For new 120-volt, 15- or 20-ampere dwelling branch circuits, which choice names spaces not independently listed in the room-based AFCI requirement of 2026 NEC 210.12(B)? Assume each circuit serves only the stated space; the garage and crawl space are unfinished, nonhabitable and not used as any listed or similar room.
- ABedrooms
- BLiving rooms
- Crawl spaces and garages under the stated conditions
- DKitchens
Where to look it up
https://www.mikeholt.com/newsletters.php?action=display&letterID=3029
Why C is correct
Crawl spaces and garages are not independently listed; bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens are. This is not a blanket exemption for every circuit entering a garage or crawl space: a circuit serving a listed room still needs the required protection. GFCI rules are a separate check. Source: Mike Holt, GFCI and AFCI, based on the 2026 NEC, AFCI Protection for Dwelling Units, 210.12(B). https://www.mikeholt.com/newsletters.php?action=display&letterID=3029