Interpretation #: CEB-2020-06-2020 IRC-E3401.2

Building or Fire Safety Law Interpreted

Issue

What is the intent of the statement, "Compliance with the Indiana Electrical Code (675 IAC 17) is allowed instead of compliance with this code" and how does it affect the requirement for arc fault circuit interrupter devices in Class 2 structures?

Interpretation of the State Building Commissioner

"Compliance with the Indiana Electrical Code (675 IAC 17) is allowed instead of compliance with this code" means that, for electrical regulations, the owner of a Class 2 building has the choice of complying with the electrical portions of the 2020 Indiana Residential Code (675 IAC 14-4.4) or the Indiana Electrical Code (675 IAC 17) edition current at the time of the project's permitting. The project must comply with all applicable requirements of the selected code – the owner may not choose individual sections or requirements from each as they wish.

If a Class 2 building owner chooses to comply with the electrical provisions of the 2020 Indiana Residential Code, then arc fault circuit interrupters are required in the locations stated in Section E3902 of that code. If a Class 2 building owner chooses to comply with the applicable provisions of the 2009 Indiana Electrical Code, then arc fault circuit interrupters are not required in dwelling units (except for mobile or manufactured homes).

Rationale

The electrical provisions of the 2020 Indiana Residential Code require the installation of arc fault circuit interrupters in Class 2 structures (Section E3902). The 2009 Indiana Electrical Code, in effect at the time of this writing (February 3, 2020), was modified by amendment to delete the Article 201.12(B) requirements for arc fault circuit interrupters in dwelling units (except, as noted above, for mobile or manufactured homes). When the building owner chooses which electrical provisions they will follow, that choice will determine the presence or absence of a requirement for these devices.

Please note that future editions of the two codes, or their amendments, may or may not alter this. Therefore, when the IRC/IEC choice is exercised, the owner must be careful to fully understand the requirements of both codes as they stand adopted on that date, in order to determine what rules apply to the project.