One reason why current regs state that any junction boxes etc should be accessible. In theory, the copper wire in the screw connections can deform and so the connection will lose its tightness ..if you catch my drift...go high resistance and generate heat that way. Whether the arc fault dooberries would pick that up I have no idea. Probably not as it's not arcing.
So I guess the logical follow up to this would be to periodically go around every connection in your house and check its tightness. Hmmm...can see everyone doing that one.
It can happen though - high res, I mean. When I was on outside broadcasts, one of the connectors in the mains distribution panel inside the OB van went high res. The first we learned about it was the smoke. So, it became obligatory to check the tightness of these distribution panels every six months. Mind you, the vans had a lot of pounding up and down the motorways and to the best of my knowledge no-one ever found another loose connection.
Arc Fault dooberies? No idea.
