GFCI and AFCI Protection in the 2023 NEC
Where, What Rating, and the Exceptions
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2023 edition · Reviewed 2026-09-21
GFCI and AFCI items sit in the Branch Circuits and Conductors part of the Florida DBPR blueprint and show up on both the Unlimited and Residential technical exams. Florida tests the 2023 edition: 210.8 is organised as (A) through (F), 210.12 puts the six protection means in (A) and the locations in (B) through (D), and (E) covers extensions. Everything below is the 2023 text.
1. What the devices are (Article 100)
- GFCI (Class A) — a device intended for the protection of personnel that de-energises the circuit within an established time when the ground-fault current exceeds the Class A value. The Informational Note gives the numbers the exam wants: trips at 6 mA or more; does not trip below 4 mA (UL 943).
- SPGFCI (special-purpose GFCI) — the same idea for circuits with a voltage to ground of more than 150 V; it de-energises the circuit when the ground-fault current exceeds the value set for a Class C, D or E device (UL 943C). It is not a substitute for a Class A GFCI where 210.8 applies.
- GFPE (ground-fault protection of equipment) is a different animal: it protects equipment from line-to-ground fault damage at levels far above personnel protection (230.95, 215.10 and 210.13 — service, feeder and branch-circuit disconnects rated 1000 A or more on solidly grounded wye systems over 150 V to ground, the 480Y/277 V case).
- AFCI — de-energises the circuit when it recognises the characteristics of an arc fault.
- 210.2: reconditioned GFCI and AFCI equipment is not permitted.
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