c)
General requirements for installing electrical products and systems are described in
NECA 1-2006,
Standard Practices for Good workmanship in Electrical Construction
(ANSI)
.
Other
National Electrical Installation Standards
provide additional guidance for
installing particular types of electrical products and systems. A complete list of
NEIS
is
provided in Annex A.
2. Definitions
Arc.
The discharge of electricity over an insulating medium, such as air.
Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI).
A device intended to provide protection from the
effects of arc-faults by recognizing characteristics unique to arcing and by functioning to de-
energize the circuit when an arc-fault is detected. AFCIs are rated 15 A and 20 A, and 120
Volts.
Branch/Feeder AFCI.
An AFCI that is intended to be installed at the origin of the feeder or
branch circuit and provides protection of feeder and branch-circuit wiring. A branch/feeder
AFCI can be a circuit breaker-type AFCI installed in the panelboard, or an AFCI device installed
in its own enclosure mounted at or near the panelboard.
Circuit Breaker-Type AFCI
. An AFCI that is integrated into a circuit breaker that is designed
for installation in a panelboard. A circuit breaker-type AFCI protects the circuit by
disconnecting the circuit for arc-faults, overloads, and short-circuits.
Circuit Breaker-Type GFCI
. A GFCI that is integrated into a circuit breaker that is designed
for installation in a panelboard. A circuit breaker-type GFCI protects the circuit by
disconnecting the circuit for overloads, and short-circuits, and protects personnel by
disconnecting the circuit for ground-faults occurring anywhere on the circuit downstream of the
device.
Combination-Type AFCI.
An AFCI intended to comply with the requirements for both
branch/feeder AFCIs that protect downstream feeder and branch circuit wiring, and outlet circuit
AFCIs that protect cord sets and power-supply cords.
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).
Circuitry designed to protect personnel from
electrocution when contact between a live part of the protected circuit and ground causes current
to flow through the body. A GFCI continually monitors the flow of current on the phase and
neutral conductors and instantaneously disconnects the circuit when a current imbalance between
the phase and neutral conductors is equal to or higher than the calibration point (4 mA to 6 mA)
flows from the protected circuit to ground.
Outlet Circuit AFCI
. An AFCI that is integrated into a receptacle that is designed for
installation at a branch-circuit outlet, such as at an outlet box, and is intended to provide
protection of cord sets and power-supply cords connected to it against the effects of arc-faults. A
