I hate arc-faults. I just wired a new addition with 4 arc fault breakers. One kicks off randomly while the other 3 are rock solid. The bedroom is for a kid that was recently paralyzed and is in a wheelchair and his room is more of a hospital area than a bedroom. A regular circuit breaker lasted for 2 weeks where the arc-fault lasts between 15 minutes and an hour. Time to re-check the connections until it quits.

EE,

You have appended to an item that is over one year old.

I am going to request that this item be moved to a new post.

The use of hospital grade equipment poses a very interesting situation.

Post moved.

Are you sure it is faulting and not tripping? How many amps is being drawn if everyhting in the room is in use? Is this ARC dedicated to just this one bedroom?

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The key info you stated is that a regular circuit breaker last 2 weeks.

Seems Ballenger is onto something.

You need to insure the circuit load is not tripping the circuit breaker.

Since this room is now a medical room, if any equipment is for life-safety of the patient, I would insure the circuit is dedicated for this bedroom only, and not install Arc Fault protection.

I would let the inspector know the situation that this bedroom does not have Arc Fault due to the patients needs.

You do need to discover what the load is on this circuit or bedroom to insure a standard circuit breaker does not trip due to overload.

TK,

I'm in the middle of studying Article 517 at the moment, that's why this post was of interest to me.

This may be nothing more than a theoretical question but I was curious as to whether this would be an issue that would need to be addressed in the NEC.

Article 517 does not see to apply because of the simple test for 4 or more beds.

Article 590 would not apply because the temporary requirements for this type of care may exceed the 90 day window.

Should a request to the NEC to address patient care within a residence be put forward?

I can see a need for a redefinition of a residential room for long term care for a disabled person (either confined to a bed or mobile) as well as Hospice situations (been there and done that).

It just seems that there should be provisions in the code to allow for the transformation from a residential room to patient care type room depending on the type of medical equipment needed in the room.

Should this be a separate thread or just dropped?

I think discussing a situation such as this with the local inspector will come to a resolution.

TK,

Just for "Kicks and Chuckles" I did discuss this issue with a Portsmouth VA. Inspector today and I was told that there had better be an arc fault breaker in the panel when he does the inspection.

What happens after he approves the work is none of his business."

That's a BS answer if ever I heard one. Install the circuit as required and then change the circuit aft its approved!

One can always appeal to the State Electrical Inspector a condition such as someone needing life safety medical equipment, and get an Arc Fault protection eliminated.