AFCI acceptance by customers

[electric-ed]

Hey, where did everyone go, are you all on holidays?

Just wondering what customers are saying when you tell them they have to have an AFCI installed as part of the wiring in their new home. Do you get any reaction?

Ed

[SamC]

Hi Ed
Haven't had to install one AFCI yet. But I can see cost may cause a few jaws to drop. I find most customers won't argue about installing something that's needed to pass inspection especially if you take the time to point out the reasons and safety issues involved. I've done work that required a couple of GFCI breakers installed and after explaining why it's needed they seem to accept the cost.
I did speak to one electrician who was wiring his own addition and said after the inspection, he was going to remove the AFCI when he sold the house. Go figure.
SamC

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 26, 2002 05:33 PM: Message edited by: SamC ]</font>

[rmurphy]

Ed, I'm still not totally up to date on AFCI's. Can you tell me if there are any exceptions to the rule? I'm currently working on an appartment conplex. The way I understand it every bedroom needs to be AFCI protected is this the case?

[electric-ed]

Murph,
When the province begins enforcing the 2002 Code, all of the receptacles circuits in "sleeping facilities" will need to be AFCI protected.
If the job you are referring to is already started, you may not be required to use them. Check with your inspector.

In a house I am doing for a friend, he wants the AFCI installed anyway. Smart lad.
One AFCI supplied all the receptacles in both bedrooms.

Ed

[Tony Moscioni]

Sleeping Facilities of a Dwelling Unit Rule 26-722(f)(g) (page 142)

Introduction

The 23rd Edition of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code / 2002 introduces a new rule that states “Branch circuits that
supply receptacles installed in sleeping facilities of a dwelling unit shall be protected by an arc-fault circuit
interrupter”

Issue

The Ontario Electrical Safety Code does not define exactly what is meant by the term “sleeping facility”. In order to
facilitate consistent application of the new rule by all Ontario Electrical Safety Code users in Ontario, the following
direction has been developed.

Direction

Sleeping Facility - Includes any bedroom within a dwelling unit intended to accommodate sleeping.
Examples of "sleeping facilities" would include master or other bedrooms. In smaller dwelling units an example would
be a combination living/sleeping room.
Examples of rooms that will not be considered as "sleeping facilities" are kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms,
recreation rooms, bath or wash rooms, hallways and stairways, laundry room or area, utility room or area, unfinished
basement areas, etc.

Rationale

The Ontario Electrical Safety Code defines a "Dwelling unit" as "one or more rooms for the use of one or more
persons as a housekeeping unit with cooking, eating, living, and sleeping facilities".
The new rule provides an introduction to this new technology, we want to keep the application of the rule simple and
not introduce undue hardship to the building industry.
The intent of this requirement is to protect all branch circuits that supply receptacle outlets in sleeping facilities of
dwelling units to provide additional protection for sleeping people against possible fire.

Tony Moscioni
Electrical Inspector
? Electrical Safety Authority – 2002