Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters.
First of all what the heck are they?
According to Square D, a leading manufacturer and innovator of electrical equipment, "Combination AFCI circuit breakers provide an added dimension of safety for homeowners by sensing and responding to both parallel and series arcing incidents. Series arcing is often associated with damaged devices or cord sets. A series arc is an arcing incident across a break in a conductor. A common example is a cut across one of the two wires in a lamp cord, with a dangerous arc forming in the gap. Combination AFCI circuit breakers detect the arcing condition and turn off the circuit, thus providing the enhanced protection."
In the early days of these breakers, there were some reported problems with "nuisance" tripping and they only protected against "Parallel faults"-----that is like when you crush an extension cord where you have run it through a window and the "parallel" wires start to arc from one to the other. They were initially required in most jurisdictions in bedrooms---because they had to start somewhere and it was calculated that bedrooms are where most house electrical fires start.
In 2002 the code required that all 120 volt "outlets" in the room be protected. Well to many people---even experienced electricians---this was taken to mean the receptacles (places to plug things in). To the National Electrical Code, an "outlet" is any place where a device is connected whether it is a receptacle, switch, smoke alarm/detector, or hydronic heater fan.
As of the 2008 revision of the NEC (National Electrical Code) ARC Fault breakers are required to be the "combination" type that also detect "series" type faults. A series fault is more like a loose connection or a break in just one of the conductors that a spark might have to jump across to complete the circuit. This is an AWESOME improvement as you can imagine.
I had a client tell me that they had their ARC Fault breaker taken out and changed to a regular type breaker because the vacuum cleaner kept tripping the ARC Fault breaker! They didn't realize that this was not nuisance tripping----it was an indication that there was a problem with the vacuum cleaner. Contrary to popular believe and the skepticism of some electricians these devices have become very reliable and are a great improvement to overall fire safety in the home.
In many jurisdictions the 2008 NEC also requires that ALL 120 volt circuits in the home be AFCI protected. A lot of jurisdictions have amended the NEC to limit the requirement to just the bedrooms. I think some of this is due to cost---but in general due to arrogance and "short" (pun intended) sightedness in my opinion. The cost of these things is coming down every day and the difference between doing all the circuits in an average home and just the bedrooms would be about $300.00-$400.00 dollars----hardly a deal breaker in my opinion.
So to get back to the original question, of how much of a safety issue is it? They were required when the house was built and in the jurisdiction the house was built in. How much of a safety issue it is might only be determined when someone dies.
Charles Buell
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Charles, you're such a good friend! I haven't read through this blog yet because I know it's going to be difficult but you're so nice to explain it and help us all through this activerain!! Now I'll go see if I can understand it!! Thanks!
Hi Barbara, hopefully you were able to make sense of it---get back to me about anything that isn't clear so I can correct it or add clarification. These things are something we are all going to have to become familiar with----just like we have the old GFCI's.
Charles, perfect timing. Its like you read my mind on this AFCI's. Many of my competitors are side steping this by " grandfathering" them on the reports. Some of the older electrical panel will not retrofit AFCI's which means the electrical panel will have to be updated. Excellent post. I will reblog it.
~ Life is Good
Thanks Roy---I suspect it won't be the last post about AFCI's:) Also, if one has a circuit breaker type panel that won't accept AFCI's----it probably could stand upgrading:)
Charles - As a former engineer in the vacuum cleaner industry, I can tell you that several models with electronic controls do produce signals that nuisance trip an arc fault breaker. Window air conditioners, microwaves, refrigerators and several other products do the same thing. Talented people from both sides have been working on this for some time now.
Erik, while this is a complicated topic and all aspects of the discussion can not begin to be covered in this forum, suffice it to say that earlier versions of AFCI's did have some problems---many of these problems were later determined to be installation issues---some were device issues. Newer ones require do not have these issues and manufacturers are required to manufacture devices that are going to be installed on these circuits to mean nuisance avoiding requirements of the breakers. Today if something you plug into the receptacle trips the circuit---it is most likely a problem with the device---not the AFCI.
I was aware of the change in 2008 NEC. But here in CT they skip code books. All though the 2008 NEC has not been formally adopted the electrician will be expected to be up on any new changes. So when the next book comes out AFCIs will be required in all new construction.
When AFCIs were first required in 02 CT did not adopt that code. It wasn't until 05 that you started seeing AFCIs in new construction.
James, you bring up a good point that each inspector has to sort through what is required/recommended/appropriate in their area----whether it is AFCI's or anything else for that matter. There are just too many jurisdictional variations to make blanket statements that is for sure.
Okay, Charles, I have read it. Duh............. Here's a question for you. If I had an $1800 vaccuum cleaner that did a nuisance trip every time I used it, would you recommend I replace the vaccuum or take off the AFCI? It's kinda like an electrician said one time, "The GFCI is required in the garage but if you're going to put a freezer out there, I'd take off the GFCI because if it trips, you lose all the frozen stuff in the freezer because you won't know it tripped."
You've done a good blog on this!
Barbara if it is pre-2008 breaker I would be inclined to try a new AFCI at 30 bucks as opposed to a new vacuum at $1800:)
But I thought your blog said it is the fault of the vacuum or other item and not the fault of the AFCI.
Barbara, it is a multi-faceted problem----aren't they all:) Some of the issues are related to older generations of AFCI's that didn't have the ability to differentiate between what is considered "safe" types of arcing that occurs in some appliances and "unsafe" arcing that can lead to a fire. Newer appliances are required to meet newer UL standards that basically say that the appliance can't produce arcing conditions past what the breaker can detect, and the newer AFCI's are better at differentiating these kinds of arcs. If you have a brand new AFCI and a brand new vacuum----and you keep tripping the AFCI, there is a problem with the vacuum----99.9% of the time----at least that is the theory:)
Charlie,
Good article on AFCI breakers. So few people seem to know what a GFCI is that I guess it is no wonder they do not know the arc fault.
Charles, as far as I know the nuisance trip goes for all open wound motors. Fan's have been known to do the same. Older Vac's under load (in my experience) do it every time.
Steve, thanks.
Jack, I will stick with what I said earlier. Newer motors and newer AFCI's there should not be a problem.
Roy,
Do you suggest to your clients that they upgrade all the breakers to AFCI's when you do an inspection?
Paul, was that question directed at me or Roy?:)
Actually, the more the merrier.... :)
For me it depends on the house. I have a "general" recommendation that it would be a nice safety upgrade to have them installed. The recomendation gets a little more strongly worded if it is knob & tube or aluminum circuits I would like to see given a another layer of protection.
Charles - I warn my clients that these are very sensitive devices. They can trip from a power surge to a lightening strike nearby. I also tell them to expect to come home now and then to a dead bedroom!
Honey, did you set the clock last night!? I'm late!!
Charlie, You mentioned aluminum wiring. AFCIs are a good upgrade if the home has aluminum wiring because arcing is what occurs with that aluminum. I have AFCIs used here for that very reason with the usual aluminum wiring repairs. I would imagine AFCIs would be a good layer of protection w/ knob & tube as well.
Jay, I hear about the nuisance tripping of these devices but have yet to actually witness any tripping that wasn't the result of an actual problem. NOT tripping---as in that series of defective SQ-D AFCI's---is another story. I have them on many of the circuits in my home and have never had one nuisance trip----I have crappy old vacuum cleaners too:)
James, especially now that the newer ones detect series as well as parallel faults.
Charles,
That's interesting. I don't recommend AFCI's as a matter of course but do recommend upgrading on Knob & Tube wiring - most insurance compnaies out here won't insure with more than 10 percent K&T. I've heard it's different on your side of the Cascades but I don't know why.
Good point on the use with aluminum - I can extend my comments to inculde that as a possibility.
Paul, the main reason for so much difference in the way different areas of the country deal with knob & tube is due to the lack of hard evidence that there are more fires with it than other types of wiring. It is beyond me to figure the logic of insurance companies. There is tons of evidence of problems with aluminum wiring and yet insurance companies seem willing to keep insuring houses with it. Regardless, if I have a homeowner that is able to get insurance for his house with knob and tube, I am for sure going to recommend that those circuits be given additional protection with AFCI until the wiring can be replaced----along with my recommendation to replace the wiring. This brings up another point that seems to be a running theme among home inspectors. The hesitancy to recommend things. I can recommend things until the cows come home----doesn't mean anyone is going to do them. I am in the business of recommending:)
"
NOT tripping---as in that series of defective SQ-D AFCI's---is another story"
True - a Chinese story...
Charles,
That reminds me of a conversation that I had with a new NPI franchisee a while back. I talked to him about how I did my isnpections and the recommendations that I would make and he was shocked that I would make recommendations.
I figure my job is just to report every negative of the place but to give practical advice where possible. I still always refer them to the "licensed and qualified" contractor, but it does give them some perspective on what is possible.
Of course, some problems get pretty extreme and I've had clients ask how much it would cost to fix them. Occasionally, the correct answer is "How much you got?"
I have one new home (passed city inspeciton) that the Structural Engineer and I agree may need to be bulldozed.
Jay, I think you are thinking of the Counterfeit SQ D breakers that were recalled that were made in China. The SQ D AFCI's that were recalled were made by SQ D.
Paul, it is an attitude that is pervasive in our industry.
I agree Charlie, no one wants to say too much because they some how figure that it leaves them exposed. When you let lawyers and insuracne companied decide for you how to conduct your business the result is less information for the client. Less info usally means they feel cheated. Then guess what, they end up calling that lawyer who advised you not say too much. HMMMMMM......
James, you sure won't get any argument from me on that. Doing a related post for tomorrow.