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Standard Breaker vs AFCI vs GFCI

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ControlThis

Electrical
Aug 9, 2007
27
I'm baffled on something pertaining to selection of breakers for a new residential panel. In the NEC2008, the location requirements for AFCI protection have grown substantially. My question is this: With all the places that an AFCI or GFCI are required, where can you still use the standard 5 or 10 dollar breaker?
 
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I'm not familiar enough with the new AFCI requirements, but I think most GFCI requirements have been met with GFCI receptacles and standard breakers.
 
The AFCIs are required, by the 2008 code, to protect the circuits that supply power to outlets that are installed in dwelling unit family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms.
This leaves the kitchen, bathroom, basement, attic, garage and outside circuits to use the standard type of breaker. In a typical dwelling unit I would guess that about 50 to 60% of the breakers would be AFCI breakers. As stated by jghrist most of the required GFCI protection in dwelling units is provided by GFCI receptacles as they are much cheaper than a GFCI breaker.
 
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