ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues AFCI protection of switches

I realize AFCI protection is required at all bedroom outlets including the smoke but I have a situation where the whole bedroom is on one circuit, then there is a two gang box by the patio door. In this two gang box there is a three way for the bedroom light and a four way which switches the patio lighting which is on a different circuit. Would this be a violation? Should the patio circuit now also be AFCI protected because this one switch's wiring enters the bedroom 2 gang?

By the way didn't there used to be an AFCI forum?

What I read here is that this is protection required of the circuit itself (not of just the outlet), if the circuit is supplying an outlet installed in a bedroom. So is your 4-way switch considered an outlet? Is the patio light considered installed in the bedroom?

The way I see it is a switch is not an outlet by the definitions (Article 100) in the NEC. An outlet is "a point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment". A switch is "a device...capable of interrupting its rated current at its rated voltage". It is not the point at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment...IMO.
Harold

I agree, the switch (which is not an outlet) for a circuit serving outlets outside of the bedroom would not be an issue.

This can be expanded into allowing 125v non AFCI 15 and 20 amp breakers in a panel or enclosure to be installed in the bedroom.

Roger

[This message has been edited by Roger (edited 03-23-2005).]

Thanks a heap guys.