Fast facts

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) are required by the National Electrical Code for certain electrical circuits in the home. Below are some frequently asked questions about AFCIs and the benefits of installing them in your home.

• Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) were created as a direct response to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report conducted by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) that identified an electrical problem in branch circuit wiring systems that was causing numerous residential fires. In 1999, AFCIs became a requirement in the National Electrical Code (NEC ® ). An AFCI breaker provides a higher level of protection than a standard circuit breaker by detecting and stopping a hazardous arcing condition before it can become an electrical fire.
• The 2020 NEC® states that Arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection shall be provided as required in 210.12(A), (B), (C), and (D). The arc-fault circuit interrupter shall be installed in a readily accessible location. (A) Dwelling Units. All 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets or devices installed in dwelling unit kitchens, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, laundry areas, or similar rooms or areas shall be protected by any of the means described in 210.12(A)(1) through (6) Additional information provided in the 2020 NEC
• AFCIs save lives, protect individuals and families from injuries and make homes safer. AFCIs have been thoroughly field-tested. Underwriters Laboratories, the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and other experts have found AFCIs to be reliable and effective. Fire safety groups, firefighters and fire marshals, fire inspectors and burn survivors support AFCIs as a proven technology that is advancing electrical fire safety.
• AFCIs eliminate a significant source of electrically related fires. The National Fire Protection Associationindicates future statistics on AFCIs will demonstrate a reduction in fires of electrical origin and the CPSC estimates more than 50% of electrical fires that occur every year can be prevented by AFCIs. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, electrical residential fires caused nearly 25,000 fires each year between 2017-2019, resulting in hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and more than $1 billion in property loss. Thanks to AFCIs, better construction materials and other fire prevention technologies, this recent data shows a significant decrease in the overall number of electrical residential fires that occur each year with related deaths falling by 15 percent and injuries by 20 percent during that same time. This is compared to a peak of 75,000 electrical residential fires occurring in 1980, according to NFPA.
• From 2006-2010, more than 80 percent of home structure fires involving washers or dryers started in a laundry room or area, per the National Fire Protection Association. The 2014 NEC ® expands the AFCI requirement from bedrooms and other areas of the home into laundry areas and kitchens to provide additional electrical fire protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are AFCIs more expensive than other breakers?

The average cost for an AFCI circuit breaker is $49 or approximately $392 to protect a new 2,000-square-foot, four-bedroom home from electrical fires caused by electrical arcing. (According to 2024 consumer market average of eight AFCI devices found at Home Depot and on Amazon)

That’s $1.09 per month to protect a family from electrical fires over a 30‐year mortgage. In contrast, material and hefty labor costs associated with installing a home builder upgrade like granite countertops averages around $4,500, or $12.50 per month over the same period. The National League of Cities recently indicated home builder “labor and land costs are by far the biggest construction expenses nationwide,” resulting in rapidly rising home prices.

Why are some special interest groups so opposed to expanding the requirement for AFCI installation?

Unfortunately, builders in some states have suggested that new homeowners might be better off putting their construction dollars toward granite countertops, high-end cabinetry or some other amenities versus spending around $300 on installation of a fire prevention technology currently required in 48 states. Burn survivors and fire chiefs have been appalled by that thinking. They recognize AFCIs protect families and prevent deadly and dangerous electrical fires from occurring.

Some have claimed that once AFCIs are installed there will be instances of “false tripping,” is that true?

When AFCIs were first introduced there were some initial tripping issues, however efforts were made to help better educate those in the field on the proper installation of AFCIs and determining the source of the tripping that often revealed the dangerous arcing AFCIs can detect. AFCI manufacturers have also continued to improve AFCIs virtually eliminating past issues.

Where is the evidence that AFCIs actually work?

The CPSC estimates nearly 50 percent of all home electrical fires each year can be prevented with AFCIs. Since arc fault circuit breakers became a requirement in the National Electrical Code in 1999, they have combined with other fire prevention technologies and building materials, to help decrease electrical distribution as the cause of many fires according to the USFA.

Why mandate AFCIs for newer homes when statistics show the majority of problems have occurred in older homes?

Per the NFPA, fire safety officials recommend the use of AFCIs in all dwellings. While it is true that fire statistics in many cases are derived from older dwellings, damage to appliance cords or to wires hidden in a wall can occur regardless of the home’s age. In addition, incorrectly performed electrical installations can occur in both new and old homes. As technology evolves and the NEC is revised, the enhanced level of safety is typically required only in new construction that is subject to the latest adopted edition. Homes wired per the 2017 NEC will have the majority of their circuits protected by AFCIs for the life of the electrical system.

Welcome to AFCISafety.org! This site is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive factual information on Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters and is supported by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association Low Voltage Distribution Equipment Section, comprised of AFCI manufacturers.