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 2026 edition of the NEC®, Section 210.12 requires arc-fault circuit-interrupter (AFCI) protection for all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets or devices in almost every room of a residential home including 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.
- AFCIs save lives, protect individuals and families from injuries and make homes safer. AFCIs have been thoroughly field-tested. Underwriters Laboratories (UL), 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 Association indicates 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® expanded 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
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 a 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.
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 $392 on AFCI fire prevention technology that will protect a 2,000 sq. ft. 4-bedroom home from electrical fires. AFCI use is currently required in 48 states. Burn survivors and fire chiefs are appalled that eliminating or cutting back on safety requirements is being done to make homes more affordable. They recognize AFCIs protect families and prevent deadly and dangerous electrical fires from occurring.
When AFCIs were first introduced there were some initial tripping issues, however, efforts were made to help 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. The NEC has also continued to expand AFCI requirements throughout the home proving the technology works and prevents electrical fires from occurring.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (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.
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 2026 NEC now have the majority of their circuits protected by AFCIs for the life of the electrical system.