You may have heard of an AFDD, but what does this actually mean and what purpose does it hold in the Consumer unit family. Well, AFDD stands for Arc Fault Detection Device. The AFDD is designed to protect against electrical arcing within a circuit. The device will catch a fault within a circuit and shut it down before it causes a fire or any other potential hazard.
But what is an Arc Fault? Well, an arc fault is when an electrical current jumps between two conductive materials. The most common causes of arcs can include worn contacts in electrical equipment, breaks in cables or loose connections.
AFDDs work differently to RCBOs, using microprocessor technology to analyse the waveform of the electricity. They detect any unusual signatures which would signify an arc on the circuit. The AFDD will instantly terminate the power to the affected circuit effectively preventing an electrical fire or electrocution. They are considerably more sensitive to arcs than your conventional devices such as MCB’s & RCBO’s.
The use of AFDDs is now mandatory for single-phase AC final circuits supplying socket outlets (with a rated current no higher than 32A) in Higher Risk Residential Buildings, Houses in Multiple Occupation, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, & Care Homes, and are also recommended for single-phase AC final circuits supplying 32A socket outlets in all other properties in line with Amendment 2 of the current building regulations.
Fusebox, Lewden, Hager and Wylex all have AFDD ranges available, all of which can be found here on consumerunitworld.co.uk.