If we had 100% compliance with the rule, we could expect to prevent 435 fires in the first year9this assumes that the AFCIs are 100% effective, something even the manufactures do not claim). Based on the expected number of housing starts, the cost to install the AFCIs in all of the new dwelling units would be a little over 638 million dollars. The cost to prevent each of those 435 fires would be a little over 1.5 million dollars.
Even after 20 years (will the AFCI still be functional then? remember they are not fail safe) the cost to prevent each fire will exceed $170,000.
Don.,
Sorry to bother you but Did the UL or someone else did have the statement written sometime back ?? I did know couple of manufacter did make a statement but only issue I am looking is long term useage like you mention 20 years how many oringal AFCI will be functioning after X amout of years before failure.
Merci,Marc
