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AFCI, GFCI, oh my… What do these acronyms mean for me?
These days it seems like any building project can become a several month’s long test of patience and coordination between owners, contractors, and weather. On top of just getting the work done, in many cases, modern codes have requirements that home and cabin owners are unaware of because either they recently changed or their other properties were built before the requirements were adopted.
A common situation is a remodeling project or addition – maybe a new living room or sunroom. What is expected to be some simple electric work gets more expensive when owners hear, “These new circuits need: AFCI protection, GFCI protection, or both.” The old part of the structure may never have had that protection, but new circuits are typically expected to follow the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC).
A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is for shock (electrocution) protection and has been around the longest. It compares current leaving on the hot conductor to current returning on the neutral, and trips when electricity is leaking off the intended path by more than 5 milli-amperes. Most commonly, this level of protection is required in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry/utility spaces, basements, and attics. One place that I have seen a need for GFCI (due to often not having it) is when lighting is installed under elevated cabins. Crawling around under the cabin risks contact with electricity when touching the ground.
An Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) is for fire protection and the newer of the “acronyms”. The digital technology in an AFCI device looks for arcing patterns linked to damaged wiring, loose connections, pinched cables, or worn cords. Arcing can create extreme heat at one small point and lead to the ignition of nearby wood or other combustibles.
Most AFCI breakers used in homes today are “combination-type,” meaning they look for multiple arcing signatures. “Parallel arcing” is an arc between conductors that should never touch (hot-to-neutral or hot-to-ground). This can happen as a result of damaged wiring insulation, a nail or screw nicking a cable, or even a crushed extension cord. “Series arcing” is an arc in-line with the circuit caused by a loose, broken, or high-resistance connection – like a loose terminal screw on a receptacle, a failing splice, worn switch contacts, or damaged conductor strands. Often, the circuit would still work and would not trip a standard breaker. However, the arcing can cause heat buildup to the point of combustion; the breaker is essentially listening for that high-frequency electrical signature and shutting the circuit off.
At a high level, GFCI requirements are commonly found in 2023 NEC 210.8 and AFCI requirements in 2023 NEC 210.12. Many 120- volt, 15-amp and 20-amp circuits supplying living areas commonly land under AFCI rules, while kitchens, baths, laundry areas, garages, unfinished basements, and outdoor outlets commonly land under GFCI rules. When those locations overlap, using a Dual-Function (DF) breaker is a straightforward option. A DF breaker is one breaker that provides both GFCI and AFCI protection when a circuit needs both.
Electrical headaches in existing structures when transitioning to AFCI, GFCI, or DF breakers usually come from old wiring practices – some of which were never up to code. Nuisance tripping is often traced to shared neutrals handled incorrectly, neutral-to-ground contact in a device box, moisture intrusion, or failing devices and loose terminations. I once spent a few hours crawling around a cabin up the Arrowhead Trail, rewiring several boxes because all the neutrals and grounds were tied together in each device box, causing newly installed GFCI breakers to trip.
These newer technologies are aimed at preventing electrocutions and electrical fires. The NEC’s direction is to expand the adoption of these technologies over time, including requirements that require AFCI protection be added when receptacles are replaced in areas that call for it (2023 NEC 406.4(D)(4)).
If you’re planning a building project this year, be sure to investigate the electrical requirements that will apply to the project and ask for help from a qualified individual if needed. When in doubt, a proactive conversation with the local electrical inspector can help avoid extra work and cost later.
The advice provided in this column is intended for general informational purposes only. If you have specific concerns or a situation requiring professional assistance, you should consult with a qualified professional for advice or service tailored to your individual circumstances. The author, this newspaper, and publisher are not responsible for the outcomes or results of following any advice from this column. You are solely responsible for your actions.
