New NEC Rules: Your Life-Safety Equipment Needs Surge Protection
The National Electrical Code is becoming more aggressive about requiring surge protection because modern electrical systems now include life-safety equipment with sensitive electronics that must stay operational.
Did you know?
- GFCI and AFCI breakers now contain internal electronic sensors that constantly monitor for ground faults, arc faults, and other dangerous conditions.
- Smoke detectors and similar life-safety devices also have electronic sensing circuits. These are now microprocessor-based and far more sensitive to power disturbances compared to their mechanical predecessors.
- A typical GFCI/AFCI breaker draws about 20 watts to power its internal electronics. If you have 10 of them in a panel, that’s roughly 200 watts being pulled at all times. That’s a lot of sensitive electronics sitting on your power system 24/7.
These important electronics are susceptible to surges and transients from both the utility and internal sources like HVAC, motors, and appliances. If a surge knocks out these devices, you could lose life-saving protection without realizing it. The NEC requirements for surge protection are now directly tied to keeping this equipment operational for safety, not just convenience.
At Transient Protection Design, we offer surge protection containing filtering that’s designed for this new generation of safety electronics—keeping your breakers, smoke detectors, and other life-saving devices working properly, even in tough power environments. If you’re not protecting these circuits, you’re leaving a major gap in your safety plan. Let’s make sure you’re covered. Contact us today at info@tpdsurge.com!