AFCIs are electrical safety devices intended to shut off power when an electrical arcing situation is detected. Generally, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) protect against shocks while AFCIs protect against overheating and electrical fires. Sends test signals throughout the existing wiring in your home looking for any unexplained spikes in voltage or arcing conditions that could potentially lead to electrical damage or fire. Shuts down the entire circuit BEFORE an electrical fire starts! Will prevent 98% of electrical fires on protected circuits. More than 50% of electrical fires today can be avoided by Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters. Has been required in all new homes since the 1999 National Electrical Code. Newest NEC codes require them to be installed in almost every area of the home. You can install directly into your receptacles or into the electrical breakers themselves. We recommend installing AFCI protection in your electrical panel for whole-home protection.