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20a Circuit Breaker Home Depot
The 2011 National Electric Cipher has an important little agenda at the end of area 406.4(D)(4) which aloof took aftereffect January 1st, 2014. The exact argument from this area is apparent below:
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(4) Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection. Where a bowl aperture is supplied by a annex ambit that requires arc-fault ciruit burglar aegis as authentic abroad in this Code, a backup bowl at this aperture shall be one of the following:
This claim becomes able January 1, 2014.
This area requires that all replacement receptacles be arc-fault ambit burglar (AFCI) protected. This agency that if you're replacing an old aperture in an old home in a area that needs AFCI aegis in a new home, the backup aperture needs to be AFCI protected.
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What's an AFCI device? In short, it's an electrical assurance accessory advised to anticipate fires. It looks and acts a lot like a GFCI accessory in that it has a analysis button and a displace method, but GFCI accessories are advised to anticipate bodies from accepting electrocuted, not anticipate fires. For an accomplished certificate answer the functionality of AFCIs as able-bodied as the history of these devices, bang here: AFCIs Come of Age.
To digest the exact cipher text, there are three means to accomplish acquiescence with this new requirement:
AFCI aegis is currently appropriate for all 15 and 20 amp annex circuits accouterment ability to outlets* in residential ancestors rooms, dining rooms, active rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, amusement rooms, closets, hallways, and agnate apartment or areas. Once the 2014 NEC is adopted, both outlets and accessories in these locations will charge AFCI protection, and account will be broadcast to accommodate kitchens and laundry areas.
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* An "outlet" is authentic in the NEC as "A point on the base arrangement at which accepted is taken to accumulation appliance equipment." This ability beggarly a light, a smoke alarm, or a 'receptacle'. A bowl is what accustomed bodies alarm an outlet.
With this new claim now in effect, I'm academic the appeal for AFCI outlets is activity to skyrocket. Home Depot sells AFCI outlets for beneath $30, but they currently alone accept white. For added advice on AFCI outlets from Leviton, bang here: Leviton AFCI Outlets.
Special acknowledgment to Doug Olson at the Richfield Home Depot Pro-Desk for absolution me apperceive about this cipher area that aloof took effect.
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Author: Reuben Saltzman, Structure Tech Home Inspections
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