Arc Fault Circuit Protection. An arc fault circuit interrupter or afci breaker prevents fires by sensing when an electrical arc is about to occur and instantly disconnecting the damaged circuit before the arc builds enough heat to catch fire. An afci selectively distinguishes between a harmless arc.
Arc fault circuit interrupter protection afci the requirements for afci protection first came into the nec in the 1999 edition with an effective date of january 1 2002. Loose connections which can develop over time can sometimes become hot enough to ignite house fires. An afci selectively distinguishes between a harmless arc.
Help create safer living spaces and provide valuable electrical safety and protection by understanding the requirements for afci and gfci protection.
A detection device senses the electrical arc and breaks the circuit to prevent an electrical fire. An arc fault circuit interrupter or afci breaker prevents fires by sensing when an electrical arc is about to occur and instantly disconnecting the damaged circuit before the arc builds enough heat to catch fire. Eaton offers code compliant electrical safety devices including arc fault circuit interrupters that reduce the risk of fire to ground fault circuit interrupter cable assemblies receptacles and portable gfci kits that help protect against electrical shock as well as circuit breakers. Afci standards were introduced in the 1999 nec national electrical code and are required in new dwelling construction and when installing extending or updating new circuits in an existing dwelling or when replacing receptacles located in designated locations.
