Comb AFCI /circuit breaker used for kitchen electrical

Specific Inspection Topics Electrical Inspections
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New construction home, dishwasher has no power, GFCI’s all through house dont work. Haven’t seen the use of comb AFCI/breakers for all circuits before…would this be an issue?

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If you have checked ALL of the GFCIs, the above is a good narrative when you add; “have a qualified electrician investigate cause and make corrections as needed”.

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Are you saying that none of the GFCI receptacles in the house work? They may need to be reset first, it takes quite a bit of force to set them the first time that they are energized (I use a small screwdriver). AFCI circuit breakers will not affect the GFCI operation.

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Actually, I misspoke. GFI’s in bathrooms and garage work. Kitchen receptacles are Non-GFI, but circuit is on these combo breakers. Thinking they put these in, instead of GFI breakers…

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I don’t see where those circuit breakers are also listed as for GFCI protection, do you have a reference?

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No GFCI protection in the kitchen is an issue, the latest code edition requires all circuits in the home (except garage and bathroom outlets) to be AFCI protected. The addition of AFCI protection to areas such as kitchen and laundry which were already required to be GFCI protected seems to have created a problem for the electricians around here. The dishwasher is also now required to be GFCI/AFCI protected. The combo GFCI/AFCI (purple button on Square D) breakers are common here in new construction.
2017 Florida Building Codes Residential:
E3902.10 Kitchen dishwasher branch circuit.
Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection shall be provided for outlets that supply dishwashers in dwelling unit locations. [210.8(D)]

E3902.16 Arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection.

Branch circuits that supply 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere outlets installed in kitchens, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sun-rooms, recreations rooms, closets, hallways, laundry areas and similar rooms or areas shall be protected by any of the following: [210.12(A)]

  1. 1.A listed combination-type arc-fault circuit interrupter, installed to provide protection of the entire branch circuit. [210.12(A)(1)]
  2. 2.A listed branch/feeder-type AFCI installed at the origin of the branch-circuit in combination with a listed outlet branch-circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed at the first outlet box on the branch circuit. The first outlet box in the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet of the circuit. [210.12(A)(2)]
  3. 3.A listed supplemental arc protection circuit breaker installed at the origin of the branch circuit in combination with a listed outlet branch-circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed at the first outlet box on the branch circuit where all of the following conditions are met:
  4. 3.1.The branch-circuit wiring shall be continuous from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the outlet branch-circuit arc-fault circuit interrupter.
  5. 3.2.The maximum length of the branch-circuit wiring from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the first outlet shall not exceed 50 feet (15.2 m) for 14 AWG conductors and 70 feet (21.3 m) for 12 AWG conductors.
  6. 3.3.The first outlet box on the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet on the circuit. [210.12(A)(3)]
  7. 4.A listed outlet branch-circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed at the first outlet on the branch circuit in combination with a listed branch-circuit overcurrent protective device where all of the following conditions are met:
  8. 4.1.The branch-circuit wiring shall be continuous from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the outlet branch-circuit arc-fault circuit interrupter.
  9. 4.2.The maximum length of the branch-circuit wiring from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the first outlet shall not exceed 50 feet (15.2 m) for 14 AWG conductors and 70 feet (21.3 m) for 12 AWG conductors.
  10. 4.3.The first outlet box on the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet on the circuit.
  11. 4.4.The combination of the branch-circuit overcurrent device and outlet branch-circuit AFCI shall be identified as meeting the requirements for a system combination-type AFCI and shall be listed as such. [210.12(A)(4)]
  12. 5.Where metal outlet boxes and junction boxes and RMC, IMC, EMT, Type MC or steel-armored Type AC cables meeting the requirements of Section E3908.8, metal wireways or metal auxiliary gutters are installed for the portion of the branch circuit between the branch-circuit overcurrent device and the first outlet, a listed outlet branch-circuit type AFCI installed at the first outlet shall be considered as providing protection for the remaining portion of the branch circuit. [210.12(A)(5)]
  13. 6.Where a listed metal or nonmetallic conduit or tubing or Type MC cable is encased in not less than 2 inches (50.8 mm) of concrete for the portion of the branch circuit between the branch-circuit overcurrent device and the first outlet, a listed outlet branch-circuit type AFCI installed at the first outlet shall be considered as providing protection for the remaining portion of the branch circuit. [210.12(A)(6)]

Exception: AFCI protection is not required for an individual branch circuit supplying only a fire alarm system where the branch circuit is wired with metal outlet and junction boxes and RMC, IMC, EMT or steel-sheathed armored cable Type AC or Type MC meeting the requirements of [Section E3908.8]

Does my kitchen require Ground Fault Circuit Interruption (GFCI) protection?
Is Arch Fault Circuit Interruption (AFCI) required in kithcens?
What are AFCI/GFCI requirements?
What are GFCI Requirements?
What are AFCI requirements?
Does my dishwasher need GFCI?

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They should be AFCI/GFCI breakers for the kitchen and laundry… or AFCI with a GFCI outlet at the head of the run for the kitchen. See above.

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There may be a GFCI outlet installed.

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I’m thinking they meant to install combo AFCI/GFCI breakers for the kitchen… New stove/range digital display shows an electrical error code as well. Sparky may be busy when he comes back to this house.

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If they’re both AFCI and GFCI they should be labeled dual function.

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Dave and Robert have it… :smile:

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The word “combo” on the CB can be confusing as one may think that it is a combination of AFCI and GFCI protection. Actually the word combo in this context refers to the fact that the AFCI device can detect both series and parallel arc faults. As noted earlier AFCI/GFCI devices are labeled Dual Function.

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So, in a nutshell: The circuits that you are referencing require both AFCI and GFCI protection. They have AFCI protection but lack GFCI protection. It can typically be accomplished by either replacing the breakers with combo AFCI/GFCI breakers or by installing GFCI receptacles in combination with the breakers that are already there (provide they will meet accessibility requirements).

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A lot of people think combination ARC fault means AFCI and GFCI confusing Combination Arc fault for dual function breakers. Combination Arc fault breakers just means it cover a parallel arc and a series arc. so the person that installed them may have thought they were getting arc and ground fault.

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