NEMA BS 31026-2023

This paper discusses the 15A and 20A AFCI protection of branch circuits that are utilized by cord and plug connected appliances and will provide perspective on the breadth of appliances currently protected by AFCIs. This will include a review of the number and types of appliances that are being protected along with how that data is determined. A review of the testing procedures and types of appliances tested will also be detailed in this document along with the number of test cases. Finally, a 2022 electrical contractor survey conducted by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) on AFCI- and GFCI-protected circuits in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be presented [1]. The details of the ESFI research results will be addressed as they pertain to the topic of this paper.