Eliminating the Risks: In Support of the AFCI

摘要

According to the popular opinion of building inspectors, manufacturers, electrical contractors and distributors, arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are an excellent way to identify arc faults, eliminating the risk of afire hazard on the branch circuits where they are installed. The industry is finally looking at the universal acceptance of a device that has the proven capability of detecting arcing situations that go unnoticed for years and that can possibly cause fires. The 1999 National Electrical Code (NEC) required the installation of arc fault circuit interrupters in new dwelling construction on 15-and 20-ampere, 125-volt, single-phase branch circuits supplying dwelling-unit bedroom receptacle outlets. The Code change was to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2002. The 2002 Code expanded AFCI requirements to all 15- and 20-ampere, 125-volt, single-phase branch circuits supplying dwelling-unit bedroom luminaires, ceiling fans and other loads.