AFCI Needed?

JamesNLA

Got a small remodel comming up.
New FAU going in, and we are making an opening in the master bedroom, for a pocket door. That will open up to a new walk-in closet.

None of the existing electrical in the master will be touched. However we're doing some cans in the walk-in as well as recepts. The circuit feeding this will be a home run. The FAU needs a new circuit, so may as well run one for the new work. My question is does the breaker feeding the walk-in need to be an AFCI?

mdshunk

In the strictest interpretation of the code, no. In my area, rooms like walk in closets and master baths do not require AFCI's. I generally AFCI my walk in closets by default, because I'm catching them off the bedroom circuit, and not because the code compells this. I know that Washington State, for instance, modified their AFCI requirements to include any room accessible only through a bedroom. This encompasses spaces like master suite seating rooms, master baths, and walk in closets. I've heard inspectors going both ways on the walk in closet issue. Best to call your inspector guy, would be my conservative advice. On the other hand, the worst thing they'll do is red tag you, you stick in an AFCI, reinspect, and you're good. Just depends on how much your reinspect fee is whether you'd want to call first and ask or not.

SmithBuilt

What is a FAU?

mdshunk

Forced Air Unit, aka air handler.

Sometimes you'll also hear RTU, for roof top unit and AHU for Air Handling Unit.

Liquid Force

No they don't, UNLESS the switch for the cans is outside the closet, which is usually the case. Then that switch would have to be afi protected, and hence the cans would be to... btw you need shower trims because you can't have open bulb fixtures in a closet, unless they are flourescent

mdshunk

Profoundly false, as the switch is not an outlet. If that is a pilot light switch, then you are correct. An ordinary switch, not so.