Amend NEC^® 2017, page 60:

210.12 Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection. Arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection shall be provided as required in 210.12(A), (B), (C), and (D). The arc-fault circuit interrupter shall be installed in an accessible location.

(A) Dwelling Units. All 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets or devices installed in dwelling unit family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms or areas shall be protected by any of the means described in 210.12(A)(1) through (6):

ELR commentary: In the NEC^®, this same code section requires arc-fault circuit interrupters to be installed in readily accessible locations. In addition, this code section extends the AFCI protection to include dwelling unit kitchens and laundry areas.

In North Carolina, this section has been amended to allow arc-fault circuit interrupters to be installed in accessible locations, as well, kitchens and laundry areas have been excluded from the list of dwelling unit rooms that are subject to the AFCI requirements.

Special note:

There could be a room configuration where the light switch (device) for a kitchen or laundry area is located in an adjacent room where AFCI protection is required.