The Arrow Hart line of Cooper Wiring Devices announced UL approval for its arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) receptacle, claiming it’s the industry’s first. The receptacle protects against electrical fires caused by arcing faults in electrical wiring due to deterioration or damage to the wire or cord. Some causes include puncturing of wire from picture hanging or cable staples, poorly installed receptacles and cords caught in doors or under furniture. While conventional circuit breakers only respond to overloads and short circuits, AFCIs are more selective of arcing conditions that can have catastrophic results. Receptacle-based solutions for AFCI are viewed as potentially better alternatives to AFCI breakers, says Cooper, due to their ease of use (no long-distance reset required) and installation. The improved user interface is an added advantage, since the average person is more likely to push a button on a receptacle than open a panel.

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