultingin$1.5billioninpropertylosses,420
deaths,and1,520injuries.Ofthesefires,approximatelyhalfresultedfromsometypeofarcing,whetherin
thestructureswiringsystemorintheconnectedequipment.
AFCIsattempttopreventthesefires
byinterruptingthecurrentwhenan
arcisdetected.Theimpetusfortheir
developmentisinareportdeveloped
byUnderwritersLaboratories(UL)for
theConsumerProductSafety
Commission(CPSC)in1995.The
report,TechnologyforDetectingand
MonitoringConditionsthatcould
CauseElectricalWiringSystem
Failures,recommendedthe
developmentofAFCItechnologyasa
meansofreducinghomeelectricalfires.

Figure 1VoltageandCurrentArcingSignature

OneofthechallengesindevelopmentofAFCIswastodevelopaproductthatdetectedandinterrupted
currentwhenadangerousarcoccurred,andthatdidnotnuisancetriponanarcthatwasnotdangerous,
suchastheonethatoccursfrequentlyatsnapswitches.AFCIsaccomplishthisbylookingattheelectronic
signatureofanelectricalarc(figure1),whichincludesasequenceofcurrentspikesandvoltagedrops.

Types and Limitations of AFCIs

UL1699recognizessixcategoriesofAFCIs:
1.Branch/feedertypes(AVZQ)
2.Combinationtypes(AWAH)
3.Cordtypes(AWAY)
4.Outletcircuittypes(AWCG)
5.Outletbranchcircuittypes(AWBZ),and
6.Portabletypes(AWDO)

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Forpracticalpurposesofinspectingwhatweseeinthefield(orwillseeinthenearfuture)thethreetypes
weareconcernedwitharethebranch/feeder,combination,andoutletbranchcircuittype.
Branch/feederAFCIswerethefirstgenerationofprotection.TheywerelistedbyULascircuitbreakers,and
alsoclassifiedasbranchfeederAFCIs(figure2).Thistypeisnolongerpermitted.Limitationsofthe
branch/feedertypeincludeinabilitytodetectseriesarcs,suchasalooseconnection,andrelativelyhigh
levelsoffaultcurrenttoactivethedevice(table1).Ifadeadshortattheoutlethadsufficientresistance
thatitcouldnotproduceatleast75ampsofpeakcurrent,thedevicemightnottrip.Receptacleoutletson
15ampcircuitsalmostalwayshavethatamountofavailablefaultcurrent.Theappliancesattheendofa
corddonotnecessarilyhavethatamount.TheselimitationsrestrictedtheabilityofbranchfeederAFCIsto
detectarcsinconnectedequipment,suchasspaceheatersandelectricblankets.Themainvalueof
branch/feederAFCIswasprotectionagainst(relativelyuncommon)parallelarcsinvolvingthehotand
neutralconductorsofthecircuit.
ThesecondgenerationofAFCIsisthecombinationtype(figure3).Thetermderivesfromtheirabilityto
detectagreatercombinationofpotentialarcingconditions.Ithasnothingtodowithhavingagroundfault
protectionfunction(moreonthatlater).SinceJanuary1,2008,allAFCIbreakersarerequiredtobe
combinationtypes.TheydetectarcsthatwouldactivateabranchfeederAFCIaswellasseriesarcswhich
branchfeederscannotdetect.Thethirdtypeistheoutletbranchcircuittype.Thesearesimilarin
appearancetoGFCIreceptaclesandessentiallythesameperformancecharacteristicscombinationtypes.

Table 1 AFCI Arc Detection Capabilities and Response Thresholds

ArcCondition
Branch/Feeder
Combination
OutletBranchCircuit
LinetoNeutral
SerieswithoutGround

Yes(75amps)
No

Yes(5amps)
Yes(5amps)

Yes(5amps)
Yes(5amps)

1.ThesecurrentsarenotthesameastheRMScurrentsthatabreakerisreading.Duringanarc,a75amppeakcurrent
mighthaveRMScurrentoflessthan5amps.SeriesarcscanactuallyproducelowerRMScurrentsthannonarcingcircuits.

Theabilitytodetectaseriesarcthatisnotdirectlytotheequipmentgroundingconductoristhecritical
factor.Alooseconnection,suchasanimproperlytightenedterminalonareceptacle,oraloosewirenut,is
amuchmorelikelysourceofanarcthanalinetoneutralarc,whichmustinvolvebothcurrentcarrying
conductorsofthecircuit.Weseethatboththecombinationandoutletbranchcircuittypesarecapableof
detectingthesemuchmorecommonarcs.
AFCIscannotdetectaglowingarc.Ahighresistanceconnectionthroughaconductorcansometimes
reachconditionsthatwilligniteadjacentcombustiblematerial,andAFCIswillnotpreventthis.ULstates
thatAFCIswillmitigatethepotentialeffectsofelectricalarcs,notthatitwilleliminatethem.

Figure2Branch/FeederAFCILabel

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Figure3CombinationAFCILabel

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Outlet Branch Circuit Types

Figure4OutletBranchCircuitTypeAFCI

AnoutletbranchcircuittypeAFCI(figure4)
isadevicewithfeedthroughconnections
andanintegralreceptacle.Inthatregard,it
isverysimilartoaGFCIreceptacle.Itis
intendedasthefirstoutletonabranch
circuitthatotherwisedoesnothave
combinationAFCIprotection.Underthe
present(2011)NEC,thisdeviceis
permittedwhenthewiringbetweenan
ordinarycircuitbreakerandthefirstoutlet
ofthecircuitismetalclad(rigidmetal
conduit,intermediatemetalconduit,
electricalmetallictubing,MCcable,orsteel
typeACcable).
Sincethesearepermittedbythecodeinsomecircumstances,youmightwonderwhyyouhaventseenone
yet.Thoughthemanufacturershavepatentedthese,thecurrentrestrictionsinthecodeseverelylimitthe
marketforthesedevices.Itsimplywouldntbecosteffectivetoproducethemyet.Thatmaychangein
2014.The2011editionoftheNECrequiresthatallreplacementreceptaclesinareaspresentlyrequiring
AFCIprotectionbeeitherprovidedwithAFCIprotectionupstream(suchasatthebreaker)orbereplaced
withoutletbranchcircuittypeAFCIs.ThatrequirementgoesintoeffectJanuary1,2014.

Ground Fault Detection

AFCIcircuitbreakerslookjustlikeGFCIbreakerswhenyoufirstseethem.Theyhavethefamiliarcoiledwire
thatconnectstotheneutralbusinthepanelboard,andtheyhaveaverysimilartestbutton.Theneutral
conductoroftheAFCIprotectedbranchcircuitconnectstothebreaker,nottotheneutralbar,justasit
doeswithaGFCIbreaker.Infact,mostAFCIsdoalsohavegroundfaultdetectionbuiltintothem,though
notatthesamelevelastoqualifyasClassAGFCIprotection.ThetypeofClassAGFCIweareaccustomed
toinourhomesisrequiredtotripwhenacurrentimbalanceof6milliampsexistsbetweenthehotand
neutralconductors.Thatiswellbelowthelevelatwhichapersonbeingshockedwouldreachtheletgo
thresholdofinvoluntarymusclecontraction,orthelevelofventricularfibrillation(electrocution).The
groundfaultdetectionofAFCIsisvoluntaryonthepartofthemanufacturers,andisgenerallysetat30
milliamps.ThisdoesnotqualifyasareplacementforaClassAGFCI.
TherearesometypesofequipmentwhichrequireGFPEGroundFaultProtectionofEquipmentatthe30
milliamplevel.Outdoorreceptaclesonabranchcircuitdedicatedsolelytoelectricsnowmeltingordeicing
equipmentareexemptfromGFCIrequirements,thoughtheequipmentdoesrequireGFPE.Insome
jurisdictions,anAFCIbreakermightbedeemedacceptableforthisprotection,thoughitwouldbeamatter
ofinterpretationbythelocaljurisdiction,sinceAFCIsarenotlistedasGFPEs.(SomebranchfeederAFCIs
aremarkedwitha30mAgroundfaultdetectionlevel.)

Multiwire circuits
Amultiwirecircuitinresidentialwiringisapairof120voltcircuitsthatshareacommonneutralconductor.
WhenthesecircuitsarewiredwithNMcable,theyarereadilyidentifiablebyhavingablack,red,andwhite
wire.MultiwirecircuitshavebeenusedinhousewiringsincethedaysofThomasEdison.Tothisdaythey
arestillcalledEdisoncircuitsbysomeelectricians.Multiwirecircuitssavemoneyincablecost,andactually
providegreaterefficiency.Becausetheneutralconductoronlycarriestheimbalancedloaddifference
betweenthetwohotconductors,thevoltagedropislowerthanitwouldbewithindividualneutrals.

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GroundfaultdetectionleadstoalimitationonuseofAFCIs.IfordinaryAFCIbreakersareinstalledona
multiwirecircuit,theytripassoonasloadsareapplied.Theamountofcurrentontheneutralswillnot
matchtheamountofcurrentonthehotconductors.Wehaveseenthisproblemanumberoftimeson
renovationsandpanelupgradestoexistinghouses.Attimes,thecontractorsdontseemtoknowthis
becausetheyhaventyetappliedaloadtothecircuit,anddontrealizethatthebreakerswilltripassoonas
someonedoespluginalightorappliance.TheysometimesblametheAFCIfornuisancetrippingwhenit
wasperformingasintended.
OnlyfourlargemanufacturersofcircuitbreakersremainintheUnitedStatesmarket,andeachhasitsown
strategyforAFCIsonmultiwirecircuits:
GeneralElectrichasalineofbreakersthatwillworkwithmultiwirecircuitsbecausetheydisablethe
groundfaultfunctionofthebreaker.ThebreakersthataresuitableforthisapplicationhaveaMOD3suffix
onthebreaker,ratherthantheusualMOD2.GEinstructsthatahandletiebeappliedfirst(something
requirednowforallmultiwirebranchcircuitsformedfromindividualsinglepolebreakers)andthatbothof
thepigtailneutralsbeconnectedtotheneutralbus.Thebranchcircuitneutralisthenconnectedtooneof
thebreakers,nottoboth.Itdoesntmatterwhichone.GEalsocautionsthatthebreakerslackaninternal
trip.Thehandletieenablesthetwobreakerstobe
simultaneouslydisconnected,thoughifonebreakertripsfrom
afaultitmightnotautomaticallytriptheotherbreakerunless
thehandlemovedsufficiently.
Eaton,theparentcompanyofCutlerHammer,sellsa2pole
combinationbreakersuitableformultiwirecircuitsforboth
theirBR(1inchwide)lineaswellastheCHmodels(3/4inch
wide).Unfortunately,theycontinuedtoselltheirbranch
feeder2polebreakerswellpastthetimewhentheywereno
longerpermittedundertheNEC.
SquareDhassofarnotmanufactureda2poleAFCIforeither
theirQOorHomelineseries.
Siemensmakesa2poleAFCIthatincludesindicatorlightsthat
willtellyouifithastrippedfromanarcfaultoragroundfault,
aswellastestbuttonsforeachpole(figure5).

Figure5 Siemens2poleAFCI

Code Issues Locations Requiring AFCI Protection

TheNECprovidesaneverexpandinglistofthecircuitsanddevicesthatrequireAFCIprotection.Notall
statesandcitiesadopttheseportionsoftheNEC.Pressurefrombuildersgroupsandothershaveleftmany
areaslaggingbehindtheNEC,anditisalwaysbesttolearntherulesthatapplyinyourarea.
Section210.12(A)ofthe2011NECrequiresthatall15and20ampbranchcircuitshaveprotectionforthe
entirebranchcircuitwhenthatcircuithasoutletsindwellingfamilyrooms,diningrooms,livingrooms,
parlors,libraries,dens,bedrooms,sunrooms,recreationrooms,closets,hallways,orsimilarroomsorareas.
Whatdoesntthatcover?Forthemostpart,theareasleftoffthatlist(garages,exteriors,bathrooms,
kitchens,andlaundries)haverequirementsforGFCIprotection,thoughnotfor100%oftheoutletsinthose
rooms.RememberthatthetermoutletasusedintheNECmeansmorethanjustreceptacleoutlets.An
outletcanbealightingoutletoranotherpointonthecircuitwhereelectricalequipmentissuppliedwith
current.Hardwiredsmokealarmsareoutlets,andrequireAFCIprotection.Tosome,thatseems
counterintuitive(potentiallydisablingthecircuitthatpowersawarningdevice).However,smokealarm
circuitshavecausedfiresinatticsandmodernsmokealarmshavebatterybackuppower.

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ThelocationslistedaboverequirecombinationtypeAFCIprotection,notthebranchfeedertype.The
exceptionisthepreviouslymentionedallowanceforanoutletbranchcircuittypeAFCIatthefirstoutlet
withametalcladwiringsystembetweenitandthepanel.Untilthosedevicesaremanufactured,the
exceptionismootatthistime.
Anotherexceptionallowsanindividualbranchcircuitforafirealarmsystem.Thisexceptionisforcentral
stationfirealarms,wherethebranchcircuitbreakerisaccessibleonlytoqualifiedpersonspersections
750.41(B)and760.121(B)andwhereametalcladwiringsystemisused.
Extensions,modifications,orreplacementofexistingbranchcircuitsintheareasrequiringprotection
triggersaneedforAFCIprotectioneitherbyacombinationtypebreakerattheoriginofthebranchcircuit,
oranoutletbranchcircuittypeAFCIatthefirstoutletofthecircuit;see210.12(B).
Section406.4(D)(4)coversreplacementreceptacles.Inareasthatarelistedabove,thesewillrequireAFCI
protectionbeginningJanuary1,2014.TheprotectioncanbeprovidedeitherbyacombinationAFCI
breaker,orbyanupstreamoutletbranchcircuitAFCI,orbyanoutletbranchcircuitAFCIreceptacle.
Severalproposalsforthe2014NECcallfortheupstreamoutletbranchfeederAFCItobeinanaccessible
location.ItalsoappearslikelythatAFCIprotectionwillberequiredin2014forall120voltcircuitsthathave
anyoutletinalaundryroomorkitchen.AnotherproposalcallsforAFCIprotectionofanexteriorlight
circuitwhentheswitchforitislocatedinaroomwherethecircuitsrequireAFCIprotection.

Code History
1999:ThefirstmentionofAFCIsisinthe1999NEC.Section21012requiredthemforprotectionof
branchcircuitshavingbedroomreceptacleoutlets.TherequirementdidnotbecomeeffectiveuntilJanuary
1,2002.ThissmallfirststepgavemanufacturersandbuildersachancetogetreadytoimplementAFCI
protection.
2002:Section210.12(B)requiredAFCIprotectionforcircuitswithanyoutletinabedroom,notjust
receptacleoutlets.Thesecircuitsincludeanywithoutletsforlightingorsmokealarmsinbedrooms.
2005:Section210.12(B)requiredthattheAFCIbeacombinationtype,whileallowingbranch/feeder
typestostillbeuseduntilJanuary1,2008.Bythen,therecessionhadbegun,andmanufacturershadyears
ofbackloggedstockofoldbranch/feedertypes.Despitethecode,theyremainedonthemarketwellinto
2010.The2005NECalsowasthefirsttoacknowledgethepossibilityoflocatingtheAFCIprotectionother
thanattheoriginofthebranchcircuit,allowingittobe6feetfromthepanelwithoutspecifyingwhatkind
ofdevicecouldpossiblycomply.Section760.41introducedaprohibitiononinstallingAFCIprotectionfor
firealarmcircuitswithinthescopeofarticle760.
2008:Section210.12(B)expandstherequiredareasofAFCIprotectiontoincludecircuitswithoutletsin
dwellingfamilyrooms,diningrooms,livingrooms,parlors,libraries,dens,bedrooms,sunrooms,recreation
rooms,closets,hallways,orsimilarroomsorareas.Branch/feederAFCIsarenolongerallowed.The
requirementsprohibitingAFCIsonfirealarmcircuitsareincludedin210.12(B)Exception2andare
harmonizedwitharticle760.ThedistancelimitationsareremovedforsituationswheretheAFCIprotection
isnotatthepanelboard,andthelistofmetalcladwiringmethodsiscreatedforthosesituations.TheNEC
stillcallsforallprotectiontobecombinationtype,sooutletbranchcircuittypesarestillnotrecognized.
2011:Thetypesofroomsforwhichthecircuitsrequireprotectiondoesnotchange.Section210.12(B)is
renumberedas210.12(A),andanewsection(B)dealswithbranchcircuitextensionsandmodifications.
OutletbranchcircuittypesofAFCIsarerecognizedinboth210.12(A)andinArticle406Receptacles.
Section406.4(D)(4)requiresreplacementreceptacleoutletstocomplywiththeAFCIrequirementsfortheir
locations,andthiscanbeachievedwithoutletbranchcircuittypes.
2014:WeanticipatethatAFCIprotectionwillberequiredforall120voltcircuitshavingoutletsin
kitchensandlaundries,andthatAFCIdeviceswillberequiredtobereadilyaccessible.

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What Could Go Wrong?

WhenCodeMakingPanel2decidedtoendorsetheideaofAFCIprotectionforbedroomreceptacleoutlets
inthedevelopmentofthe1999NEC,theywereclearthatitwasonlyasmallsteptowardsaninevitable
expansionoftherulesforAFCIs.Theiranalogywasthatitwasmuchthesameasmandatingseatbelts,and
thattheyhadtostartsomewhere.Therefore,thefirstgenerationofAFCIswasalearningopportunityboth
forthemanufacturersandforinstallers.ThegreatexpansionofrequiredareasofAFCIprotectiondidnot
comeaboutuntilthesecondgenerationofAFCIshadcomeintobeing;productimprovementsand
expandedcoderequirementsgohandinhand.
OneoftheissuesfoundwiththefirstgenerationAFCIswasanincreaseintheamountofheatgivenoffby
thebreaker.Sincethesedevicesaremonitoringthecircuitandincludeelectroniccircuitrythatisconstantly
energized,someresidualheatisexpected.Accordingtothemanufacturers,thishasnotbeensoextensive
astocauseanyperformanceissues,andtheyclaimthatthecombinationAFCIsdonothavethisissuetothe
sameextentasthefirstgenerationAFCIs.Nonetheless,breakersaretypicallyratedforanambient
temperatureof40C(104F),anditwouldbeinterestingtoplaceatemperaturemonitoringdeviceinsidea
loadcenterfullofAFCIs.
InNovember2004,SquareDannouncedarecallof700,000oftheirAFCIs.Amalfunctionintheirtest
buttoncouldfailtoactivatetheAFCIcircuitry.Asaresult,thebreakerswouldactlikenothingmorethan
(muchcheaper)nonAFCIbreakers.Therecalledbreakershadabluetestbutton.SquareDchangedthe
colorofthetestbuttoninsubsequentbreakers.Thebreakersintherecallwerebranchfeedertypeswhich
donotmeetpresentcode.
ManycontractorsreportednuisancetrippingissueswithAFCIs.Thisproblemseemedtobemore
widespreadafterthe2002NECexpandedtheapplicationofAFCIstoincludelightingcircuits.Onecauseof
thisproblemcouldbetheelectriciansfault.Iftheneutralsofmorethanonecircuitarejoinedtogetherina
box,currentwillhavemorethanonepathtoreturntothepanelboard,andthegroundfaultsensingofthe
AFCIwillcausethebreakertotrip.Neutralsshouldnotbejoinedwiththoseofothercircuitsexceptinside
panelboards,yetmanyelectricianshavebeenlazyaboutthisissuewhenwiringupmultigangswitchboxes.
ItisessentiallyanotherversionoftheproblemwithusingAFCIsonmultiwirecircuits.
AnotheraspectofnuisancetrippingoccurredwithsomeearlyAFCIsthatalsohadGFCIsonthesamecircuit.
ThatissueappearstohavebeenresolvedwiththecombinationtypeAFCIs.PartoftheULtestingofanAFCI
breakerincludesplacingGFCIoutletsonthesamecircuit.
AFCIbreakersarealwaysfullwidth.Manypanelshaveprovisionsforinstallingeitheratandembreakerora
singlebreakeronasinglebusstab.Tandembreakersallowtwocircuitbreakersinthesamespacethat
wouldotherwisebeoccupiedbyonebreaker.Somepanelshaveaspecifiednumberofbusspaceswhere
tandembreakersareallowed,andotherbusspacesthatacceptonlyfullsizebreakers.Youmightseea150
amppanelthatisratedtohave30branchcircuitbreakerpoles,yethasonly20busstabs.Inthatcase,the
labelwillstatethat10ofthemaredesignedforfullsizedbreakersandincludeafeaturethatwillreject
tandembreakers,and10ofthemallowtandembreakers.30breakersarethereforepossibleonsucha
panel(20tandemsand10fullsizebreakers).Whathappenswhentheelectricianpullsallofhiscircuitsback
tothatpanel,andthendiscoversthathemustuseAFCIswherehehadplannedonusingtandembreakers?
SincetheAFCIsarealwaysfullsize,hemayfindthatthepanelisnolongerlargeenoughforallthese
circuits,asitonlyhasroomfor20fullsizebreakers.
Withsomebrandsandmodels,AFCIstakeupnotonlyafullbreakerslot;theyalsotakeupsomeofthe
gutterspaceinthepanel.SquareDandEatonAFCIcircuitbreakersarealmosttwicethelengthoftheir
ordinarybreakers.Theresultisthattheneutralbarcannotbeseenunlessthebreakerisremoved,andthe
wiringspaceofthepanelsbecomesmuchmorecrowded(figures6&7).

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Figure6SquareDAFCIs

Figure7EatonAFCIs

Testing AFCIs
JustaswithGFCIs,thereisnoshortageofinstrumentmakerswillingtoprovideexternaltestersforthese
devices.ULemphaticallydeniesthattheseinstrumentsaretesters,evenwhentheinstrumentcarriesaUL
listing.ULevaluatesoutlettestersforsafety,notforperformance,sotheULinsigniahasnothingtodowith
whetheritcanaccuratelytestanAFCI.ULstatesthatthesedevicesareindicatorsandnottesters.For
furtherinformation,readhere:http://www.iaei.org/magazine/2005/05/afcitestersnotreally/.
OneoftheearliestAFCItesterswastheETCONmodelAF120,andlookedsimilartotheirorangeGFCI
testerexceptthatitwasgreen.Thatproductplacedaconnectionbetweenthehotandground,intended
todraw30milliampsandtripthebreakerbasedonitsGFPEfunction.Becausetheseweremislabeledas
AFCItesterstheyweresubjecttoaproductrecall.
TheAFCItestingperformedbyULintheirlaboratoriesisawholedifferentmatter.Theydothisunder
conditionsthatactuallydocreate(notjustsimulate)anarc,andAFCIsmustpassthoseULteststogaintheir
listing.ThebuiltintestbuttononanAFCItestswhetherthecircuitryisfunctional,anditistheonlyvalid
fieldtest.AninspectorwhofindsanAFCIthatisnonresponsivetohishandheldtesterhasnotnecessarily
foundadefectiveAFCI.Whatmattersiswhetherthebuiltintestbuttontrippedit,andwhetheritproperly
resetafteritwastripped.WithmostAFCIs,youneedtoturnthemtherestofthewaytotheoffposition,
thenbacktoon.

AFCIs and Older Homes

AFCIsarenotavailableformanyoftheolderpaneltypes,suchasFederalPacific,Zinsco,orthemany
regionalproductsandolddesignsthatarestillinuse.Whileitmightbepossibletopartiallyretrofitsuch
systemswithoutletbranchcircuitAFCIs,amoreefficientapproachistoreplacethepanelwithoneofthe
moderntypesthatareavailable.Somepanelboardmakers(e.g.,Eaton)makereplacementpanelboards
thatcanfitinsidetheenclosureofanoldFederalPacificthatisthefullwidthofastudbay.
AFCIsmightseemlikeanidealproducttorecommendforhouseswithknobandtubewiring,orwithold
technologyaluminumwire(19641973).Itispossiblethatthesesystemswouldbenefitfromtheadded
safetyofAFCIs,althoughwecautionagainstthinkingoftheseasamagicbulletoranexcusetoavoid
repairinganyobviouslyhazardoussituations.Ifthereareproblemswithaluminumwireterminations,or
withdeterioratedknobandtubewiring,theknownissuesshouldberepairedfirst.Insomecases,AFCIscan
thenbeaddedtoolderhomes.Rememberthatmostknobandtubesystemsusemultiwirecircuits,which
createanothersetoflimitedoptionsforcompatibilitywithAFCIs.

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Conclusions
10yearsago,wewroteanarticleonAFCIsandcalledthematechnologydrivenbythecodes.Atthetime,
themanufacturerswerecatchinguptorequirementsthatwerenotyetineffect.Today,thesituationis
reversed,withtechnologiessuchasoutletbranchcircuitAFCIsbeingreadybeforethecodeshave
mandatedthem.
AFCIsareheretostay.FromtheiroriginsintheULreporttotheCPSC,backin1995,wehaveseen
improvedproductdevelopmentandincreasedcodeacceptancetothepointwhereweexpecttosomeday
seerequirementsforAFCIprotectionatall120voltcircuitsinahome.Yetthereportbackin1995didnot
makethedevelopmentofthistechnologyitsprimaryrecommendation.Infact,thatwasnumberthreeon
theirlist.Numberonewastopromotetheelectricalinspectionofolderdwellingstoidentifyflagrant
hazardsinneedofcorrection.Numbertwowastostimulatetherepairandcorrectionofthosehazards.The
chancesofanelectricalfirerisedramaticallywiththeageofthehome,andthebestpreventionis
competentinspectionandrepairofelectricalhazards.
DouglasHansenisthecoauthor,withRedwoodKardon,ofCodeCheckElectrical.
Acknowledgments:ThankstoJimKatenforhiseditorialandtechnicalassistance.DavidDiniofUnderwriters
LaboratorieswastheprojectmanageroftheoriginalstudypreparedforCPSC,andalsochairedNPFAs
AgingWiringResearchProject.JamesW.CarpenterwaschairmanofCodePanel2duringthe1999NEC
cycle.ThefirstrequirementsforAFCIscameaboutunderhisvigorousleadership.
###

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