Do we have to fit AFDD's in domestic installations?

[HappyHippyDad]

I can't find any really up to date threads on whether we have to fit AFDD's.

I am specifically talking about in a domestic premise. I can see that 421.1.7 shows where an AFDD HAS to be fitted (i.e in one of the 4 bullet points), but then it says below ( the bullet points) it is 'recommended' that AFDD's are fitted in ALL premises for socket outlets.

The Napit Webinar (02/11/2022) kind of skips lightly over this point. At 11 mins and 25 seconds he says something along the lines of 'it is up to the designer whether to use the recommendation of using AFDD's'.

It clearly is not mandatory otherwise the reg would not state the 4 examples of where it actually is mandatory. So it is actually optional, but there isn't any criteria given to help you decide whether or not you should fit one.

Does anyone have any clarification on this?

 

[cireland]

You have answered your own question as such.
Yes, they are recommended but not compulsory. If, however, you are in a house where someone perhaps has a disability/mobility issues, you may think it prudent to fit AFDDs to help prevent the risk of fire.
It really comes down to you as the designer and the customer because they have to pay for it.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

You have answered your own question as such.
Yes, they are recommended but not compulsory. If, however, you are in a house where someone perhaps has a disability/mobility issues, you may think it prudent to fit AFDDs to help prevent the risk of fire.
It really comes down to you as the designer and the customer because they have to pay for it.

The bit I'm kind of getting at is the criteria for fitting AFDD's.

You have used some of your own judgement to decide that you 'may' fit an AFDD in a house where the occupier has a disability/mobility issue.

You haven't said you WILL fit one in the above scenario, just that you 'may'. So you've made a judgement in the first place that someone with a disability needs one, but not definitely.

What type of disability issue? What kind of mobility issue? Severity of disability etc. We'll need to have a bit of medical knowledge to make those decisions.

The point I'm getting at is there isn't any criteria. It's just a judgement call. It doesn't seem to be a judgement call that is based on any electrical knowledge. It is based on hundreds of other factors.... mobility, disability, what the house is made of, existing condition of house, age of wiring, does the house have rodents and many, many more.

 

[cireland]

You're right. There is no exact criteria. Essentially it is up to you as the designer to decide if it is necessary in any given circumstance. This is just my take on it though. I may well have it wrong.
The BBB at it's vague best.

 

[suffolkspark]

Yea its a bit crap, because if we go against the recommendation, and something goes wrong, where do we stand. Why did we not fit something recommended by the more knowledgeable iet?

 

[Risteard]

They are mandatory on circuits containing socket-outlets in HRRBs (higher risk residential buildings). They are not mandatory generally in domestic premises. A recommendation is simply that - a recommendation. It does not compel you.

 

[Julie.]

Who knows!!!!

Probably the worst wording in the whole of the regulations.

Basically AFDD is Recommended, so it is tempting to believe you don't have to.

However the regulations define recommended, as meaning that this is the option they advise in order to achieve the protection required (see page 18) (paraphrased to match this aspect).

So you don't HAVE to use AFDD to provide protection for arc faults, you could use something else. But ultimately you do need to do something to protect against arc faults. The regulations recommend AFDD as the tool to use.

The thing is there is nothing else!

I think they added "recommended" thinking about the traditional use of the word, unaware or forgetting that it had actually been qualified somewhat specifically in the regulations.

Bit of a mess in my opinion.

 

[mattg4321]

Try getting hold of them at the moment!

 

[suffolkspark]

Try getting hold of them at the moment!

Probably writing an addendum to describe "recommend" a bit better

 

[Dustydazzler]

I haven't fitted any AAFFFDDDDDs yet And I don't think I will be fitting any unless they become 'The norm' like RCDs