Safe and Sound: Leviton’s Dual-Function AFCI/GFCI Products
In the proper applications, Leviton’s combined AFCI/GFCI unit protects against fire and shock right at the receptacle level
While May is Electrical Safety Month, electrical distributors know that safety is paramount every day of the year. And nothing can help ensure electrical safety or provide greater peace of mind to contractors and homeowners than Leviton’s dual-function AFCI/GFCI products, which provide both arc fault protection from fire and ground fault protection from shock when used in the appropriate applications.
An Ounce of Prevention
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, firefighters responded to nearly 24,000 electrical-related fires in American homes in 2023 -- incidents which resulted in 305 deaths, 800 injuries, and over $1.5 billion in damages. Tragically, all of these levels have been on the rise over the past decade.
“Electrical malfunctions can be caused by a variety of factors, but at the end of the day it’s cheaper to prevent an electrical malfunction than to repair one, and it’s much safer for people and property overall,” confirmed Janet Quarles, Construction Technical Specialist at Leviton. “Leviton’s line of dual-function AFCI/GFCI receptacles help provide the utmost safety and convenience right at the receptacle level.”
According to Quarles, the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) prescribes arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection for specific branch circuits in dwelling units, dormitory units, and other occupancies and is required for new or modified wiring in designated areas, such as kitchens, family rooms, and bedrooms. Additionally, ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection is required in all kitchens, bathrooms, garages, basements, laundry areas, and spaces with sinks; the NEC 2023 further extends GFCI protection to outdoor outlets in garages, accessory buildings, and boathouses.
“Many electricians aren’t aware that a combination device like ours exists for use at the receptacle level under specific circumstances and they’ll apply a solution at the breaker to satisfy code requirements,” Quarles said. “However, a combination AFCI/GFCI unit at the receptacle level is an excellent way to prevent arc and ground faults in specific applications involving renovations/modifications to the branch circuit or in new construction settings where type AC/MC metal conduit is run. In those particular cases, Leviton’s easy-to-use, dual-function AFCI/GFCI unit is a great solution.”
“Though Leviton’s combined AFCI/GFCI unit looks just like a standard GFCI, when used in the aforementioned applications it also fully protects a home by addressing both parallel and series arc faults,” Quarles continued. “In these circumstances, our combined unit
also offers the ease of a GFCI based on its ability to be reset locally in the event of nuisance/false tripping, which is much more convenient than walking outside or down the basement to reset the breaker.”
“In the right applications, Leviton’s dual-function AFCI/GFCI – which is about the same price as a GFCI but offers so much more protection – is an excellent investment and a great way for contractors to help homeowners prevent emergencies they didn’t know were coming,” Quarles said.
Beyond residential use, she added, “Leviton also offers a 20-amp version of this product for use in commercial and industrial applications.”
A Premier Product for Distributors
“Contractors have to comply with the code and there are a couple of ways they can go about it, but the use of Leviton’s combination AFCI/GFCI unit at the receptacle level is often the most cost-effective way to protect against both arc and ground faults in specific retrofit applications,” Quarles confirmed. “And because these units can be conveniently reset right at the point of use, they’ll avoid the nuisance tripping that could otherwise shut down the breaker at the panel level as a safety precaution and require a contractor’s involvement if it happens frequently.”
Quarles noted that a complete emergency preparedness solution includes surge protection at the panel at a minimum, though a layered solution including point-of-use (Level 3) is most advisable, as this provides protection from exterior surge faults such as lighting strikes or service “brown outs” while also protecting from internal surges generated by modern electric appliances and electronics.
“For complete protection in the home, you need ground fault protection, arc fault protection, and surge protection, and Leviton offers all of this through its combined AFCI/GFCI products, receptacle surge products, and surge strips and external surges for the panel,” Quarles said. “We encourage distributors to make these products part of their regular dialogue with contractors in order to help ensure their customers’ everyday safety and emergency preparedness.”
For more information visit Leviton’s dual-combination AFCI/GFCI products and other solutions supporting emergency preparedness, or contact your Leviton Sales Representative.