As new technology brings us new tools to make our lives easier, it also provides new devices to keep us safer in our homes.  GFCI protected electrical receptacles and AFCI protection circuit breakers are small technological wonders.  They are outlets and /or circuit breakers that contain micro-miniaturized electrical circuits that can detect the specific, characteristic signs of household electrical current that are present when certain dangerous situations occur.  When they detect such conditions, they automatically shut down the electricity, providing an extra layer of safety.  Regular circuit breakers are designed to protect the house's electrical system, not people!  The amount of electricity that is needed to kill a human being is thousands of times less than the amount that will 'trip' a regular circuit breaker.  Please read the explanations below and check out the web page links that re highlighted.

GFCI Electrical Outlets -  A GFCI outlet (GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt) is a special electrical outlet device that provides much greater protection from electrical shock than a standard electrical outlet does.  Think of a GFCI outlet as a small, ultra sensitive circuit breaker that is built right into the outlet

When the amount of electrical current coming out of the 'hot' prong of the outlet (the smaller slot) is just 5/1000 of an amp different from the amount of electrical current coming back into the outlet on the 'neutral' prong (the larger one), the outlet will 'trip', i.e. shut down the outlet.  In such a case, the GFCI outlet senses that it is putting out more electricity than it getting back.  The only place that this missing electrical current can be going is to another source of ground, which is probably a person!   Please note:  A GFCI outlet will still provide this protection, even if the outlet is not grounded!

GFCI outlets are now required to be used anyplace in your house where there is a close proximity to the potential grounding of a human being.  Some typical places are: kitchen counters and islands within 6' of sinks or water sources, bathrooms, laundry rooms, unfinished basement areas, garages and all outdoor outlets.

Please Note:  If your house was built before GFCI’s were required, local building codes do not necessarily require them, but proper home safety does! 

AFCI Electrical Outlets - AFCI breakers protect against an entirely different potential danger; arcing on the circuit. An AFCI protection device will detect any arcing on the circuit (i.e. sparks, where electricity is being conducted through the air and converted to heat) and shut down the outlet before any damage or potential fire can occur.   

AFCI protection is now required by the National Electrical Code in all sleeping areas, such as bedrooms or dens with fold out couches.  These are areas where fires could start and catch people who are sleeping or otherwise unable to get out quickly.  Newer standards, not yet fully adopted, will require the entire house to have AFCI protection, probably after 2008.

AFCI protection devices are not found in wall receptacles, but are incorporated into your house's main electrical service equipment panel in the form of circuit breakers.  Your house can easily be AFCI protected.  Just have a licensed and insured electrician replace the circuit breakers for bedroom areas with AFCI circuit breakers.