NEMA Currents : AFCI

AFCI’s - A Little Opposition Can be Good

Winstanley, Gerard — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:40:00 GMT

Each cycle of State adoptions of the National Electrical Code ® tends to focus on a couple of key changes in the NEC. For NEC 2008 those key changes are Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) and tamper proof receptacles. Surprisingly this is having significant benefits for the electrical industry. Opposition to these devices has come from state home builders associations who have often used their political connections to sway the decision of the state board responsible for setting the electrical code. Support for these devices have come from fire marshals, electrical inspectors, contractors ESFI, CPSC and others.

For AFCIs the debate has reached TV News and newspapers and on a couple of occasions called for the intervention of Governors. All this has served to educate the public on the benefits of these devices. Homeowners now know there is a device sitting in their home constantly monitoring the circuits for arcing which will shut of the circuit and prevent an electrical fire from starting. Electrical contractors, who initially had concerns about unwanted tripping, have been reassured about the ability of AFCIs to reliably filter out noise and operate when needed. Even home builders are finding that, as buyers focus on value, safety can become a selling point.

For more information of AFCIs please go to www.AFCISafety.org

Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned

Owen, Sarah — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:26:00 GMT

October 4-10 is Fire Prevention Week, and this year's theme is "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned." Sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the focus of this year's Fire Prevention Week activities is on burn awareness and prevention, as well as keeping homes safe from the leading causes of home fires. Last Friday, President Obama signed a proclamation designating Fire Prevention Week. In his proclamation, the president highlighted several steps Americans can take to reduce fire tragedies and burn incidents, including--

Remain attentive while cooking
Properly dispose of all smoking materials
Regularly check and replace smoke alarm batteries
Form an emergency plan and educate children about the proper ways to handle potentially dangerous situations with fire
Avoid severe burns by testing water temperature, remaining aware of open flames, and ensuring that heating elements (such as those in electric stoves, toasters, hair appliances, and space heaters) are secure and operated properly

Additional home fire safety tips are available in NEMA's brochure, Is Your Home's Fire Safety Up to Date?,which also provides recommendations for other life safety measures such as the installation of carbon monoxide detection devices.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), "each year, home electrical fires in the United States are responsible for over 500 deaths, 1,400 injuries, and more than $1.4 billion in property damage. And fire is not the only danger. Thousands of children and adults are critically injured and electrocuted from accidents in their homes annually." Recognizing these dangers, ESFI promotes the value of technology such as arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) and tamper resistant receptacles (TRR), which are designed to prevent tragedy before it occurs. The 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC) has recognized the value of this technology by increasing requirements for AFCI and TRR protection in all new homes. Please visit ESFI's Fire Prevention Week website for more information.

Stay fire smart...don't get burned.

A Year in the Life of the CPSC

Owen, Sarah — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:01:00 GMT

On August 14, 2008, former President George W. Bush signed into law the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-314), landmark legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the the CPSC. At the time, the CPSC was operating with a two-member quorum comprised of one Republican appointee, Commissioner Nancy Nord, and one Democratic appointee, Commissioner Thomas Moore. The small agency had fallen under attack for failing to fulfill its mission to protect the American people, and toys and other children's products were being recalled left and right. With only two members, decisions to act either had to be unanimous or no action could be taken.

What a difference a year makes.

For the past year, the CPSC has been working feverishly to implement CPSIA and interpret Congress' intent with respect to the law, which has resulted in some unintended consequences. In that timeframe, the CPSC has completed dozens of rulemakings and diverted resoures from numerous other activities to focus on these issues. Most importantly, the Commission is now fully operational with five duly appointed and confirmed commissioners. Under the leadership of newly confirmed Chair Inez Moore Tenenbaum, the CPSC is stepping into a new era and is expected to be more robust than ever before. Joining Chair Tenenbaum, Commissioner Moore and Commissioner Nord are the two newest members of the Commission, Anne Northup and Robert S. Adler.

On August 25, the CPSC held a public hearing with all five commissioners for the first time in years, examining its Fiscal Year 2011 priorities and agenda. The Commission heard testimony from nine individuals who outlined what they felt the CPSC should focus on during the upcoming year. Of particular note to the electroindustry were comments made by J. William Degnan, a member of the board of the National Association of State Fire Marshals, stressing the need for the CPSC to refocus some of its attention on fire and carbon monoxide hazards and to more fully participate in voluntary standards activities, including those for carbon monoxide alarms, arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), extension cords, and the National Electrical Code.

I was impressed by the commissioners' collective receptivity to the suggestions offered. There seems to be a true desire on the part of the commissioners to work constructively with industry to advance safety.

NEC 2008 – Half time report

Winstanley, Gerard — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:26:00 GMT

We are half way through the States adoption process for the 2008 National Electrical Code®. This code cycle has seen opposition has come from the beleaguered home builders on two issues - expanded use of Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) and tamper proof outlets. The home builders claim that the additional cost for these devices will hurt an already depressed industry.

The half time report is in with 28 states having completed their adoption processes. For AFCIs 23 states chose to adopt the NEC 2008 requirements. Three states, which did not have any AFCI requirements previously, have moved to NEC 2005 requirements for AFCIs in bedrooms. So who is in the cellar? Indiana has the dubious distinction of being the only state having no AFCI requirements whatsoever.

Key players in persuading the states to adopt NEC 2008 without changes have been local representatives of the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the National Electrical Contractors Association, a codnsumer organizations as well as The Electrical Safety Foundation International. Support these groups as they work to encourage the remaining states to adopt the NEC 2008.

For more information on AFCIs see: AFCISafety.org.

Hoosiers Misfire...on Electrical Safety

Owen, Sarah — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:50:00 GMT

As a born-and-bred Hoosier, I'm generally proud of my home state and the common-sense values the people of Indiana hold. But when I read NEMA Field Representative Don Iverson's report on Indiana's adoption of the 2008 Nationel Electrical Code, I was dismayed to learn that the state's Department of Homeland Security decided to compromise on electrical safety by recommending the deletion of arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI), ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), and tamper-resistant receptacles protections.

AFCIs, GFCIs, and tamper-resistant receptacles work effectively to detect dangerous electrical problems in the home and prevent electrical fires. I realize budget times are bad, but does Indiana really want the distinction of being the only state in the country to not have AFCI protection? I don't think so - Indiana homeowners, like homeowners in every other state across this nation, deserve the safest homes possible.

I hope this legislation - and not my loved ones' homes - goes down in flames.

Electrical Safety – Ohio Back on Track.

Winstanley, Gerard — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:40:00 GMT

Common sense won the day as the Ohio Board of Building Standards voted for a second time to adopt the 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC) on December 12^th . This cleared up a confused year in which Governor Stickland succumbed to pressure from the Home Builder's Association of Ohio and signed an emergency order reversing the board's earlier approval of the NEC 2008 and calling for public hearings. Fortunately those public hearings only strengthened the case for the Adoption of NEC 2008 with the additional safety requirements for Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters and tamper proof receptacles. Congratulations to the officials of Ohio for resisting the political maneuverings and coming down on the side of electrical safety.

Kentucky Home Builders Kill Electrical Safety Bill Despite Overwhelming Public Support

Winstanley, Gerard — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:14:00 GMT

Television viewers in Louisville overwhelmingly believe new homes built in Kentucky should require electrical safety features that help prevent fires and protect children from severe shock and burns, according to an online poll by Louisville television station WHAS-11.The poll was conducted after the Home Builders Association of Kentucky (HBAK) managed to persuade the Kentucky Board of Housing, Buildings and Construction to reverse its earlier unanimous decision to adopt the 2008 National Electric Code. HKAK objected to the requirements in the 2008 NEC, which expands the use of arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), an electronic form of circuit breaker designed to detect and prevent home electrical fires, and requires the installation of tamper proof receptacles that prevent children from sticking items into the slots of electrical outlets. Ninety percent of respondents responded "yes" to the question, "Do you think electrical safety features should be required for new homes?" Some of the comments left by respondents include:

"I feel that the department of building and housing is taking a MAJOR step backwards in fire safety and shock safety...saving a few dollars does not account for someone losing their life."

"Some people, regardless of facts and statistics, continue to close their eyes and minds to these important fire and life safety features."

"If it just saves one life, it's worth it...It seems like everything is coming down to money, not safety."

"It is amazing to what extent the Home Builders Association will go to fight Safety."

Kentucky fire chiefs, safety experts and the public all agree that the 2008 NEC would be a big step forward in electrical safety. How could the Kentucky Board of Housing, Buildings and Construction ignore them? Is saving a few dollars worth the inevitable loss of life?

Life and Property at Risk in Clash over Code Adoption

Lindsay, Christopher — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:28:00 GMT

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has learned that Ohio Governor Ted Strickland will be presented with an Emergency Order to annul the recent state adoption of the 2008 National Electrical Code by the Board of Building Standards. ESFI encourages residents of Ohio to call the governor's office to let him know they support the life-saving and fire-preventing measures included in the new electrical code.

At issue are Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI). AFCIs are advanced electronic circuit breakers that detect dangerous conditions in a home's wiring. When a problem is detected, these devices immediately cut the power to the circuit before a fire can start. AFCI technology is endorsed by the United States Fire Administration, the National Fire Protection Association, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the National Association of State Fire Marshals, as well as other safety and fire fighting organizations across the country.

"Use of AFCI technology will reduce the number of home fires by almost 30,000, saving hundreds of lives, preventing thousands of injuries, and stopping nearly $750 million in property damage each year," notes Brett Brenner, ESFI president. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Healthy Homes report lists the lack of AFCIs among the primary residential hazards associated with burns and fire-related injuries.

In seeking the annulment, the Board of Building Standards stated the increased cost of AFCIs over conventional circuit breakers will make new homes unaffordable. In actuality, the additional cost is estimated to be $300-$400 for the average new home. The new 2008 National Electrical Code simply expands the use of AFCIs from the bedrooms-only requirement, effective in 2002 version of the Code, to most living areas of the home. ESFI encourages the adoption of the 2008 National Electric Code by every state, so communities can take advantage of AFCIs and the higher level of fire protection they offer.

For further information about AFCIs and other electrical safety products, visit ESFI's web site: http://www.electrical-safety.org/.

Ohio at the forefront of electrical safety

Winstanley, Gerard — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:26:00 GMT

Ohio’s recent adoption of the 2008 National Electrical Code^® (NEC^®) is a prime example of the state’s Board of Building Standards continuing to make home safety a top priority in the Buckeye State. Unfortunately not everyone agrees. It appears that the Ohio Home Builders Association (OHBA) would prefer that the state operate using outdated electrical codes rather than heed the advice of a growing list of prominent fire and electrical safety groups that support the 2008 NEC^®requirements.

A key change, among others, in the 2008 NEC is the expansion of the requirement for arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). Previously required in bedrooms, the updated code expands the use of AFCI circuit breakers to protect other living areas in the home, which could have a significant impact on the number of lives and property lost in residential electrical fires. NEMA has developed a Web site, www.AFCIsafety.org, to educate consumers about this important safety device.

The OHBA’s ill-conceived petition to rescind the AFCI and other updated 2008 NEC^®requirements from Ohio’s electrical code speaks volumes about the value it puts on homeowner safety. Saving a few bucks is more of a concern for the HBA than the welfare of the families its members serve. Putting electrical safety on the backburner may not be the best business practice if you’re in an industry that prides itself on having “a long and honorable tradition in American culture.”

The Ohio Board of Building Standards should be commended for adopting the 2008 NEC^®. Let’s hope they see past the HBA’s continued attempts to misrepresent the facts. With these updated and potentially live-saving electrical codes in place, new homeowners in Ohio can rest easy knowing their homes and families are safe from fires and other dangerous electrical hazards. Ohio homeowners deserve nothing less.

Wisconsin media poll shows 4-to-1 support for requiring Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters in State Building Code

Winstanley, Gerard — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:20:00 GMT

More than 80 percent of Daily Reporter poll respondents favor innovative safety device

Readers of The Daily Reporter overwhelmingly believe the State of Wisconsin building code should require arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), according to a recent online poll by the building and construction newspaper. An AFCI is an advanced form of a simple circuit breaker that detects a dangerous condition in a home’s electrical system, which left uncorrected, can lead to an electrical fire.

Results of The Daily Reporter survey ran strongly in favor of the innovative safety device with a whopping 82 percent of respondents answering yes to the question, “Should state building codes require the more expensive arc-fault circuit interrupters?”

While not scientific, The Daily Reporter poll illustrates the importance of and support for this potentially life-saving device. When comparing the value of AFCIs to the hundreds of millions of dollars lost in electrical fires each year, saving a human life or preventing injury or property loss is well worth the cost of additional protection in the home, and certainly well worth the investment.

To learn more about AFCIs log on to www.AFCISafety.org