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Board narrows NEC changes: keep AFCI protections for multifamily, carry residential decisions to IRC
Summary
Board members agreed to preserve AFCI/GFCI protections and most NEC provisions for multifamily/commercial uses, carry residential (one- and two-family) decisions into IRC review, and asked staff to deliver a clean NEC draft for Oct. 28. Public comment raised retrofit cost estimates for expanding AFCI coverage.
The Lawrence Building Code Board of Appeals continued review of the National Electrical Code (NEC) on Oct. 7, instructing staff to deliver a clean draft to the board on Oct. 28 while preserving AFCI and related protections for multifamily and commercial occupancies.
Staff and board members emphasized that dwelling units are addressed by both the IRC (International Residential Code) and the NEC; the board agreed to keep NEC provisions for multifamily and commercial uses as written and to apply the IRC for one‑ and two‑family residential decisions. Board members referenced a prior local tradeoff that removed a restriction on NM cable (Romex) to allow its use above three floors only after expanding AFCI/GFCI protections downtown following a large fire; some members cautioned that undoing earlier protections could reduce fire-safety safeguards downtown.
Public comment: A commenter identified as Claudia shared electrician cost estimates for expanding AFCI protection beyond bedrooms. She said electricians provided an estimate of $200–$400 for an entry-level house and $1,500–$2,000 for larger houses to add AFCI protection across living spaces. Claudia also cited a US Fire Administration 2023 figure she said showed about 23,700 fires in a referenced dataset; the board noted that implementation costs and retrofit feasibility will be examined during the IRC residential review.
Key unresolved item: Section 230.85 (emergency-service disconnects) applies to single- and two-family dwellings in the NEC; the board agreed to retain that requirement and to address practical retrofit and remodel questions through the residential/IRC review. Staff noted fire officials supported keeping the emergency-disconnect requirement.
Next steps: Staff will produce a consolidated NEC ordinance that preserves the previously agreed AFCI protections for multifamily/commercial properties, carry over agreed amendments (the strike on the NM-cable restriction was retained), and present a clean draft for board review Oct. 28. The residential electrical rules will be revisited during the IRC review early next year (Feb.–Mar.).
