AFCI outlets work with any type of wiring and are not dependent on the type of breaker in the panel.

Where do AFCI outlets need to be installed?

AFCI outlets are recommended for the following locations in a house: family rooms, dining rooms, dens, bedrooms, closets, hallways, recreation rooms, sunrooms.

Where should you not use arc fault breakers?





Absent from the list of spaces that require AFCI protection are: bathrooms, outdoors, unfinished basements, crawl spaces, attics and garage spaces, to name a few. Kitchens and laundry areas of manufactured or mobile homes are no longer exempt.

Can I use AFCI instead of GFCI?

Yes, they both can be used on the same circuit; however, the Dual Function AFCI/GFCI Receptacle offers the option of providing both AFCI and GFCI protection in a single device.

Can I use an AFCI outlet instead of a breaker?

Why would I use AFCI outlet instead of breaker? The AFCI outlet can be a great alternative depending on the circumstance. AFCI outlets work with any type of wiring and are not dependent on the type of breaker in the panel.

Should I install AFCI outlet?

OBC AFCIs do not need to be installed in every outlet in a room. When one is placed in the first outlet on a branch circuit (figure 4), it will protect everything downstream from that location—including any device, appliance, or fixture plugged into the outlets on that circuit—from both parallel and series arc faults.

Where are AFCI breakers required 2020?





AFCI current requirements in the NEC 2020 code:

Common rooms. Hallways and closets. Kitchens. Laundry areas.

Do garage outlets need to be arc fault protected?

The 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) requires the protection of an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) for 15 and 20 amp circuits in all newly built residential areas, but they are not needed in bathrooms, garages, or outdoor areas.

Are arc fault breakers required in laundry rooms?

Therefore, by default, the clothes washing machine in a dwelling unit laundry area will be AFCI protected. Nearly every room/ area in a dwelling unit requires AFCI protection, so no matter where you put a clothes washer, it will be AFCI protected in a newer home.

Will AFCI outlet protect the whole circuit?



An AFCI device protects the entire circuit from the electrical panel through the downstream wire to the outlet, along with all appliances and equipment plugged into that circuit. If an AFCI device trips, it is most likely the result of a potentially dangerous arcing condition detected by the device.

Do AFCI outlets protect upstream?

It is intended to provide protection to down- stream branch-circuit wiring, cord sets, and power-supply cords against the unwanted effects of arcing. This device also provides protection to upstream branch-circuit wiring. It is intended to be provided with or without receptacle outlets.

Are there AFCI outlets?

AFCI Outlets



They are not found in wall receptacles like GFCIs, but instead are easily incorporated into your home or business’ main service panel in the form of specialized circuit breakers. AFCIs are required in: Bedrooms. Any sleeping area: dens, foldout couches, etc.

What are two ways you can have AFCI protection?

This can be accomplished by installing AFCI circuit breakers then using GFCI receptacles at specific locations; or, there are combination AFCI/GFCI circuit breakers that can offer both types of protection to the entire circuit.

Should I upgrade my breakers to AFCI?

People who should STRONGLY consider AFCI retrofitting when not required by scope of other work requiring code updates would be those with 15 & 20 amp circuits on the problematic old Aluminum wiring (1960’s era, vaguely) that is a particular fire hazard, and those with other “very elderly and suspect” wiring.

Are AFCI breakers required in older homes?

According to the NEC, AFCI protection is necessary for 15- and 20-ampere branch and 120-volt, single-phase circuits for devices and outlets. Older and historic homes may not require these breakers, but experts still recommend them. Newer homes should have AFCIs in compliance with NEC guidelines.

Does refrigerator need AFCI?



Refrigerator Circuit

This circuit usually does not require GFCI protection unless the outlet is within 6 feet of a sink or located in a garage or basement, but it generally does require AFCI protection.

Why are AFCI breakers required?

An AFCI breaker provides a higher level of protection than a standard circuit breaker by detecting and removing the hazardous arcing condition before it becomes a fire hazard.

Do lighting circuits need to be AFCI protected?

AFCI requirements.



The NEC requires that virtually all branch circuits for lighting and receptacles in a home must have arc-fault circuit-interrupter (AFCI) protection.

Can I run lights and outlets on the same circuit?

Yes, you can. The average home uses an indoor distribution board that houses the breakers of the majority of circuits in the home. A circuit controlled by a 15A circuit breaker (which a lot of contractors use for general lighting) can also accommodate outlets.

Can bathroom lights and receptacles be on the same circuit?

No lighting outlets or other equipment can be fed from the same circuit feeding the bathroom receptacles. For example, a one-family dwelling has two bathrooms and a duplex receptacle has been installed in each. One 20-ampere branch circuit can supply power to both bathroom receptacles but cannot feed anything else.