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AFCI provides economical fire protection by immediately shutting off arc faults that standard circuit breakers cannot provide.
AFCI provides economical fire protection by immediately shutting off arc faults that standard circuit breakers cannot provide.
According to data from the United States Fire Service (USFA), there are 25,000 electrical fires in the United States each year, causing hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, and causing more than $1 billion in property damage.
Home builders, electrical manufacturers, and fire safety experts are at the forefront of implementing solutions that can avoid costly damage and prevent casualties. Arc Fault Interrupter (AFCI) is a low-cost solution that has been a requirement of the National Electrical Code (NEC) for more than 20 years. The adoption of NEC requirements may vary by state and city government, but it is important to follow the complete NEC guidelines to minimize the risk of electrical fires.
“AFCI can detect and de-energize dangerous arc faults that cannot be detected by standard circuit breakers. Arc faults can generate sparks and usually cause electrical fires,” explains Ashley Bryant, a senior product manager at a large electrical manufacturer.
"This happens when a nail damages the wires behind the wall; it may be a loose connection; insufficient wire insulation; damaged power cords; overloaded sockets; or even damaged appliances," Keith, an industry standards manager for a large electrical appliance manufacturer Waters said.
"These devices help prevent injuries and deaths, and may fundamentally eliminate damage to the home," said Kevin Arnold, PE manager of the National Regulations and Standards and Industry Relations Department of a large electrical manufacturer, and licensed electrician master Kevin Arnold (Kevin Arnold) said. "Knowing that you live in a house that can prevent electrical fires from happening before they start can improve safety and give consumers peace of mind."
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that nearly 50% of household electrical fires can be prevented through AFCI every year. According to the USFA, AFCI became a NEC requirement in 1999, and combined with other fire protection technologies and building materials, they help to significantly reduce residential electrical fires.
"Considering the benefits of AFCI, the actual cost is the lowest. Some insurance companies even offer discounts for homeowners who add fire safety technology to their homes," Bryant said. Waters added: “According to major US home improvement retailers, the price of AFCI devices is about US$40. The price of dual-function AFCI/GFCI circuit breakers has increased by only US$7.”
On average, a 2,100-square-foot house may require 6 AFCI units, which means that the additional construction cost will be between 240 and 282 US dollars per house to protect the house from arcing.
"All construction industries need to work together to ensure that home buyers are educated and understand how to protect their property and their families from electrical fires in their homes," Waters said.
"The licensed electrician/installer is responsible for understanding NEC's requirements and can work closely with builders and homeowners to help build the safest possible home by providing information about circuit breaker equipment and other building materials." Arnold said.
"By working together, the fires, deaths and injuries caused by arc faults can be almost eliminated. The needs are clear and the technology has proven itself, but it is important that all states adopt NEC requirements to help make arc faults a thing of the past," Brian Special added.
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