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Article
NEC requirement
The section has been reorganized with new first-level subdivisions including the following:
(A) Means of Protection
(B) Dwelling Units
(C) Dormitory Units
(D) Other Occupancies
(E) Branch Circuit Wiring Extensions, Modifications, or Replacements
The section added AFCI requirements for 10 A branch circuits. The 10 A molded case circuit breaker exists but a 10 A AFCI circuit breaker and a 10 A receptacle do not. Requirements found in 210.23(A)(2) do not permit a 10 A circuit breaker on a branch circuit serving receptacles.
AFCI requirements were expanded to now include areas designed for use exclusively as sleeping quarters in fire stations, police stations, ambulance stations, rescue stations, ranger stations, and similar locations.
NEC 2023 code change/intention
NEC 2023 include the following changes to 210.12:
1. The acronym AFCI is used to replace Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter
2. The AFCI is required to be listed
3. The section was modified for clarity and arranged in five different first level subdivisions including
a. (A) Means of protection
b. (B) Dwelling Units
c. (C) Dormitory Units
d. (D) Other Occupancies
e. (E) Branch circuit Wiring Extensions, Modifications, or Replacements
4. Requirement to protect a 10 Ampere circuit was added
5. AFCIs have been expanded to areas designed for use exclusively as sleeping quarters in fire stations, police stations, ambulance stations, rescue stations, ranger stations, and similar locations
Rationale for change
The section added AFCI requirements for 10 A branch circuits, which was a push by copper-clad aluminum (CCA) conductor manufacturers seeking a 10 A ampacity for 14 AWG CCA conductors. The 10 A molded case circuit breaker exists but a 10 A AFCI circuit breaker and a 10 A receptacle do not exist. Requirements found in 210.23(A)(2) do not permit a 10 A circuit breaker on a branch circuit serving receptacles.
Expansion to areas designed for use exclusively as sleeping quarters in fire stations, police stations, ambulance stations, rescue stations, ranger stations, and similar locations was made as these locations are no different than areas in dwelling units.
