Do Lights in a Garage Need AFCI? (Best Practice Explained!)

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Do Lights in a Garage Need AFCI?

The terms GFCI and AFCI usually come up in any residential electrical wiring project. The terms can sometimes be confusing unless you are a professional electrician. No wonder the question “Do lights in a garage need AFCI?” often comes up.

Lights in a garage do not need AFCI individually or independently. But the breaker in the main panel of the house should have AFCI (or better still, CAFCI) to protect the garage from the risk of an electrical fire.

Section 210.12 (A) of 2023 National Electric Code (NEC) Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters requires that AFCI protection be provided by any of the means described in sections 210.12 (A) (1) to (A) (6).

210.12 (A) (1) requires a listed combination-type AFCI (CAFCI) installed to provide protection of the entire branch circuit.

In case of an attached garage the AFCI protection is provided by the AFCI breaker in the main panel of the house. Individual AFCI protection is therefore not required for lights in the attached garage.

The AFCI breaker protection provided in the main panel of the house also covers a detached garage subpanel that is no further than 50 feet.

If the detached garage is more than 50 feet away, then an AFCI breaker must be installed in the subpanel of the detached garage. This AFCI protection will cover all the branch circuits, including lights, in the detached garage.

Do Lights in a Garage Need GFCI?

Lights in a garage do not need GFCI if they are hard wired. However, if they are to be plugged into a receptacle in the garage then the receptacle must be GFCI protected to comply with Section 210.8 of 2023 National Electric Code (NEC) Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.

The section states that:

Ground-fault circuit-interruption for personnel shall be provided as required in 210.8(A) through (F). The ground-fault circuit-interrupter shall be installed in a readily accessible location.

Section 210.8 (A) Dwelling Units further states that:

All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in 210.8(A)(1) through (11) shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

Garage is specified in 210.8(A)(2)

Section 210.8 (B) Other than Dwelling Units has a similar provision. Garage is specified in 210.8(B)(8)

The key takeaway from the 2023 NEC code is that GFCI protection is required for receptacles (outlets) and the receptacle (outlet) must be readily accessible.

GFCI vs AFCI: What is the Difference?

GFCI and AFCI are both electrical safety features, but they have different functions. As such one can not be used as a replacement for the other. For safety and as per code, both must be installed.

GFCI is an abbreviation of Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter. It is installed to protect from electrical shocks.

AFCI is an abbreviation of Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter. It is installed to protect from electrical fires.

Each type of protection is available as a breaker (protects the entire circuit) or a receptacle (can also protect downstream of the receptacle if load side is connected downstream).

Generally, you want to install an AFCI as a breaker but a GFCI as a receptacle.

Do I Need AFCI Breakers in the Garage?

You may have been told that AFCI breakers are not required for a garage. Often this is based on an interpretation of Section 210.12 (B) of the 2023 (or earlier) NEC code. The list of 14 locations where AFCI is required by code, does not include “garage”.

I would like to draw your attention to the 14th item on the list which says “similar areas”. This is obviously a catch-all phrase and widely open to interpretation.

If your objective is to just comply with the code, then you must seek a clarification from the local building authorities on their interpretation of “similar areas”. Does it include the garage or not?

However, if your objective is to make your home as safe as possible and protect it from the risk of an electrical fire, please make sure that you install an AFCI breaker in the main panel of the house, as well as in the subpanel of a detached garage that is more than 50 feet away.

The cost of an AFCI breaker is 2 – 3 times that of a regular breaker. The extra cost is well worth it to protect your loved ones and your home from the risk of an electrical fire.

Actually using a CAFCI (Combination Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) breaker is even better. An AFCI breaker trips in case of a parallel arc fault but a CAFCI breaker trips in case of both a parallel or a series arc fault.

DISCLAIMER: What Is the Safest Way to Handle Electrical Wires?

This post is for information only. I strongly recommend that all electrical work should be entrusted to licensed professional electricians. In case you do decide to do some of the work yourself, make sure that:

“Treat all electrical wiring, even “de-energized” ones as if it is live, unless it has been locked out and tagged”

You must follow the basic safety guidelines:

Use protective eyewear, especially when drilling or grinding metal
Wear insulated rubber gloves when working on any circuit or branch circuit
Always use insulated tools while working with electricity
De-energize the electrical wires on which you will be working. Tag the circuit breaker to prevent someone from switching it on accidentally
Electrical wiring in wet or damp locations or underground must be within a PVC conduit
Underground wiring conduits should be at least 18 inches below grade as per code
All receptacles for equipment that could be in wet or damp locations should be equipped with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
Never use old frayed cables, damaged insulation, or broken plugs
High-voltage equipment should be properly grounded to ensure electricity flows directly to the ground and not through the person in contact with the live wire

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.