Should We AFCI Protect Appliances?

A question posted from one of our followers regarding the requirements about ACFI and GFCI protection for Appliance Circuits. In this latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin dives into the topic to bring us answers!

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While Article 210 of the NEC DOES talk about AFCI and GFCI protection for circuits, the circuits that particular article refers to are Branch Circuits. Appliance Circuits are in article 422 of the NEC. However, while article 422 DOES cover certain GFCI requirements, those items it does refer to are not dwelling unit type items. So we do have to refer back to article 210.
To really understand the AFCI/GFCI issue, first we must know that the NEC is referring to LOCATIONS where the AFCI or GFCI protection is to be placed, not necessarily the equipment itself. The code tells us WHERE we are to have AFCI or GFCI, and if equipment is IN those areas, THEN it must be protected. It also helps to understand that a Branch circuit is a circuit that Leaves a Breaker and hooks up to a piece of equipment, whereas a Feeder generally leaves a Breaker and goes to another Breaker or Disconnect or some other type of controlling equipment. Also, as a reminder, the 2020 NEC did add 240v items to the GFCI requirements. So, keep in mind that if you do have a larger piece of 240v equipment that does fall within the AFCI/GFCI space, you will also have to protect that equipment as well.
So, Article 210.8(A) of the 2020 NEC states that ALL 125v through 250v receptacles (in the locations the NEC specifies), shall have Ground Fault protection. The key item here to pull out is RECEPTACLES! Not light switches or light fixtures, but receptacles. It may be worth it to check with your local AHJ (usually the inspector) and see what they will allow or not allow. Article 210.12(A) of the 2020 NEC states that AFCI protection is required for all 120v 15 & 20a Branch circuits. The keyword to be pulled out of this is BRANCH CIRCUITS. So, it’s the whole circuit, not just the receptacle! So, take a laundry room for instance. If you ran a dedicated circuit for your washing machine in that room, then it WOULD have to be AFCI protected. Something else to consider here, is that it is only 120v 15 & 20a circuits, not 240/250v ones.
Hopefully, this made the subject of AFCI/GFCI protecting of Appliances a bit clearer. What electrical content do you want to see in a video? Leave a comment in the comment section below. Please continue to follow Electrician U and Dustin as we are constantly adding new content to assist our followers in their electrical careers.