Title 16 - Buildings and Construction

16.310 Residential Code

16.310.E3902

Section E3902 of the 2024 International Residential Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 16.310.E3902 GROUND-FAULT AND ARC-FAULT CIRCUIT-INTERRUPTER PROTECTION

E3902.12 Outdoor outlets. All outdoor outlets, including outlets installed in the following locations, and supplied by single-phase branch circuits, 50 amperes or less, shall be provided with GFCI protection:

1.

Garages that have floors located at or below grade level.
2.

Accessory buildings.
3.

Boathouses.

Exceptions:

1.

GFCI protection shall not be required on lighting outlets other than those covered in Section 210.8(F) of NFPA 70.
2.

GFCI protection shall not be required for receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a branch circuit dedicated to electric snow-melting, deicing, or pipeline and vessel heating equipment where such equipment is protected as required by NFPA 70.
3.

GFCI protection shall not be required for listed HVAC equipment.
4.

Dedicated receptacles supplying a garage door opener, fire alarm, security system, sump pump, refrigerator, freezer or electric vehicle charger.

E3902.16 Receptacles not required to be GFCI protected. The following receptacles shall not be required to be ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected:

1.

Receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a branch circuit dedicated to electric snow-melting, deicing, or pipeline and vessel heating equipment where such equipment is protected as required by NFPA 70. [210.8(A) Exception No. 1]
2.

A receptacle supplying only a permanently installed premises security system. [210.8(A) Exception No. 2]
3.

Listed weight-supporting ceiling receptacles (WSCR) utilized in combination with compatible weight-supporting attachment fittings (WSAF) installed for the purpose of supporting a ceiling luminaire or ceiling-suspended fan shall be permitted to omit ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection. If a general-purpose convenience receptacle is integral to the ceiling luminaire or ceiling-suspended fan, GFCI protection shall be provided. [210.8(A) Exception No. 3]
4.

Factory-installed receptacles that are not readily accessible and are mounted internally to bathroom exhaust fan assemblies shall not require GFCI protection unless required by the installation instructions or listing. [210.8(A) Exception No. 4]
5.

Dedicated receptacles supplying a garage door opener, fire alarm, security system, sump pump, refrigerator, freezer or electric vehicle charger.

E3902.19 Arc-fault circuit interrupter protection. Branch circuits that supply 120-volt, single-phase, 10-, 15- and 20- ampere outlets installed in bedrooms shall be protected by any of the following: [210.12(A)]

1.

A listed combination-type arc-fault circuit interrupter, installed to provide protection of the entire branch circuit. [210.12(A)(1)]
2.

A listed branch/feeder-type AFCI installed at the origin of the branch-circuit in combination with a listed outlet branch-circuit-type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed at the first outlet box on the branch circuit. The first outlet box in the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet of the circuit. [210.12(A)(2)]
3.

A listed supplemental arc-protection circuit breaker installed on the branch circuit at the origin of the branch circuit in combination with a listed outlet branch-circuit-type arc-fault circuit-interrupter installed at the first outlet box on the branch circuit if all of the following conditions are met:

3.1. The branch-circuit wiring shall be continuous from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the outlet branch-circuit arc-fault circuit interrupter.

3.2. The maximum length of the branch-circuit wiring from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the first outlet shall not exceed 50 feet (15.2 m) for 14 AWG conductors and 70 feet (21.3 m) for 12 AWG conductors.

3.3. The first outlet box on the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet on the branch circuit. [210.12(A)(3)]

4.

A listed outlet branch-circuit-type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed on the branch circuit at the first outlet on the branch circuit in combination with a listed branch-circuit overcurrent protective device if all of the following conditions are met:

4.1. The branch-circuit wiring shall be continuous from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the outlet branch-circuit arc-fault circuit interrupter.

4.2. The maximum length of the branch-circuit wiring from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the first outlet shall not exceed 50 feet (15.2 m) for 14 AWG conductors and 70 feet (21.3 m) for 12 AWG conductors.

4.3. The first outlet box on the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet on the branch circuit.

4.4. The combination of the branch-circuit overcurrent device and outlet branch-circuit AFCI shall be identified as meeting the requirements for a system combination-type AFCI and shall be listed as such. [210.12(A)(4)]

5.

If metal raceways, metal wireways, metal auxiliary gutters or Type MC or Type AC cable meeting the applicable requirements of Section E3908.9 with metal boxes, metal conduit bodies and metal enclosures are installed for the portion of the branch circuit between the branch-circuit overcurrent device and the first outlet, a listed outlet branch-circuit type AFCI installed at the first outlet shall be considered as providing protection for the remaining portion of the branch circuit. [210.12(A)(5)]
6.

Where a listed metal or nonmetallic conduit or tubing or Type MC cable is encased in not less than 2 inches (50.8 mm) of concrete for the portion of the branch circuit between the branch-circuit overcurrent device and the first outlet, a listed outlet branch-circuit-type AFCI installed at the first outlet shall be considered as providing protection for the remaining portion of the branch circuit. [210.12(A)(6)]

Exception: AFCI protection shall not be required for an individual branch circuit supplying a fire alarm system where the branch circuit is installed in a metal raceway, metal auxiliary gutter, steel-armored cable, Type MC or Type AC, meeting the requirements of Section E3908.9, with metal boxes, conduit bodies and enclosures. [210.12(B) Exception No. 1]

E3902.20 Arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection for branch circuit extensions or modifications. Where branch-circuit wiring is modified, replaced, or extended in any of the areas specified in Section E3902.19, the branch circuit shall be protected by one of the following:

1.

A combination-type AFCI located at the origin of the branch circuit.
2.

An outlet branch-circuit type AFCI located at the first receptacle outlet of the existing branch circuit. [210.12(B)]

Exception: AFCI protection shall not be required where the extension of the existing branch circuit conductors is not more than 6 feet (1.8 m) in length and does not include any additional outlets or devices other than splicing devices. This measurement shall not include the conductors inside an enclosure, cabinet, or junction box. [210.12(B) Exception]

(History: Ord. No. 3513, §48, 2026; Ord. BC-3286 §88, 2020; Ord. BC-3286 §84, 2020; Ord. BC-2936 §57, 2012; Ord. BC-3286 §85, 2020; Ord. BC-2936 §58, 2012)

Effective on: 1/1/1901