Other reasons given by well respected members of several other technical
committees included the fact that many common and acceptable wiring techniques in
existing homes could create problems and would be incompatible with an AFCI
receptacle or AFCI breakers. For example many existing panelboards cannot
accommodate an AFCI breaker. This means if a homeowner needed to replace a single
broken receptacle in the home and the AFCI receptacle are still not available, they
would then have to replace the entire panelboard and all the associated breakers within
the dwelling. Another problem would arise with existing homes that were wired using
multiwire branch circuits throughout which cannot be feed by a typical AFCI Breaker. A
huge expense to meet a requirement that was not based on any significant technical
substation regarding the number of fires or injuries would be diverted. Until these
devices and similar technology which are underdevelopment are available, listed by a
nationally recognized testing agency and proven to perform in accordance with the
claims made by manufactures, we urge the removal of this requirement from the 2014
National Electrical Code.