2: AFCI protection shall not be required on branch circuits supplying receptacles located in hallways, kitchens or laundry areas and GFCI protected receptacles installed in dining rooms.
The only time you wouldn't need to add an AFCI breaker to a 15- or 20-amp circuit is if the light fixtures—and the switches to those fixtures—are located in rooms not mentioned above, such as: Basements. Garages. Attics.
The shorter list is areas not requiring AFCI protection: unfinished basement areas, attached or detached garages, outdoor lighting and receptacles, accessory buildings and bathrooms are not required to be fed via an AFCI protected circuit.
While they may not be legally required, it is highly recommended to have AFCI breakers installed for the safety of your home. As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your home is equipped with the necessary safety measures.
AFCI receptacles are an alternative solution to AFCI breakers. These receptacles are designed to address the dangers associated with both types of potentially hazardous arcing: parallel and series.
NEC 210.12(B) of the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) requires Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) protection for branch circuits supplying all newly installed 120-volt, 15 & 20 amp outlets or devices in kitchens, laundry areas, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, ...
It's important to note that fridges in other living spaces, like a basement, are not exempted. If the fridge is in any other room, it will need AFCI protection. GFCI's, on the other hand, monitor the current coming and going.
Nuisance tripping is the #1 complaint contractors have when installing AFCIs. After installation, homeowners may experience nuisance tripping when using a new vacuum cleaner or appliance. Then the contractor gets the call. The last thing they want to do is to go back for a warranty service call.
Does every outlet in my home have to be an AFCI? No, every outlet doesn't need to be an AFCI. All AFCIs provide "feed-through" protection, which means they provide protection for all wiring and extensions attached to the load side.
That means that the requirements for AFCI protection is required in the areas stated above at all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-amp receptacles, lighting fixtures, switches, smoke alarms, dishwashers, refrigerators, and so on. 6) Conduit encased in concrete with an AFCI receptacle.
NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC), first required AFCIs in the 1999 edition. Subsequent editions added locations which were required to be covered. 1999 NEC: Branch circuits serving dwelling unit bedrooms needed to be covered by AFCIs as of January 1, 2002.
Traditionally, this requirement applied only to kitchen countertop receptacles, but now any cord-and-plug connection points in the kitchen (such as refrigerator receptacles, disposal receptacles and microwave receptacles) now require GFCI protection.
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.
AFCI is required for 120V circuits 10-20A supplying outlets and devices in kitchens (that's receptacles, lighting, and hardwired appliances). GFCI is required for kitchen receptacles and specific appliances like dishwashers. Simplest means of compliance is a dual function breaker.
Ex: AFCI protection is not required for extension wiring that is less than 6 ft long if no outlets or devices, other than splicing devices, are added. This measurement does not include the conductors inside an enclosure, cabinet, or junction box.
Exception: AFCI protection shall not be required where the extension of the existing branch circuit conductors is not more than 1.8 m (6 ft) and does not include any additional outlets or devices, other than splicing devices.
AFCIs sense electricity is leaking from the electric system and shut electricity off before overheating happens. GFCIs prevent shocks, and AFCIs prevent fires. Both should be installed by a qualified electrician to make your home safer.
All 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying dwelling unit kitchens and laundry areas now require AFCI protection.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) does not require a garbage disposal to have GFCI protection. GFCI protection for this appliance is optional. The vibration caused by the operation of a garbage disposal can cause electrical connections to separate.
AFCI protection is recommended at 15- and 20-amp outlets on branch circuits for bedrooms, closets, dens, dining rooms, family rooms, hallways, kitchens, laundry areas, libraries, living rooms, parlors, recreation rooms, and sun rooms.
Smoke alarms connected to a 15A or 20A circuit of a dwelling unit must be AFCI protected if the smoke alarm is located in one of the areas specified In 210.12(B).
Since the garage is attached to the dwelling unit, it's deemed part of the dwelling unit. So the AFCI requirements for the receptacles in the attached garage would be required. If it's detached, it wouldn't be part of the dwelling unit.
Any correctly operating surge protector system (with no excessive leakage) will not trip a SQUARE D AFCI circuit breaker.