AFCI for Furnace

[asphalt]

As I understand the new code, I don't have to AFCI the furnace circuit if it's a dedicated run. However, if it has an outlet for a condensate pump or EAC I do have to AFCI, but only in area's listed in 210.12(A) Meaning, furnaces in garages or basements don't need to be AFCI protected at all.

If I add an outlet to an existing branch circuit for the condensate pump or EAC and the extension is less than six feet do I then have to AFCI that entire circuit?

The reason I ask all this is I haven't found much information or training on the new code relevant to my specific industry yet. Residential HVAC electrical, mostly retrofit.

 

[tom baker]

You should review 210.12(A).
There are many sections of the NEC that apply to your work, such as nearly all of chapters 1-4 and in particular Art 725. Just because the section title does not say HVAC does not mean its doesn't apply.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

As I understand the new code, I don't have to AFCI the furnace circuit if it's a dedicated run.

Not true. If the circuit is in one of the areas listed then it must be afci protected.

However, if it has an outlet for a condensate pump or EAC I do have to AFCI, but only in area's listed in 210.12(A) Meaning, furnaces in garages or basements don't need to be AFCI protected at all.

Yes and perhaps. Basements are not necessarily excluded-- for instance a finished basement IMO would need afci

If I add an outlet to an existing branch circuit for the condensate pump or EAC and the extension is less than six feet do I then have to AFCI that entire circuit?

it allows 6' extension if no outlet is added to the circuit without afci. This was passed with panel change outs in mind where the wire did not reach. You can use a afci receptacle as they are available

 

[GoldDigger]

But if you add a receptacle instead of just moving an existing one less than 6', you will still trigger the AFCI requirement. Possibly for the whole circuit if there are other outlets (not just receptacle outlets) in now protected areas(?)

 

[asphalt]

But if you add a receptacle instead of just moving an existing one less than 6', you will still trigger the AFCI requirement. Possibly for the whole circuit if there are other outlets (not just receptacle outlets) in now protected areas(?)

That's the part I'm having a hard time with. I understand it, I just don't like it. If I add an outlet, for any reason, to an existing circuit I have to afci the whole thing. This may be a big can of worms in older homes with lots of non-permitted home owner wiring done over the years.

 

[asphalt]

You should review 210.12(A).
There are many sections of the NEC that apply to your work, such as nearly all of chapters 1-4 and in particular Art 725. Just because the section title does not say HVAC does not mean its doesn't apply.

I have read it all. A lot. I was just hoping to maybe start a discussion on it and see if there was anything I missed. My boss is none too thrilled with the new afci requirements and the garage circuit not being allowed to have outside plugs on it. They don't seem to believe me that this is the way it has to be now, so by asking questions here I can confirm and get a little better information to give them.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

If I add an outlet, for any reason, to an existing circuit I have to afci the whole thing.

I already stated that this is not necessarily true. You can install an afci receptacle at the point which you added to the circuit. In some cases you may have to go back further

 

[asphalt]

I already stated that this is not necessarily true. You can install an afci receptacle at the point which you added to the circuit. In some cases you may have to go back further

Thankyou. I've read and re-read the afci sections and unfortunately I don't have my code book in front of me this weekend so I have to work from memory. :thumbsdown: That's not how I've interpreted the code. I thought the whole circuit had to be afci protected either at the breaker or the first outlet in the circuit, if the circuit was extended more than 6 ft. or an outlet was added. If neither of those happened then the afci was not required, but if either or both happened then afci was required for the entire circuit.

I apologize if I'm coming off a little dense. This is my first time as and electrical administrator and being responsible for knowing and interpreting the code for a company. I want to make sure I'm getting things right. :thumbsup:

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I hear what you are saying but my understanding is that #2 exception means the first receptacle of the existing circuit that got extended. In other words how would the gfci receptacle work if the first outlets were lighting and there was only one receptacle on the circuit. I think the intent is to protect all new wiring so if you come off an existing receptacle then that receptacle becomes an afci type receptacle and it will protect anything downstream.

210.12 Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection.
(A) Dwelling Units. All 120-volt, single phase, 15- and
20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets installed in
dwelling unit family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms,
parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation
rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms or areas shall
be protected by a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter,
combination-type, installed to provide protection of the
branch circuit.
Informational Note No. 1: For information on types of
arc-fault circuit interrupters, see UL 1699-1999, Standard
for Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters.
Informational Note No. 2: See 11.6.3(5) of NFPA 72-
2010, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, for information
related to secondary power supply requirements for
smoke alarms installed in dwelling units.
Informational Note No. 3: See 760.41(B) and 760.121(B)
for power-supply requirements for fire alarm systems.
Exception No. 1: If RMC, IMC, EMT, Type MC, or steel
armored Type AC cables meeting the requirements of
250.118 and metal outlet and junction boxes are installed
for the portion of the branch circuit between the branchcircuit
overcurrent device and the first outlet, it shall be
permitted to install an outlet branch-circuit type AFCI at
the first outlet to provide protection for the remaining portion
of the branch circuit.
Exception No. 2: Where a listed metal or nonmetallic conduit
or tubing is encased in not less than 50 mm (2 in.) of
concrete for the portion of the branch circuit between the
branch-circuit overcurrent device and the first outlet, it
shall be permitted to install an outlet branch-circuit type
AFCI at the first outlet to provide protection for the remaining
portion of the branch circuit.
Exception No. 3: Where an individual branch circuit to a
fire alarm system installed in accordance with 760.41(B) or
760.121(B) is installed in RMC, IMC, EMT, or steelsheathed
cable, Type AC or Type MC, meeting the requirements
of 250.118, with metal outlet and junction boxes,
AFCI protection shall be permitted to be omitted.
(B) Branch Circuit Extensions or Modifications ? Dwelling
Units. In any of the areas specified in 210.12(A), where
branch-circuit wiring is modified, replaced, or extended, the
branch circuit shall be protected by one of the following:
(1) A listed combination-type AFCI located at the origin of
the branch circuit
(2) A listed outlet branch-circuit type AFCI located at the
first receptacle outlet of the existing branch circuit

 

[FionaZuppa]

would it be easy to just swap the breaker for AF type? is it bad to AF the whole thing at the breaker?

 

[John120/240]

would it be easy to just swap the breaker for AF type? is it bad to AF the whole thing at the breaker?

Arc Fault breakers for the whole circuit are done all the time in new construction. The problem is when dealing with 30 & 40 year & older dwellings, the electrician wasn't always as meticulous as today as where his neutral went.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Arc Fault breakers for the whole circuit are done all the time in new construction. The problem is when dealing with 30 & 40 year & older dwellings, the electrician wasn't always as meticulous as today as where his neutral went.

Exactly and in some of those homes there may be a fuse panel or an old FPE panel where afci's are not available. This is why the protection of the entire circuit doesn't make sense when you add one receptacle to an existing circuit-- change the whole service??? I don't think so. :happyno:

 

[kwired]

This is one application (furnaces) that I hadn't thought of or run into yet that would require AFCI protection.

As much as I am against AFCI's in the first place....I will forget that for a moment and I still can't for the life of me see why a furnace in a garage, unfinished basement, attic or crawlspace doesn't require such protection, but put same furnace in a "mechanical closet" and all of a sudden it is going to be a source for a possible elecrical fire and needs AFCI protection:ashamed:

I do occasionally see furnaces installed in other areas that are mentioned in 210.12, but if all building codes are followed (and they are not enforced much at all here) the furnace likely needs to be in a 1 hour rated room or closet that is not also used as habitable space. Maybe NEC did not intend such a room to be included in 210.12 but if so did not make it all that clear.

 

[asphalt]

I hear what you are saying but my understanding is that #2 exception means the first receptacle of the existing circuit that got extended. In other words how would the gfci receptacle work if the first outlets were lighting and there was only one receptacle on the circuit. I think the intent is to protect all new wiring so if you come off an existing receptacle then that receptacle becomes an afci type receptacle and it will protect anything downstream.

See, I interpret that as saying if the circuit is extended then the whole circuit needs to be afci. It's really not very clear. I'm sure this will be an issue for me with inspectors for a while.

 

[tom baker]

I thought the whole circuit had to be afci protected either at the breaker or the first outlet in the circuit, if the circuit was extended more than 6 ft. or an outlet was added. If neither of those happened then the afci was not required, but if either or both happened then afci was required for the entire circuit.

There is a requirement for replacement receptacles to be AFCI effective Jan 1, 2014, in the 2011 NEC.
See 406.4

 

[Ohms law]

As I understand the new code, I don't have to AFCI the furnace circuit if it's a dedicated run. However, if it has an outlet for a condensate pump or EAC I do have to AFCI, but only in area's listed in 210.12(A) Meaning, furnaces in garages or basements don't need to be AFCI protected at all.

If I add an outlet to an existing branch circuit for the condensate pump or EAC and the extension is less than six feet do I then have to AFCI that entire circuit?

The reason I ask all this is I haven't found much information or training on the new code relevant to my specific industry yet. Residential HVAC electrical, mostly retrofit.

Article 422.12 says you can add a receptacle for a condensation pump. It's under the first exception I believe. I don't have my code book in front of me. I usually mount a 4-square on the furnace and put a combo switch/GFCI receptacle.

 

[Ohms law]

As long as the furnace is not in a finished area you should be fine. If you tie into a existing receptacle in a finished area and exceed 6' then you would have to have AFCI protection.

 

[kwired]

Article 422.12 says you can add a receptacle for a condensation pump. It's under the first exception I believe. I don't have my code book in front of me. I usually mount a 4-square on the furnace and put a combo switch/GFCI receptacle.

Whether using the exception or not, 422.12 does not address AFCI requirements, if this equipment is in a room mentioned in 210.12 and is 15/20 amps 120 volt circuit then it must have AFCI protection.

 

[Ohms law]

Whether using the exception or not, 422.12 does not address AFCI requirements, if this equipment is in a room mentioned in 210.12 and is 15/20 amps 120 volt circuit then it must have AFCI protection.

That's why I said what I said in my second post about as long as your not in a room mentioned in 210.12.
I would think it would be very rare to see a furnace in a room where AFCI would be required. The typical setups I see are in a unfinished area in a basement or in a closet in a garage. I have seen them in a apartment closet but it was not a gas furnace and had a 60 amp circuit.

 

[kwired]

That's why I said what I said in my second post about as long as your not in a room mentioned in 210.12.
I would think it would be very rare to see a furnace in a room where AFCI would be required. The typical setups I see are in a unfinished area in a basement or in a closet in a garage. I have seen them in a apartment closet but it was not a gas furnace and had a 60 amp circuit.

They are installed in "closets" quite frequently. The question is when is it a "closet" vs a "mechanical room"? And you are located where you may see a lot of rural areas that don't get too excited about enforcing building codes so that room containing the furnace may not really be up to building codes either when it comes to finish rating of the room containing a furnace. Happens here all the time. Non residential with public access- you are usually going to at least have State Fire Marshal require finish rating on the room - but that is getting out of AFCI territory and is kind of off topic. But in dwellings you see them stick a furnace wherever it is convenient sometimes, especially in low income housing rehab projects.