If you have not done electrical work for a few years you may be surprised by this requirement.
Kitchen outlets afci. This includes all 120 volt single phase 15 and 20 ampere branch circuits supplying not just outlets but also devices found in these rooms. Modifications or extension to an existing branch circuit nec 210 12 b afci protection needs to be added when modifying or extending existing branch circuits in locations designated in 210 12 a. Afci arc fault circuit interrupter protection applies to all 120 volt circuits in the kitchen. One properly wired afci outlet will protect all the other 20 amp outlets downstream.
In addition there. Where receptacles are installed within 6 ft. The national electrical code nec requires arc fault circuit interrupters afci and ground fault circuit interrupters gfci for certain electrical circuits in your home including the kitchen. Unfinished basements unless the receptacle is on a dedicated circuit and used to supply a burglar alarm.
Gfci outlets protect people from electrical shock by monitoring the amount of electricity being transmitted to the device and cutting power whenever. 1 8m of the outside edge of bathtub and shower. As of 2014 the nec has recently added kitchen and laundry areas to the list of areas requiring afci protection. It makes sense to me to not have the fridge on gfci though.
Afci protection for all 15a and 20a 120v branch circuits outlets in designated locations. Small appliance circuit countertop space wall and hallway space. A homeowner s guide to kitchen outlets. Of course the two small appliance branch circuits long required in kitchens need gfci protection.
As we ve seen the nec now requires afci protection in kitchen and laundry areas. The nec requires the kitchen to have at least two 120 volt 120v 20 ampere 20a small appliance branch circuits for receptacles. At one point only outdoor outlets needed gfci protection. Other circuits in the kitchen include microwave fridge and dishwasher.
This protects against the risk of arc faults leading to fires. In this example we re working with a kitchen circuit that already has gfci protection at some point upstream which means that we only need to install a receptacle that has afci protection. 1 8m of sinks in other than kitchens. But in the 2014 nec new section 210 8 a 10 now requires gfci protection in laundry areas and new section 210 8 d now requires gfci protection of the.
All 15 amp and 20 amp outlets whether gfci or not must be tamper resistant in the following kitchen related places. Kitchens where the receptacles serve coutertop surfaces. Where a receptacle is within 6 ft. Over the years the nec has required.