IS YOUR HOME DANGER?  READ THE ARTICLE BELOW;              

Understanding the Problem of Arc Faults and House Fires
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 40,000 fires are caused annually by problems with home electrical wiring. For the last five years, electrical wiring systems have been one of the leading causes of fire deaths, claiming between 260 and 380 lives per year and costing more than $650 million annually.

In 1998, according to the latest statistics released by the CPSC, fire originating in the electrical distribution system accounted for more than 10 percent of all home fires.¹

What is an Arc Fault?
Many times the culprit is an arc fault. An arc is a discharge of electric current across a gap. Many of us have seen an arc such as from an arc welder or sparks from a downed power line. An arc fault is an unintended arc flowing through an unintentional path.
Common causes for arc faults in a house are:

• Loose or improper connections, such as electrical wires to outlets or switches
• Frayed or ruptured appliance or extension cords
• Pinched or pierced wire insulation, such as a wire inside a wall nipped by a nail or screw or a chair leg setting on an extension cord
• Cracked wire insulation stemming from age, heat, corrosion or bending stress
• Overheated wire or cords
• Damaged electrical appliances
• Wires or cords touching vibrating metal
• Electrical wire insulation chewed by rodents

Code Requirements
This breakthrough technology, first developed by electric utility companies to deal with downed power lines, prompted the National Electrical Code (NEC) to require that AFCIs be used on home bedroom circuits by 2002. In fact, industry experts believe AFCIs will eventually be required on all home circuits. The NEC elected to require them on bedroom circuits first because a CPSC study showed many home fire deaths were related to bedroom circuits.

However, some code jurisdictions may choose not to adopt the section of the NEC (Section 210.12) requiring the installation of AFCIs. Check with local code officials if you have questions.