Donald Hester
Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #647
WSDA#80050
InterNachi Member #NACHI10022401
509-670-9572
Contact Us
Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #647
WSDA#80050
InterNachi Member #NACHI10022401
509-670-9572
Contact Us
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AFCI’ Branch Feeder versus Combination Type- Wenatchee Home Inspection
Submitted by DonHester on Thu, 11/08/2012 - 13:14. AFCI’ Branch Feeder versus Combination Type- Wenatchee Home Inspection
AFCI’s (arc fault circuit interrupter) are here to stay. In fact they will be expanding the use of AFCI’s to more circuits in the home.
Washington State currently is in a code freeze. We are still working off the 2008 NEC (National Electrical Code) that requires AFCI protection on bedroom outlets. The 2011 cycle may be adopted in certain areas area of the country (list of code adoption by state). Rumor has it that Washington State will skip to the 2014 code cycle.
Now back to the topic at hand. AFCI’ breaker types Branch Feeder versus Combination.
Approximately 13% of residential fires are started by an electrical source. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimated that there were 46,500 fires in residential structures in 2010. This resulted in about 1.5 billion dollars in property losses and 420 deaths. It was estimated that about 50% of these fires were the result of some type of arcing in either the wiring or at equipment connections.
In comes theAFCI to the rescue. The main challenge of the AFCI was to create a product that could detect dangerous arcing conditions yet not be subject to “nuisance tripping”. AFCI breakers detect an electronic signature indicative of the “Arc” condition.
The first generation of AFCI was the branch feeder AFCI. The issue with this style of AFCI was that it could not detect series arcs. This type of arcing would be associated with loose connections or damage to a single wire. It was designed to detect line (hot) to neutral arcs referred to as a parallel arc. This is most common in a case where a staple got driven into the cable and is causing an arc between the hot and neutral wires.
The next generation of AFCI is the combination style. This AFCI will detect both series and parallel arc conditions, providing a wider range of arc detection. These types of AFCI are required on homes that adopt the 2008 NEC.
In conclusion I am currently recommend upgrading the older branch feeder AFCI to the newer combination AFCI when found during a home inspection. AFCI protection is here to stay and I think having the best one available is the right way to go.
Note: There currently are more studies that may change my position of this decision but till the data is in and verified I think it is prudent to make this recommendation.
Ancora Imparo
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
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www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572
