If you have had a home inspection on an older home, you may have seen a note about AFCI protection. After GFCI, this is one of the most commonly noted electrical items. Here is a plain explanation of what it means.
What Does AFCI Stand For?
AFCI stands for Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter. Like a GFCI outlet protects against shock hazards from ground faults, an AFCI breaker protects against a different type of hazard: arc faults.
An arc fault occurs when electricity jumps through damaged, worn, or improperly connected wiring. This can happen inside a wall cavity, inside an appliance cord, or in a connection that has loosened over time. Arc faults generate significant heat and can ignite nearby materials without tripping a standard circuit breaker. They are responsible for an estimated 51,000 home electrical fires per year in the United States according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
How Is an AFCI Different from a GFCI?
They protect against different hazards. A GFCI detects current leaking to ground and protects people from shock. An AFCI detects the electrical signature of an arc fault and shuts the circuit down before a fire can start. GFCI protection is installed at the outlet level or as a breaker. AFCI protection is typically installed as a special breaker in the electrical panel.
Where Are AFCIs Required?
Current code requires AFCI protection for circuits serving bedrooms, living areas, dining rooms, hallways, and most finished spaces in the home. The requirement has expanded with each code update, with the most comprehensive requirements in NEC 2017 and 2020.
Homes built before these code updates were in effect are not required to be retrofitted. However, inspectors note the absence of AFCI protection in bedrooms and living areas because it is a real fire safety concern, even if the current configuration was legal when the home was built.
Is It Expensive to Add AFCI Protection?
An AFCI breaker costs $30 to $60 per breaker. Installation by a licensed electrician typically runs $50 to $100 per breaker. Adding AFCI protection to the bedroom circuits of a typical home might cost $300 to $600 total. It is one of the more affordable electrical upgrades available.
Should I Ask the Seller to Add AFCIs?
This depends on the age of the home and what other electrical concerns are present. In an older home with an already outdated panel, the AFCI conversation might be part of a larger electrical discussion. In a newer home without AFCI protection in the required areas, it is a reasonable item to raise.
Your inspector can help you understand which electrical items represent real safety concerns and which are informational notes about code evolution. Schedule your inspection here.