scope:

This standard describes the installation and maintenance procedures for Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) and Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs).

Products and Applications Included

This standard covers the installation and maintenance of Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) and Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) permanently installed on building premises wiring systems for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. It applies to:

• Listed combination type AFCIs and listed outlet branch-circuit type (OBC) AFCIs for new installations, for replacement in existing installations, and for new branch-circuit extensions in existing installations

• Listed GFCIs and dead-front GFCIs for new installations, for replacement in existing installations, and for new branch-circuit extensions in existing installations

Products and Applications Excluded

This standard does not apply to:

• Temporary installations and portable power distribution units

• Portable wiring or equipment

• Cord-connected AFCIs and GFCIs, and listed Portable GFCIs used in temporary installations or to supply portable wiring or equipment

• AFCIs and GFCIs required in mobile homes, manufactured homes, or mobile home parks

• AFCIs required in cord-and-plug connected air conditioning units

• Ground-fault protection of equipment. NOTE: Ground-fault protection of equipment (GFPE) is a system intended to provide protection of equipment from damaging line-to-ground fault currents by operating to cause a disconnecting means to open all ungrounded conductors of the faulted circuit. GFPE is provided at current levels less than those required to protect conductors from damage through the operation of a supply circuit overcurrent device. GFPE is also provided at current levels much higher than are necessary to prevent shock hazard to personnel.

• Personnel ground-fault protection for electric vehicle charging systems

Regulatory and Other Requirements

All information in this publication is intended to conform to the NEC (ANSI/NFPA 70). Installers shall follow the NEC, applicable state and local codes, manufacturer instructions, and contract documents when installing and maintaining AFCIs and GFCIs.

Only qualified persons as defined in the NEC familiar with the construction, installation, and operation of AFCIs and GFCIs shall perform the technical work described in this publication. Administrative functions such as receiving, handling, and storing AFCIs and GFCIs and other tasks may be performed under the supervision of a qualified person. All work shall be performed in accordance with NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.

General requirements for installing electrical products and systems are described in NECA 1, Standard for Good Workmanship in Electrical Construction (ANSI). Other NEIS provide additional guidance for installing particular types of electrical products and systems. A complete list of NEIS is provided in Annex B.

Mandatory Requirements, Permissive Requirements, Quality and Performance Recommendations, Explanatory Material, and Informative Annexes

Mandatory requirements in manufacturer instructions, or of Codes or other mandatory Standards that may or not be adopted into law, are those that identify actions that are specifically required or prohibited and are characterized by the use of the terms "must" or "must not," "shall" or "shall not," or "may not," or "are not permitted," or "are required," or by the use of positive phrasing of mandatory requirements. Examples of mandatory requirements may equally take the form of, "equipment must be protected . . .," "equipment shall be protected . . .," or "protect equipment . . .," with the latter interpreted (understood) as "(it is necessary to) protect equipment . . ."

Permissive requirements of manufacturer instructions, or of Codes or other mandatory Standards that may or not be adopted into law, are those that identify actions that that are allowed but not required, or are normally used to describe options or alternative means and methods, and are characterized in this Standard by the use of the terms "may," or "are permitted," or "are not required."

Quality and performance recommendations identity actions that are recommended or not recommended to improve the overall quality or performance of the installation and are characterized by the use of the term "should" or "should not."

Explanatory material, such as references to other Codes, Standards, or documents, references to related sections of this Standard, information related to another Code, Standard, or document, and supplemental application and design information and data, is included throughout this Standard to expand the understanding of mandatory requirements, permissive requirements, and quality and performance recommendations. Such explanatory material is included for information only, and is identified by the use of the term "NOTE," or by the use of italicized text.

Non-mandatory information and other reference standards or documents relative to the application and use of materials, equipment, and systems covered by this Standard are provided in informative annexes. Informative annexes are not part of the enforceable requirements of this Standard, but are included for information purposes only.