GFCI protects against, and which article covers it?

• A. Arc faults; Article 210.12
• B. Overloads; Article 210.7
• C. Ground faults; Article 210.8
• D. Short circuits; Article 240

Answer: (C)

GFCI protection is about preventing electric shock from ground faults. It watches the current going through the hot and returning on the neutral, and if some current leaks to ground, the device detects the imbalance and trips in a fraction of a second to cut power.

In the NEC, the requirements for GFCI protection are in Article 210.8, which covers protection for personnel in various locations where shock risk is higher (wet or damp areas, outdoors, etc.).

GFCIs do not protect against overloads or short circuits in the sense of overcurrent protection, which are covered by Article 240, nor do they address arc faults (that protection is in Article 210.12). So the option describing ground faults and Article 210.8 is the correct one.