What You Should Know About AFCI & GFCI Outlets

Across the United States, nearly 4,500 people are hurt and more than 500 die each year from electrical accidents.. Plus an additional percentage die in electrical fires.  As a result,  there is over $1.7B in property damage every year due to these electrical accidents. Could these injuries and accidents be avoided?  When it comes to safety with electricity, what you do not know can kill or hurt you.

Is your business or home missing these critical electrical safety apparatuses?

GFCI Outlets

GFCI means for ground fault circuit interrupter.  A GFCI outlet is required by electrical code in any area with a heightened risk of shock due to electrical dangers, such as H2O. In order to safeguard you from electrical dangers, a GFCI assesses electrical current, shutting off the electrical circuit when it senses an electrical imbalance, which is electrical current flowing in an undesired path. Envision GFCI as a very sensitive but small circuit breaker designed into the outlet itself to safeguard you from electrical shock.  This is even the case with outlets that are ungrounded. GFCI outlets are required by code for these areas:

• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Garages
• Wet bars
• Utility rooms and laundry
• Unfinished basements and crawlspaces
• Exteriors
• Pool and hot tub areas

Note: Do not use GFCI outlets with freezers, refrigerators, or other appliances.  They could trip without you knowledge causing food spoilage.

AFCI Outlets

AFCI outlet is the acronym for arc-fault circuit interrupters, which protect you from electrical hazards but in a different way.  AFCIs protect you by creating heat via arcing. An example would be a mouse chewing into a wire, hitting a nail into a wire, or equipment overheating that is plugged into the outlet. AFCIs sense this electrical arcing and shut down electrical outlets before damage can happen. However, AFCIs are not built into wall receptacles like GFCIs but are instead built into your business or home's main electrical service panel in the form of unique circuit breakers. AFCIs are required by code in:

• Any sleeping area: dens, etc.
• Kitchens
• Bedrooms
• Laundry rooms

Should I upgrade my breakers and outlets?

​If you have an older business or home electrical codes don't require GFCI and AFCI  outlets, prudent home safety should. Normal outlets and circuit breakers are built to protect the structure's electrical system, but not human lives. Given these modern devices being so inexpensive and easy to install, why would you not want to safeguard yourself and family members from the electrical hazards?

​New electrical code updates pertaining to these devices that you may not be aware of:
As of 2015, the National Electric Code (NEC), the nation’s singular source for safe electrical installation codes, has bolstered the following standards for the protection of your business or home:

GFCI protection for laundry rooms
All 125v, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere outlets installed in laundry rooms now require the protection of GFCI, regardless if a sink is present or not.  

GFCI protection for dishwashers
As dishwashers get older, the risk of electrocution increases, therefore the newest requirement for GFCI on all dishwashers has been established, regardless if they are hardwired or use an outlet. 

AFCI protection for  laundry and kitchen areas
As of 2015, NEC has most recently included laundry and kitchen areas to the list of areas mandating AFCI safeguards. This includes all 120-v, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying current not to just electrical outlets but also to the devices located in these areas,

Concerned about how unsafe you business or home may be from electrical issues?   Do not risk these dangers by ignoring the requirement for these life-saving yet inexpensive improvements to your home or business's electrical system.  Contact Dayton Electric today.