Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)
“In 2005, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 20,900 reported home structure fires involving electrical distribution or lighting equipment. These fires resulted in 500 civilian fire deaths, 1,100 civilian fire injuries, and $862 million in direct property damage.”
– National Fire Protection Association
Local and national building codes are becoming more and more strict in enforcing regulations that require Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) protection in the form of arc fault breakers (AFCI breakers) and arc fault receptacles (AFCI receptacles). Given the above statistics, it’s not hard to see why. At Any Hour Electric, we understand the importance of electrical safety technology, and encourage customers to have AFCI protection installed whenever possible. Our licensed residential electricians can come to your home and talk to you about the advantages of having arc fault circuit interrupters as part of your home’s electrical safety plan.
As Utah’s premier electrical contractor, we have set ourselves apart from other home electricians by choosing to educate our customers on how electrical systems work as well as the importance of electrical safety. The following are some questions regarding Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters, with answers from our professional electrical technicians. For additional questions, contact Any Hour Electric.
What is an arc fault?
An arc occurs when electricity “jumps” between two conductive materials. When you reach out to grab a doorknob and get shocked, the little blue spark that jumps between you and the knob is called an arc. Lightning is another example of an arc. In both of these examples, the two conductive materials do not have to be touching in order for electricity to “jump” between them. Arcs can also occur within the components in your home’s electrical system, a phenomenon known as an arc-fault.
An arc-fault occurs when loose or corroded connections make intermittent contact. The sporadic contact can result in sparking or arcing between the connections. The arcing can translate into heat that can trigger an electrical fire. There are a few different types of arcing that can occur in your home: line-to-neutral arc faults, line-to-ground arc faults and series arc faults. Arcs can be caused by many things, including: accidentally driving a nail into a wire while hanging a picture, stringing too many extension cords together, pushing furniture against a wall and pinching power cords, and loose connections on switches and outlets.
Why are arc faults so dangerous?
Arcing conditions can take place in older and newer homes and is extremely dangerous. This is because of the massive amounts of heat created when an arc occurs, as well as the damage that can occur if the arcing continues to happen. Sometimes arcs manifest themselves quickly, and other times they go unnoticed for years until it’s too late. Regular maintenance of your home’s electrical system, as well as an annual safety inspection, can help catch these conditions early. Any Hour Electric has maintenance programs and electrical safety inspections available, in which our licensed electrical technicians inspect your home for possible electrical hazards.
Where do I need Arc Fault protection?
Arc Fault protection is valuable throughout your entire home. Due to arc fault circuit interrupters’ ability to help reduce fires caused by electrical systems, many professional electricians recommend that the entire home be protected with arc fault breakers and receptacles.
In Utah, the only areas required by law to have arc fault protection are bedrooms and any circuit controlling something in a bedroom. Utah is in the process of adopting the 2008 National Electrical Code and when it is adopted, all residential circuits in living spaces (bedrooms, family rooms, living rooms, hallways) will also require arc fault protection.
How do Arc Fault Breakers and Arc Fault Receptacles work?
Arc fault breakers work by stopping the flow of electricity through a circuit when arcing occurs in that circuit. The dangerous arcing that can start fires in your home leaves a specific wave signature, which is recognized by the electronics inside of arc fault breakers and arc fault receptacles. When the AFCI detects the arcing, it will kill power to the circuit, thus avoiding a possible fire hazard. Whenever these devices trip, the cause should be investigated by a licensed electrician who knows how to troubleshoot these types of problems.
Should I install arc fault breakers in my home?
Homeowners and tenants may wish to add AFCI protection for both new and existing homes. Homes with ordinary circuit breakers will benefit from the added protection that AFCIs provide against the arcing faults that can occur in aging wiring systems. Most homes built prior to 2002 do not have AFCIs.
CAUTION: Only a licensed electrical contractor should install AFCIs. The installation involves working within electrical panel boxes that are electrically live, even when the main circuit breakers are turned off!
