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In [[Canada]] and the [[United States]], AFCI breakers have been required by the electrical codes for circuits feeding [[electrical outlet]]s in residential bedrooms since the beginning of the 21st century; the US ''[[National Electrical Code]]'' has required them to protect most residential outlets since 2014,<ref>2014 NEC(210.12)</ref> and the ''[[Canadian Electrical Code]]'' has since 2015.<ref>{{cite book |date=2015 |title=C22.1-15 — Canadian Electrical Code, Part I: Safety Standard for Electrical Installations |publisher=Canadian Standards Association |edition=23rd |isbn=978-1-77139-718-6 |page=Rules 24–724(f) & (g) |no-pp=y}}</ref>.
In regions using 230 V, the combination of higher voltage and lower load currents lead to different conditions being required to initiate an arc fault that does not either burn clear or weld to a short circuit after a short time, and there are different arc characteristics once struck. As a result, specifically Western Europe (where in many countries a domestic supply may be 400V 3 phase ) and the UK (where domestically a single phase 230V supply is common), adoption is slower, and their use is optional, only being mandated in specified high risk locations.
The Australian and New Zealand regulations- Wiring Rules (AS NZS 3000:2018) do not require installation of AFDDs in Australia. However, in New Zealand all final sub-circuits with ratings up to 20 A will require protection by an AFDD if they supply locations with significant fire risk, locations containing irreplaceable items, certain historic buildings, and socket-outlets in school sleeping accommodation. <ref>https://www.gses.com.au/wiringrulesasnzs3000/</ref>. Most sockets in these countries are on circuits rated at 20A or less.
Most of the rest of the world does not consider AFDDs to be a priority at all.▼
In the US, arc faults are said to be one of the leading causes for residential electrical fires.<ref>{{cite journal|title=New Technology for Preventing Residential Electrical Fires: Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs)|work=Fire Technology|volume=36|issue=3|publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers|date=Aug 2000|pages=145–162|url=http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/108737/AFCIFireTechnology.pdf|doi=10.1023/A:1015410726786|first=Douglas A.|last=Lee|first2=Andrew M.|last2=Trotta|first3=William H.|last3=King|issn=0015-2684|access-date=Feb 26, 2013}}</ref> Each year in the United States, over 40,000 fires are attributed to home electrical wiring. These fires result in over 350 deaths and over 1,400 injuries each year.<ref>Ault, Singh, and Smith, "1996 Residential Fire Loss Estimates", October 1998, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Directorate for Epidemiology and Health Sciences.</ref>
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