Sparky,
Based on the stated fact that 85% of the electrical fires that were investigated occurred in homes at least 20 years old, the fact that AFCIs are only expected to prevent 50% of the electrical fires on the circuits that they protect, and the number of new homes constructed each year, we can expect that in the first year of full compliance with the AFCI rule to prevent 15 fires or 0.036% of the 42,000 estimated fires. The 100 million dollar plus investment to install these AFCIs would be expected to save 0.12 lives, prevent 0.48 injuries and save $210,000 of property in the first year!!!
Don
