Looks like ESFI is drinking the AFCI Kool-Aid.
ESFI articleI think everyone who's ever installed one has simply wished they had some verifiable proof, other than just the manufactures claims, to demonstrate to homeowners that that they would actually work as intended.
Pressing the test button and having the status LED's light up is neat, but doesn't seem to really mean much.
I like how they say they have "proven to be so effective"... They must mean in the laboratory, because that seems to go against everything that is now known about how they don't work in the field.
"AFCIs have proven to be so effective that the 2011 National Electrical Code (NEC) includes requirements for AFCI installation in residential construction. The NEC requires that AFCI technology be installed for bedroom circuits as well as other living areas of the home, including living, dining, and family rooms. Though these requirements are currently limited to newly constructed homes, older homes with aging wiring systems can also benefit from the added protection of AFCIs. Depending on the size of the home, the cost to install AFCIs ranges from $140 to $350."
