AFCI Definitions from UL 1699 (Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters) and History of National
Electrical Code ( NEC ) AFCI !e"uirements
AFCI Definitions
Four of the relevant AFCI definitions from UL 1699 are:
Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) - A device intended to mitiate the effects of arcin faults !"
functionin to de-eneri#e the circuit $hen an arc-fault is detected%
&ranch'Feeder Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter - A device intended to !e installed at the oriin of a
!ranch'circuit or feeder( such as at a panel!oard% It is intended to provide protection of the
!ranch'circuit $irin( feeder $irin( or !oth( aainst un$anted effects of arcin% )his device also
provides limited protection to !ranch circuit e*tension $irin% It ma" !e a circuit-!rea+er t"pe
device or a device in its o$n enclosure mounted at or near a panel!oard%
,utlet Circuit Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter - A device intended to !e installed at a !ranch circuit
outlet( such as at an outlet !o*% It is intended to provide protection of cord sets and po$er-suppl"
cords connected to it ($hen provided $ith receptacle outlets) aainst the un$anted effects of
arcin% )his device ma" provide feed-throuh protection of the cord sets and po$er-suppl" cords
connected to do$nstream receptacles%
Com!ination Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter - An AFCI $hich complies $ith the re.uirements for
!oth &ranch'Feeder and outlet circuit AFCIs% It is intended to protect do$nstream !ranch circuit
$irin and cord sets and po$er-suppl" cords%
National Electrical Code ( NEC ) !e"uirements
/0C 1999
)he National Electrical Code1 (NEC1) first mandated the use of AFCIs in 1999 for the protection
of !ranch circuits suppl"in !edroom receptacle outlets% )he effective date $as 2anuar" 1( 3443%
#1$-1#% Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter &rotection
(A) Definition% An arc-fault circuit interrupter is a device intended to provide protection from
the effects of arc faults !" reconi#in the characteristics uni.ue to arcin and !" functionin
to de-eneri#e the circuit $hen an arc fault is detected%
(') D(ellin) Unit 'edrooms% All !ranch circuits that suppl" 135-volt( sinle phase( 15- and
34-ampere receptacle circuits installed in d$ellin unit !edrooms shall !e protected !" an
arc-fault circuit interrupter(s)% )his re.uirement shall !ecome effective 2anuar" 1( 3443%
/0C 3443
6rotection $as !roadened from !edroom receptacles to !edroom outlets% )here $as additional
stress on protection for the entire !ranch circuit%
#1$-1#% Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter &rotection
(A) Definition% An arc-fault circuit interrupter is a device intended to provide protection from
the effects of arc faults !" reconi#in the characteristics uni.ue to arcin and !" functionin
to de-eneri#e the circuit $hen an arc fault is detected%
(') D(ellin) Unit 'edrooms% All !ranch circuits that suppl" 135-volt( sinle phase( 15- and
34-ampere outlets installed in d$ellin unit !edrooms shall !e protected !" an arc-fault circuit
interrupter listed to provide protection of the entire !ranch circuit%
/0C 3445
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Com!ination AFCIs $ere mandated for the protection of !ranch circuits suppl"in !edroom
outlets( $ith the continued use of &ranch'Feeder AFCIs !ein permitted until 2anuar" 1( 3447% An
e*ception( $ith re.uirements( $as added for AFCIs located $ithin 1%7 m of the loadcenter%
#1$-1#% Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter &rotection
(A) Definition% An arc-fault circuit interrupter is a device intended to provide protection from
the effects of arc faults !" reconi#in the characteristics uni.ue to arcin and !" functionin
to de-eneri#e the circuit $hen an arc fault is detected%
(&) D(ellin) Unit 'edrooms% All 134-volt( sinle phase( 15- and 34-ampere !ranch circuits
suppl"in outlets installed in d$ellin unit !edrooms shall !e protected !" a listed arc-fault
circuit interrupter( com!ination t"pe installed to provide protection of the !ranch circuit%
&ranch'feeder AFCIs shall !e permitted to !e used to meet the re.uirements of
314%13(&) until 2anuar" 1( 3447%
F6/: For information on t"pes of Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters( see UL 1699 - 1999(
Standard for Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters.
Exception: The location of the arc-fault circuit interrupter shall be permitted to be at other
than the origination of the branch circuit in compliance ith !a" and !b":
!a" The arc-fault circuit interrupter installed ithin #.$ m !% ft" of the branch circuit
o&ercurrent de&ice as measured along the branch circuit conductors.
(b) The circuit conductors beteen the branch circuit o&ercurrent de&ice and the arc-
fault circuit interrupter shall be installed in a metal racea' or a cable ith a metallic
sheath.
/0C 3447
)he use of Com!ination AFCIs $as e*panded to man" additional d$ellin unit locations% Under
specified conditions( Com!ination AFCIs $ere permitted to !e located at the first outlet%
#1$-1#% Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter &rotection
(A) Definition% An arc-fault circuit interrupter is a device intended to provide protection from
the effects of arc faults !" reconi#in the characteristics uni.ue to arcin and !" functionin
to de-eneri#e the circuit $hen an arc fault is detected%
(&) D(ellin) Units All 134-volt( sinle-phase( 15- and 34- ampere !ranch circuits suppl"in
outlets installed in d$ellin unit famil" rooms( dinin rooms( livin rooms( parlors( li!raries(
dens( !edrooms( sun rooms( recreation rooms( closets( hall$a"s( or similar rooms or areas
shall !e protected !" a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter( com!ination-t"pe( installed to provide
protection of the !ranch circuit%
F6/: For information on t"pes of Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters( see UL 1699 - 1999(
Standard for Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters.
Exception: (here )*C+ I*C or E*T or steel armored cable+ T'pe AC+ meeting the
re,uirements of -./.##$+ using metal outlet or 0unction boxes is installed for the portion of the
branch circuit beteen the branch circuit o&ercurrent de&ice and the first outlet+ it shall be
permitted to install a combination AFCI at the first outlet to pro&ide protection for the
remaining portion of the branch circuit. The AFCI installed at the first outlet shall also pro&ide
protection for an' e,uipment connected to that outlet.
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