Could electrical accidents be prevented? When it comes to electrical safety, what you don’t know can hurt you. AFCI and GFCI Outlets; What to Know!
Is your home or business missing these crucial electrical safety devices?
Differences Between AFCI and GFCI Outlets –
GFCI Outlets
GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter. A GFCI is required in any areas with an increased risk of shock due to electrical hazards, such as water. In order to protect you from electrical hazards, a GFCI monitors electrical current, turning off an electrical circuit when it detects an imbalance – current flowing along an unintended path. GFCIs required for use in:
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- Laundry and utility rooms
- Garages
- Crawlspaces and unfinished basements
- Wet bars
- The exterior of your home/business
- Spa and pool areas
Note: Never use GFCI outlets with refrigerators, freezers, or other appliances, as they could trip without your knowledge.
AFCI Outlets
AFCIs stand for arc-fault circuit interrupters, and they protect you from electrical dangers, but of a different variety – those that create heat via arcing. AFCIs detect this arcing, shutting down outlets before damage can occur. They are not found in wall receptacles like GFCIs, but instead are easily incorporated into your home or business’ main service panel in the form of specialized circuit breakers. AFCIs are required in:
- Bedrooms
- Any sleeping area: dens, foldout couches, etc.
- Kitchens
- Laundry areas
Do I really need to upgrade my outlets and breakers?
Though you may have an older home or business where building codes do not require these outlets, proper home safety does. With these devices being so easy and inexpensive to install, why wouldn’t you want to protect yourself and others from the unnecessary electrical hazards overlooking them presents?
Recent electrical code updates regarding these devices you may not be aware of:
As of 2014, the National Electric Code (NEC), the nation’s singular code for safe electrical installation, has added the following standards for the safety of your home or business:
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GFCI protection for laundry areas
All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in a laundry room now require GFCI protection, whether or not a sink is present.
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GFCI protection for kitchen dishwashers
As dishwashers age, the risk of electrical shock increases, thus the latest requirement for GFCI protection on all dishwashers, whether they use a receptacle outlet or are hardwired in.
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AFCI protection for kitchen and laundry areas
As of 2014, the NEC has recently added kitchen and laundry areas to the list of areas requiring AFCI protection. This includes all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying not just outlets but also devices found in these rooms.
What You Need to Know About AFCI and GFCI Outlets!
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