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This article , based on a US CPSC article and supplemented with additional details and commentary answers most home owner and home inspector questions about installing, testing, and inspecting AFCIs - arc fault protectors in homes.

Readers of this article should also see Electrical Code Basics and SAFETY FOR ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS. Also see GFCI PROTECTION,Testing GFCIs AFCIs.

Critique and content suggestions are invited. Page top photo courtesy of the US CPSC. Credit is given to content editors and contributors.

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Electrical Arc Fault AFCI Advice for Homeowners & Home Inspectors

This material was originally prepared for the American Society of Home Inspectors New England Chapter,( ASHI -NE) Educational Seminar, Sept 22-23, 2008. Portions of this text are quoted from the Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) FACT SHEET provided by the US CPSC . Additional notes and details have been added, drawing on a variety of sources listed at the end of this article.

What is an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter or AFCI?

The “AFCI” is an arc fault circuit interrupter. AFCIs are newly-developed electrical devices designed to protect against fires caused by arcing faults in the home electrical wiring.

InspectAPedia Note: Arcing faults: a series arc occurs in electrical wiring when there is a small gap or break in a conductor. a parallel arc occurs when a small gap or break which permits current to flow to ground (a ground fault) or between the hot and neutral wires (a short circuit). Arcing faults, especially parallel arcing faults, lead to overheating and a fire hazard even if no shock hazard is present.

Typical wiring details for AFCI circuit breakers

Our AFCI photo at left illustrates a Square-D 20A AFCI breaker during installation in the electrical panel.

The light green arrow points to the AFCI device - you'll notice that it is much longer than conventional circuit breakers in the panel. Each AFCI breaker involves three electrical connections:

1. The red arrow indicates the "hot" wire connection at the AFCI breaker.
2. The yellow arrow indicates the circuit neutral wire connection at the AFCI, and
3. the white arrow shows that the multi-strand coiled wire from the AFCI device is connected to the neutral bus in the electrical panel.

Our next AFCI breaker photo shows more closely the electrical circuit connection points at the AFCI breaker itself.

1. The red arrow indicates where the "hot" wire will be connected to the uppermost screw on the AFCI breaker.
2. The yellow arrow indicates the circuit neutral wire connection at the AFCI at the "lower" screw
3. The white arrow shows the end of the white insulated multi-strand coiled wire from the AFCI device that will be connected to the neutral bus in the electrical panel.

The molded case of the AFCI breaker also indicates which wires should be attached to which terminals, as will instructions included with the device.

Why are AFCI's Important?

AFCIs are an important safety addition to homes in part because they address an additional type of electrical fault that can cause a fire and one which may not be detected and interrupted by a conventional circuit breaker, nor by a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI's).

We've seen that arcing of any type can result in burned debris on wire surfaces which causes an increase in electrical resistance and thus overheating at that point. Arcing was examined earlier in detailed studies of the aluminum electrical wiring fire hazard at connections in the wire. Arcing of any type, whether it is the micro-fretting type of arcing that occurs with aluminum wire or possibly larger arcing across a gap or short in a copper wire.

The Fire Problem [addressed by AFCIs]

InspectAPedia Note: According to Mike Holt, "Studies have shown that over 60 percent of fires are from causes in the fixed wiring, switches, receptacle outlets and lighting fixtures that are part of the fixed electrical system of a residence." In other words, AFCI's are focused on detecting arcing and preventing fires in an area where the risk is significant.

Arcing faults often occur in damaged or deteriorated wires and cords. Some causes of damaged and deteriorated wiring include:

• puncturing of wire insulation from picture hanging or cable staples,
• poorly installed outlets or switches,
• cords caught in doors or under furniture,
• furniture pushed against plugs in an outlet,
• natural aging,

and cord exposure to heat vents and sunlight.

Early warning about nuisance tripping of AFCI circuit breakers and consumer objections to these devices

AFCIs devices are tested under the UL 1436 standard, and are required to have included in the instructions the following clause (or equivalent):

"CAUTION: AFCIs recognize characteristics unique to arcing, and AFCI indicators produce characteristics that mimic some forms of arcing. Because of this the indicator may give a false indication that the AFCI is not functioning properly. If this occurs, recheck the operation of the AFCI using the test and reset buttons. The AFCI button test function will demonstrate proper operation."

Watch out: we have heard several reports of excessive "nuisance" tripping of arc fault circuit interrupters, and our own limited testing has confirmed this problem.

On a newly-wired AFCI electrical circuit with tight, well-made connections and powering a string of electrical receptacles, we connected a single device: a Keurig™ coffee maker to the circuit (photo at left). The circuit also supports a wall mounted light that uses florescent bulbs. No other devices were connected to the circuit.

The coffee maker was set to turn itself off automatically after one hour of idle time. Yet consistently over 30 days of testing, every day we observed that the 15-A Square D AFCI for this circuit tripped off at least once.

We suspect that electrical properties of the coffee maker may have been the source of noise on the circuit that was causing the AFCI to switch off. Replacing the AFCI with a conventional 15-A Square D circuit breaker completely eliminated the nuisance tripping on this circuit.

Three other AFCIs were installed in the same electrical panel, but only one was connected to an electrical circuit in active use. On that circuit, also supporting a string of electrical receptacles powering lighting and computer equipment during the same 30-day test period, no nuisance trips of the circuit were observed.

Watch out: as with GFCI's discussed at MULTI-WIRE CIRCUITS, installing AFCIs on multi-wire branch circuits using a shared neutral requires installation of a common trip tie, and nevertheless the circuit and this circuit protection device may be subject to further nuisance trips or unexpected behaviors.

Watch out: An installing electrician informed us that many of his customers were complaining about nuisance tripping and that he was asked by those clients to remove the AFCI devices and to replace them with conventional circuit breakers. This raises an issue about national and local electrical code compliance and about building electrical and fire safety - removing a code-required safety device.

Further testing of the nuisance-tripping AFCIs as well as three others installed in the same electrical panel and samples of non AFCI breakers of the same age, rating, and brand is underway and will be reported here.

What Types of AFCIs are Available?

UL in January 2002 described various types of AFCIs which we summarize here. The first three types of AFCI's, Branch Feeder AFCIs, Outlet Circuit AFCIs, and Combination AFCIs are the three most basic types of arc fault detectors and are important definitions for the home owner or home inspector to understand:

1. Branch Feeder AFCIs - basically a special circuit breaker to be installed in the electrical panel and which will protect all of the devices on an individual electrical branch circuit. (15A or 20A 125V single phase wiring.)
2. Outlet circuit AFCIs - a device installed right in the branch circuit receptacle box. As with GFCIs this device may also protect wiring which is connected "downstream" electrically from the device itself.
3. Combination AFCIs - this device combines the function of Branch Feeder AFCIs and Outlet Circuit AFCIs and will protect power cords plugged into receptacles protected by the AFCI.
   
   The following are additional types of AFCI's described by Underwriters Laboratories.
   
4. Outlet Branch Circuit AFCIs - this device, which sounds to us just like #2 above, is installed as the first outlet in a string of electrical receptacles on a single circuit; it protects the downstream receptacles.
5. Portable AFCIs - these devices can be plugged into a conventional electrical receptacle and provide one or more outlets into which additional devices can be connected. This device would be used by contractors working on a building to obtain additional electrical safety when using power tools.
6. Cord-AFCIs - this device is like the portable AFCI #5 above, but may be incorporated into the permanent power cord of a device or appliance so that when it is plugged into an electrical receptacle the appliance is protected from arc faults.
7. Leakage Current Detection and Interruption LDCIs - these devices are built into a device or appliance and detect current leakage from the device's electrical cord. If a hand held hair dryer contained this device and its damaged cord was dangled in a sink filled with water, the LDCI would detect the current leakage and would shut off the device.

How does an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) Work?

Conventional circuit breakers only respond to overloads and short circuits; so they do not protect against arcing conditions that produce erratic current flow. An AFCI is selective so that normal arcs do not cause it to trip.

The AFCI circuitry continuously monitors current flow through the AFCI. AFCIs use unique current sensing circuitry to discriminate between normal and unwanted arcing conditions. Once an unwanted arcing condition is detected, the control circuitry in the AFCI trips the internal contacts, thus de-energizing the circuit and reducing the potential for a fire to occur.

An AFCI should not trip during normal arcing conditions, which can occur when a switch is opened or a plug is pulled from a receptacle.

Presently, AFCIs are designed into conventional circuit breakers combining traditional overload and short-circuit protection with arc fault protection. AFCI circuit breakers (AFCIs) have a test button and look similar to ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuit breakers.

Some designs combine GFCI and AFCI protection. Additional AFCI design configurations are anticipated in the near future.

It is important to note that AFCIs are designed to mitigate the effects of arcing faults but cannot eliminate them completely. In some cases, the initial arc may cause ignition prior to detection and circuit interruption by the AFCI.

The AFCI circuit breaker serves a dual purpose – not only will it shut off electricity in the event of an “arcing fault”, but it will also trip when a short circuit or an overload occurs. The AFCI circuit breaker provides protection for the branch circuit wiring and limited protection for power cords and extension cords. Single-pole, 15- and 20- ampere AFCI
circuit breakers are presently available.

Where should Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) be used?

The 1999 edition of the National Electrical Code, the model code for electrical wiring adopted by many local jurisdictions, requires AFCIs for receptacle outlets in bedrooms, effective January 1, 2002. Although the requirement is limited to only certain circuits in new residential construction, AFCIs should be considered for added protection in other circuits and for existing homes as well.

Older homes with aging and deteriorating wiring systems can especially benefit from the added protection of AFCIs. AFCIs should also be considered whenever adding or upgrading a panel box while using existing branch
circuit conductors.

InspectAPedia Notes: What are the code requirements for AFCIs?
AFCI Requirements under the US National Electrical Code NEC:

AFCI requirements have not been adopted uniformly in all jurisdictions, but the requirement is being increasingly accepted, and we certainly recommend the use of AFCIs as described by the US CPSC and the NEC. The US National Electrical Code, the NEC, specifies the following requirements for AFCIs (quoted indirectly from the U.S. State of Vermont office of the state fire marshal, January 2007. Vermont has required AFCIs to the NEC 2008 standard since 2000.)

History of AFCI Requirements in Homes

The 1999 NEC rules, effective in 2002, in NEC Sec. 210.12. introduced AFCI's and called for their installation on bedroom receptacle circuits powered by single phase 125V(nominal) 15A and 20A circuits.

The 2002 NEC expanded the use of AFCI's to include all bedroom circuits (such as lighting and hard-wired smoke alarms), kitchens.

The 2005 NEC code expanded the section to include combination AFCIs combined with GFCIs, basically an update to reflect improvements in the technology. The technology of AFCIs was improved to add the detection of series arcing to the previously available parallel arcing. By removing the word "receptacle" from the code in 2002, and by leaving the word "outlet" in the code, the 2005 code indicated that all outlets, including receptacles, light fixtures, smoke alarms, etc. must be protected.

• Series arcing occurs in an electrical circuit when there is a small gap in a conductor in a home. Series arcs are less dangerous than parallel arcs because they do not usually get hot enough to start a fire.
• Parallel arcs in an electrical circuit occur when there is a current leak from the "line" or hot wire (fault) to the neutral wire (ground or earth side of the circuit), or when there is a short circuit (a direct connection between the hot wire and the neutral wire, such as a wire being cut or damaged and its conductors brought into contact).

The 2008 NEC expanded the use of AFCI's to include all habitable rooms in new homes such as living rooms and dining rooms. The 2008 requirements mean that only only Combination AFCI's will meet all of the requirements of the code. GFCI's (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) continue to be required to protect areas of high shock risk: bathrooms, kitchens, garages, un-finished basements.

Combination devices required after 1 Jan 2008: Simplifying a bit, after January 1, 2008, AFCI protection must be provided by a "Combination AFCI's" . That's because these are an improved arc fault interrupter product that offer much more sensitive arc fault detection (5 A arc peaks as opposed to 75 A arc peak detection).

210-12. Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection (1999, Effective 2002)

(A) Definition. An arc-fault circuit interrupter is a device intended to provide protection from the effects of arc faults by recognizing the 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 circuits installed in dwelling unit bedrooms shall be protected by an arc-fault circuit interrupter(s). This requirement shall become effective January 1, 2002.

Beginning with the 2008 edition of the U.S. National Electrical Code, AFCI's are required not only in bedrooms but in other areas of the home such as dining rooms, living rooms, and other habitable areas, and apply to most electrical circuits including hard-wired smoke detectors, overhead fans, etc.

How Much Does an AFCI Cost? Cost Benefit Calculation of AFCI's:

An AFCI circuit breaker typically costs about $30. to $35. U.S. A conventional 15A circuit breaker typically costs $2. to $4. There is an additional cost to install an AFCI circuit breaker, but as it's basically a "plug-in" device that is placed in the electrical panel, that number should be small, smaller still if the AFCI installation is combined with other electrical work needed at a home.

While these specialized AFCI circuit breakers cost more, our opinion is that this is not a significant cost compared with the value of a home, not to mention the more difficult to measure cost of possible injuries or fatalities should a fire occur. If we use the current (2008) median price of a home in the U.S. of about $215,000., the cost of adding AFCI to a home circuit is less than two ten-thousandths of the cost of the home. (An AFCI costs 0.00016 x median value of a home in the U.S.).

If a home needs a dozen AFCI's to meet the 2008 NEC, the cost should be less than $400., or less than two thousandths of the cost of the home. (0.0019 x the median value of a home in the U.S.).

What About Nuisance Tripping of AFCI's

Nuisance tripping refers to a circuit breaker or an AFCI that trips off, turning off electrical power when there was no apparent reason to do so. Some sources assert that what appears to be "nuisance tripping" of AFCI's actually occurs due to wiring practices of some electricians more than for any other reason. These include

• Reversed hot and neutral wires - reversed polarity - which is an unsafe condition
• Shared neutral wiring on single pole circuit breaker circuits: this is already an existing problem with GFCI's on multiwire branch circuits.
• Incorrect or accidental connections between the ground and neutral wire: this is also an unsafe condition which can permit live current to flow on a ground wire that should normally never carry current. We've personally seen this condition lead to an electric shock.
  
  A common source of accidental ground-neutral connections occurs when an electrician over-tightens the clamp connector on BX (armored cable) where it connects to a steel junction box. Our ex-brother-in-law made this mistake at every single BX connector when he did his own over-zealous wiring in a New York City apartment. When he installed a GFCI circuit breaker to protect some circuits, he could not keep the breaker from tripping immediately whenever power was turned on.
  
  We saw that his over-tightening the connector pinched inwards the edges of the BX cable. If the BX cable edge cuts into the hot wire the electrician (or Matthew) discovers this fault immediately when power is restored to the circuit. But if the cable edge cuts into the neutral wire, the electrician (or our brother in law) does not discover this fault until a GFCI or an AFCI is installed on the circuit, or until someone touches a supposedly safe armored cable wire exterior and gets a shock.
• Normal arcing in appliances: Nuisance tripping that could occur from the normal arcing that occurs in some appliances (such as a vacuum cleaner motor) has been considered in the design of the AFCI circuit. The AFCI is designed to tell the difference between this ordinary arcing and the type of arcing in a circuit that may cause a fire.

How to Install an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)

Safety Warning: Do not attempt to work on your electrical wiring, switches, or outlets unless you are properly trained and equipped to do so. Electrical components in a building can easily cause an electrical shock, burn, or even death. Even when a hot line switch is off, one terminal on the switch is still connected to the power source. Before doing any work on the switch, the power source must be turned off by set­ting a circuit breaker to OFF or removing a fuse. See SAFETY FOR ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS and Electrical Wiring Books & Guides

How to Test an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)

Using the test button on an AFCI

AFCIs should be tested after installation to make sure they are working properly and protecting the circuit.

Subsequently, AFCIs should be tested once a month to make sure they are working properly and providing protection from fires initiated by arcing faults.

A test button is located on the front of the device. The user should follow the instructions accompanying the device. If the device does not trip when tested, the AFCI is defective and should be replaced.

InspectAPedia Notes: How the AFCI Test Button Functions

Because it has been misunderstood and criticized it's worth noting that the test button on an AFCI does not simply force the mechanical internal switch of the AFCI to trip. Rather, the test button on an AFCI tests the arc fault detection circuitry to be sure that it is working properly, that it will respond to an arc fault, and that the circuitry will in turn cause the mechanical internal switch to open.

This is an important distinction to remember, since the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) has faced similar criticism. We've certainly found lots of GFCI's which exhibited an error when the GFCI test button was pressed: the button caused the GFCI to trip but the device was defective or improperly wired so that it would not protect the circuit.

Using AFCI indicator tools vs AFCI "test tools" - AFCI Indicators is not recommended

As of September 2008 we have found no test tool that reliably and completely tests the function of an AFCI. Only the integral test button tests the circuitry of the device as well as the trip mechanism. UL classes these "test" devices not as "testers", but as "indicators".

A problem is that some devices used to "inspect" an AFCI, in trying to produce a simulated arc fault condition, may fail to cause the AFCI device to trip even though it is perfectly fine.

Literature from the manufacturer of a popular "test tool" tells the user of the tool to go to the electric panel and use the test button on the AFCI device to make sure it trips. In other words the inspector cannot rely on the separate test tool. For this reason you will see such tools referred to as "indicators" rather than "testers": they are not a complete and reliable test instrument for AFCIs. -- Mike Holt

AFCIs vs. GFCIs: What is the difference between an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter and a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter?

What is the difference between an AFCI Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter and a GFCI Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter? The AFCI should not be confused with the GFCI or ground fault circuit interrupter.

An AFCI is a device intended to prevent a fire. It detects a type of arcing in the electrical circuit that can lead to overheating and a fire. An AFCI can protect against some types of shock by detecting a short circuit if the short is also affecting an individual, but it is not designed as a shock protector and will not detect all of the same faults as a GFCI.

A GFCI is a device intended to prevent electrical shock. A GFCI will not necessarily detect the type of electrical arcing that can cause a fire. The GFCI is designed to protect people from severe or fatal electric shocks while the AFCI protects against fires caused by arcing faults. The GFCI also can protect against some electrical fires by detecting arcing and other faults to ground but cannot detect hazardous across-the-line arcing faults that can cause fires.

A ground fault is an unintentional electric path diverting current to ground. Ground faults occur when current leaks from a circuit.

How the current leaks is very important. If a person’s body provides a path to ground for this leakage, the person could be injured, burned, severely shocked, or electrocuted.

The National Electrical Code requires GFCI protection for receptacles located outdoors, in bathrooms, garages, kitchens, crawl spaces and unfinished basements; and at certain locations such as near swimming pools.

A combination AFCI and GFCI can be used to satisfy the NEC requirement for GFCI protection only if specifically marked as a combination device.

InspectAPedia Note: don't confuse this "combination" with the "Combination AFCI described earlier in this article.

While we're discussing the 2008 electrical code changes for AFCI's let's also update ourselves about GFCI's:

2008 Code Changes Affecting Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters GFCI's

NEC 210.8 is the code section pertaining to GFCI's. (AFCI's are addressed in NEC 210.12.). These GFCI requirements are intended to address residential electrical wiring using 15A or 20A 120V electrical receptacles and circuits. Heavier-duty circuits such as a 30A welder circuit are excluded.

Basically GFCI protection requirements have been expanded to all basement, garage, and accessory building receptacles, and a wording change to drop "receptacles" and keep "outlets" expands GFCI coverage in other areas.

For 2008 the NEC deleted Nos. 1 and 2 to 210.8(A)(2) and Nos. 1 and 2 to 210.8(A)(5) from the prior NEC version.

210.8(A)(2) & (A)(5): Expanded GFCI protection requirements by deleting exceptions for receptacles that are not readily accessible and receptacles located in dedicated spaces to supply an appliance.

Deleting "receptacle" and leaving "outlet" in the NEC expands the required coverage of any device being discussed. That's because a "receptacle" is taken to mean an electrical outlet (a wall socket) while "outlet" is any place in the electrical wiring system from which electrical power is taken (a ceiling fan, a hard-wired smoke detector, etc.).

• 210.8(B)(4): Expanded GFCI protection requirements to include all outdoor 15- and 20-ampere, 125-volt receptacles, and added a conditional exception to permit use of assured equipment grounding conductor program in industrial establishments.

• 210.8(B)(5): Added GFCI protection requirements for all 15- and 20-ampere 125-volt receptacles installed within 6 ft of the outside edge of sinks, and added exceptions for receptacles in industrial laboratories where the loss of power would introduce a greater hazard and for receptacles in patient care areas where critical care equipment may be utilized.

Basement GFCI changes: The GFCI protection requirements for receptacles in basements, garages, and accessory buildings have been expanded to all 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles regardless of accessibility or movability of an appliance from one location to another. - Minnesota Electrical Association

A Summary of Current (2008) Residential Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter GFCI Requirements

GFCI's are required safety devices to be installed in the following locations:

• Bathrooms: are required to provide one 15A or 20A, 125V receptacle (or more). All bath receptacles have to have GFCI-protection, and at east one must be within 3 feet of the outside edge of each basin [210.52(D)]. The bathroom receptacle circuit cannot provide power to other outlets elsewhere in the house [210.11(C)(3)] - something that is commonly found in older homes.
  
  There is an exception for a 20A circuit that supplies only a single bathroom: other equipment within the same bathroom, such as lights or a bath vent fan can be powered from the circuit. (A home inspector who detects this might point out the inconvenience of being left in the dark if the GFCI trips.) Whether inspecting a new home, to which the 2008 NEC applies, or inspecting an older home that was wired before this code was written, the tracing of wiring to determine what devices are powered by each electrical circuit is not within the scope of practice of a normal home inspection meeting national or state standards. But some circumstances will require this level of scrutiny on existing structures.
• Boathouses: do not require that electrical receptacles be installed at all, but if a receptacle is present it must be GFCI protected.
• Crawl spaces (at or below grade): receptacles are not required to be installed in these areas unless HVAC equipment is installed in the crawl area, but if an optional electrical receptacle is installed in the crawl space, it must be GFCI protected. We pose that such receptacles may be in place for temporary work lighting or for powering sump pumps. (GFCI trips, no sump pump, flood).
• Garages: must provide a GFCI protected electrical outlet, regardless of whether or not the garage is attached or detached.
  
  There are exceptions in the garage for electrical outlets which are not readily accessible, such as a ceiling receptacle used to power a garage door opener, and an exception for dedicated circuits such as one to provide power to a refrigerator or freezer. (In freezing climates these appliances may not work properly in an un-heated space even if it's legal to hook them up there.) NEC 100 defines "readily accessible."
• Kitchens: GFCI protected receptacles are required for all receptacles that serve counter surfaces. (We like this rule because in the past builders would skip the GFCI protection for a receptacle that was over a kitchen counter but was just one inch more than six feet from the sink.)
  
  Exceptions to GFCI requirements for kitchens include circuits for built-in appliances like garbage grinders and dishwashers.
• Laundry (and also wet-bars): require that GFCI protection be provided for any receptacles within six feet of the laundry sink (or wet bar sink). So a receptacle used to power a washing machine or a gas-fired clothes dryer needs to be GFCI protected if it's within six feet of a sink.
• Outside electrical outlets that are GFCI protected are required, at least one for a single family dwelling. 210.52(E). All outside electrical receptacles must be GFCI protected, even those receptacles found under the roof eaves and typically used for holiday lighting or for an ice-dam stop-gap measure heat tape. (Better solutions for ice dam problems than a heating tape are discussed at Ice Dam Leaks.)
  
  An exception outside is for a dedicated ice-dam snow-melting heating tape on a dedicated circuit that is not readily accessible and complies with 426.28 for ground-fault protection of equipment.
• Unfinished basement areas: a single GFCI protected electrical receptacle is required in each room or area of an un-finished basement. 210.52(G), and all receptacles that are installed (thus including optional additional receptacles) must be GFCI protected.
  
  Exceptions to the GFCI protected receptacle requirement for un-finished basements include the usual cases: receptacles that are not readily accessible and receptacles on dedicated circuits, such as a freezer appliance circuit.

AFCI Square D Arc Fault Circuit Breaker Recall

In 2004 Schneider Electric issued a recall of early model Square D® AFCIs manufactured between March 1 2004 and September 23, 2004 because tests indicated that "... arc detection in these breakers may become inoperable due to an issue with a third party-supplied internal component in the electronic detection unit."

Schneider's letter emphasized in an opening statement that "... Square D Company, the leading manufacturer of electrical equipment, is committed to the safety of our people, our customers, and our products." The company's letter provided additional detail:

While these circuit breakers will continue to function normally, providing short-circuit and overload protection, a small percentage of the breakers may not function as an arc fault circuit breaker (AFCI) and detect a high-resistance low-current arc fault. The unique role of an AFCI is its ability to detect an electrical arc and shut down a circuit before a fire can start or spread. It is important to note that the affected circuit breaker itself does not pose a hazard.

[The company was concerned about inaccurate and misleading information in the electrical products market and asked that concerned parties turn to them for information regarding their products, including AFCIs.]

• The issue with the component has been corrected and we have significantly increased our manufacturing capacity of AFCI breakers, allowing us to replenish our distribution network as quickly as possible. We are shipping significant quantities of AFCI circuit breakers from our manufacturing facilities every day.
• [intervening paragraphs addressing the ramp-up of production are here omitted as now obsolete-DF]
• We are also initiating a program to recover product that has been installed during this timeframe and replacing affected breakers with newly manufactured AFCIs. we are working directly with electricians, homebuilders and homeowners to inspect and replace affected breakers. the nationwide effort is being managed by us directly with our customers. There is no specific action you need to take in this recovery program other than help us make sure everyone has accurate information.

The positive responses we have received from electrical inspectors regarding our honest and direct approach to resolving this issue have been appreciated. Many inspectors have been working actively with us as well as their local electrical contractors and builders to minimize the disruption in the construction process. Those combined efforts have been successful at a vast number of localities.

[...]

We believe that we can accept nothing less than excellence when it comes to safety. For more than 100 years, our customers have associated the Square D brand with industry leadership, safety, quality, and reliability. We intend that our efforts through this AFCI program will continue those qualities.

See FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING where we describe GFCI protection on heat tape circuits powering heat tapes for manufactured and mobile homes. Similar issues regarding building water entry control are discussed at Sump Pump Inspection. Also see Testing Receptacles GFCIs AFCIs. AFCI's are discussed at AFCIs ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS.

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Questions & answers about buying, wiring, installing, & using AFCIs and the performance and about possible nuisance tripping of arc fault circuit interrupters.

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ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR
AFCIs ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS
  What is an AFCI?
  Fire Problem
  Types of AFCIs
  How AFCIs Work
  Where to Use AFCIs
  Code requirements for AFCIs
  Cost Benefit Analysis for AFCIs
  Nuisance Tripping AFCIs
  How to Install AFCIs
  How to Test AFCIs
  AFCIs vs. GFCIs
  AFCI Recall in 2004
  Square-D & Federal Pioneer AFCI Notice