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| GFCI: How Safe is Safe? Published May 2021 When was the last time you tested your GFCI receptacles or circuit breakers? While most of the new receptacles today have a “self-testing” feature, many other versions require a procedure to inspect them to make sure that there is no indication of a failure. The majority of consumers rely on their suppliers and contractors to keep them “in the know.” So, how safe are your GFCIs? Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) were developed to protect people from shocks and electrocution due to ground faults. GFCI devices constantly track the current flowing through to sense leaks or ground faults in real-time. They interrupt power if a ground fault is detected. GFCIs are required mainly where electricity is used in close proximity to water. Most consumers are aware of GFCI receptacles in their bathrooms, but in reality, the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires them to be located in garages, escalators and elevators, in the kitchen (except not on refrigerators), laundry rooms, and of course, throughout all healthcare facilities. GFCIs can be found in three different formats. The most common are GFCI receptacles, very similar to a common wall electrical outlet and the GFCI circuit breakers located in the main electrical panel. Only one GFCI circuit needs to be installed in either the breaker or the outlet as all other outlets downstream are “daisy chained” and will be protected. The third format is portable GFCIs that can be plugged into a standard outlet providing the protection needed. These are temporary attachment plugs that can be used to provide the desired protection, but will not substitute the requirements of a permanent one. Suppliers and contractors are seriously concerned with safety and so most will look beyond the minimum requirements and strive to provide protection for their customers for years to come. Leviton has become the leader in GFCI and AFCI technology by focusing on innovation and safety. In doing so, Leviton’s line of GFCI receptacles and breakers are ahead of UL certification standards by building in maximum protection through components and features that work to exceed these recommendations. GFCI Know-How There are several ways that GFCIs can detect changes in the electrical flow in the circuit to immediately cut off the flow of electricity. Over-current protection is provided by breakers. GFCI's detect minute current leaks "ground faults" to help avoid shocks and electrocution. A good example is if someone using a hair dryer accidently drops it into a sink that is filled with water. The GFCI outlet will immediately sense the current leak or “ground fault” and trip, interrupting the power to ensure electrical safety. It will also cut the power off any other outlet downstream from the GFCI. A misconception is that a GFCI is not and might not be used to replace a fuse or breaker and does not protect against circuit overloads or short circuits. And a GFCI is not to be confused with an AFCI, which helps protect against fires caused by arc faults. A GFCI provides ground fault protection in receptacles designed to protect people. When properly installed, a GFCI can detect ground faults as small as 4 milliamps, and it trips quickly, in less than a second, cutting off electricity. On a receptacle, once the power trips, the reset button will “pop”, which indicates that the GFCI has tripped. Pressing the reset button will restore power on the circuit provided no ground fault is present. If it is in the breaker, the circuit interrupter will have to be reset. However, there may be unforeseen dangers lurking as some competitive GFCI circuit breakers can be reset even if they are not functioning properly. This scenario could lead to providing unprotected power.
Standards and codes routinely change which affects UL product certification, specifically UL943 which includes “end of life” for GFCIs. UL changed the UL943 requirements to make GFCIs safer by provisioning that GFCI circuit breakers must lockout users if ground-fault protection is lost. Leviton developed their “Reset/Lockout” feature way ahead of any standard and, as a result, those devices are the only GFCI circuit breaker that meets the UL 943 standard for instances of “end of life.” Leviton’s GFCI devices cannot be reset unless they are completely functional and have been wired correctly. Leviton SmartlockPro® Receptacles Leviton offers an extensive line of GFCI and AFCI receptacles with the patented SmartlockPro® self-test feature, and an exclusive “Reset/Lockout” function that prevents reset if a GFCI or AFCI is damaged and cannot respond to a ground-fault or arc-fault, respectively. Check out some of Leviton’s most popular tamper-resistant SmartlockPro® receptacles:
Leviton offers a wide variety of circuit breaker types including thermal magnetic for traditional indoor installations, hydraulic magnetic which are ideal for extreme temperatures and smart circuit breakers that can be connected to the Internet to be monitored remotely. All types include GFCI, AFCI, AFCI/GFCI, GFPE, smart, surge and standard with various Amp ratings. Since safety is a top priority, Leviton delivers GFCI circuit breaker protection, exceeding UL requirements that also locks users out if the ground-fault protection is lost. Leviton’s circuit breakers incorporate user-friendly diagnostics (such as color indicators on the rocker handle) to indicate the operating status, as well as easy-to-read LEDs that display arc or ground faults when tripped. Here are just a few of the popular smart circuit breakers that easily plug into the breaker boxes without additional wiring:
Safety falls on the responsibility of both the supplier and contractor. Leviton continually strives to be the first name in GFCI safety. For more information contact your local Leviton representative or go to Leviton.com/safety Additionally, if you need help to know more about GFCI safety, contact your local Leviton representative. Previous Article | Next Article |
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