1. 2012 Edition of NFPA 99 What you should know
NEHES
New England Healthcare Engineer’s Society
2012 Edition of NFPA 99
What you should know
September 27, 2016 I Jason D’Antona, PE I Jonathan Hart, PE

2. About the Speakers Jonathan Hart, PE
Staff Liaison to NFPA 99 TC’s for 5 Years
Degreed Fire Protection Engineer
Senior Engineer with NFPA, Quincy, MA
Jason D’Antona, LEED® AP, PE
Member of NFPA 99 TC 11 Years / ELS Chair
Degreed Electrical Engineer
Principal with Thompson Consultants Inc., Marion, MA

3. Disclaimer
Although both speakers are members of the NFPA 99 Technical Committees, the views and opinions expressed in this presentation are purely those of the speakers and shall not be considered the official position of NFPA or any of its Technical Committees and shall not be considered to be, nor be relied upon as, a Formal Interpretation. You are encouraged to refer to the entire texts of all referenced documents. NFPA members can obtain staff interpretations of NFPA standards at

4. Discussion Topics Introduction NFPA 99 Overview NFPA 99 History
Risked Based Approach
New System Requirements
New Chapters
Summary / Questions

5. NFPA 99 Scope & Application
Healthcare Facilities
Acute Care Hospital  Out Patient Medical Office
Long-term Care Facility
Dental Care Facilitates
Psychiatric / Rehabilitation Care Facilities
New Construction – Unless Specified

6. 99 Application – New Construction
Enforced by:
Bldg Inspector
Dept Public Health
Fire Marshall
Latest Edition of 99
May differ from 2012
Check with local AHJ
New operating room during construction

7. 99 Application – Continuous Compliance
2012 Now Enforced by
CMS
DNV
TJC
Effective Enforcement Date: 11/1/2016
New operating room during construction

8. CMS Enforcement

9. CMS Enforcement NFPA 99 – 2012 Edition Including TIAs
Available at
TIA-2
TIA-3
TIA-4
TIA-5
TIA-6

10. CMS Enforcement Not adopting some Chapters
Chapter 7 – IT and Communication Systems
Chapter 8 – Plumbing
Chapter 12 – Emergency Management
Chapter 13 – Security Management

11. NFPA 99 History Pre-1979 several NFPA HCF documents
1979 – NFPA decides to combine all HCF documents into one guideline
(NFPA 56F, 76A, 76B-T, etc.)
First issuance of NFPA 99
Focus: Minimizing the hazards of fire, explosion, and electricity HCF.
Integrated individual documents into chapters
2005 – 2012 complete rewrite
2012 – New Code with expanded focus & methodology

12. New Methodology Prescriptive Code Risk Based 2012 Edition
2005 Edition & Earlier
Risk Based
2012 Edition

13. Risk Based Approach

14. Risk Based Approach Major Injury (Annex A.4.1.1. examples)
Amputation
Loss of sight (temporary or permanent)
Electric shock or burns
Heat induced illness
Loss of consciousness
Ingestion of harmful substances
Exposure to biological agents
Minor Injury
Not serious
No risk to life

15. NEHES Function Dom H2O Non Pot Dom H2O Heating Cooling Room
New England Healthcare Engineer’s Society
Function
Dom
H2O
Non Pot
Dom H2O
Heating
Cooling
Room
Ventilation
Steam
Process
Airborne infection isolation room 2
N/A 3
Ambulance garage
Biomedical waste holding
Bone marrow transplants 1
Burn patient care rooms
Business office/administration 4
Central sterile room
Class A surgical procedures
Class B surgical procedures
Class C surgical procedures
Critical care rooms (Cat 1 room)
ED trauma room
Intensive care
Medical-gas storage room
Medical records
Morgue
Occupation therapy
Oxygen transfilling
PACU
Patient education
Pharmacy
Physical therapy
Protective environment room
Radiology
Speech therapy
Waiting Rooms

16. Risk Assessment
Categories determined by following and documenting a defined risk assessment procedure
CMS: “CMS does not require the submission of risk assessment methods to CMS. However, CMS, will confirm that facilities are using risk assessment methodologies when conducting onsite surveys…”

17. Risk Assessment
ISO/IEC 31010, Risk Management – Risk Assessment Techniques
NFPA 551, guide for the Evaluation of Fire Risk Assessments
SEMI S E, Safety Guideline for Risk Assessments and risk Evaluation Process

18. Chapter 5
Gas and Vacuum Systems
Page: 99-25

19. Navigating Chapter 5.1 Category 1 Systems 5.2 Category 2 Systems

20. New vs. Existing
TIA 12-4
The following subsections… shall apply… in existing facilities:
5.1.2
5.1.14
5.1.15
Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) TIA 12-4: Added the list applicable to existing facilities.

21. New vs. Existing
TIA 12-4
The following subsections… shall apply… in existing facilities:
5.1.2
5.1.14
5.1.15
Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) TIA 12-4: Added the list applicable to existing facilities.

22. New vs. Existing
TIA 12-4
The following subsections… shall apply… in existing facilities:
Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) TIA 12-4: Added the list applicable to existing facilities.

23. New vs. Existing
TIA 12-4
The following subsections… shall apply… in existing facilities:
Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) TIA 12-4: Added the list applicable to existing facilities.

24. Central Supply Room – Construction
If outdoors, noncombustible enclosure, with a minimum of two exits
Electrical devices at or above 5 feet from floor protected from damage
NFPA 70 for ordinary locations
Page: ( )

25. Zone Valves

26. Centralized Computer System
Computer systems permitted to substitute for one of the required master alarm panels
This is new from the 1999 edition. CMS has permitted this for a few years now through a Categorical Waiver.
Need continuous, uninterrupted power, continuously monitored or provide remote signaling, devices are supervised, others.
Software: Medical gas shall have the same status as life safety, medical gas has higher priority than lesser signals provide an audible alert, alert the condition and activate any signaling protocols.

27. Operation and Management
Maintenance (new section)
Extensive new material –
Based upon risk assessment
Minimum qualifications
Certified by health care facility
ASSE 6040 Professional Qualification Standard fro Medical Gas Maintenance Personnel
ASSE 6030 Professional Qualification Standard for Medical Gas Verifiers.
5.1.14
All of is applicable to existing facilities/systems.
Walk through the different sections and requirements.

28. Chapter 6
Electrical Systems
Page: 99-25

29. New vs. Existing
The following subsections… shall apply… in existing facilities:
(C)
(F)
6.4.4
(B)(2-4)
6.5.4
6.3.4
6.6.4
6.1.2

30. Existing Requirements
Compliance Required Retroactively
GFCI Requirements
Tamper-proof Receptacles in Pediatric Areas
Wet-Procedure Location (WPL’s) Requirements
Operation Maintenance & Testing
Grounding Requirements
5.1.14
All of is applicable to existing facilities/systems.
Walk through the different sections and requirements.

31. Risk Based Approach Critical Care Room Type 1 EES General Care Room
Category 1
Critical Care Room
Type 1 EES
Category 2
General Care Room
Type 1 or Type 2 EES
Category 3
Basic Care Room
No EES Required
It is a little deeper into the Chapter, but the risk based approach employed by Chapter 6 is demonstrated in this section.

32. Essential Electrical System
6.4
Talk about changes in terminology from “Emergency System” to the specific branches.
We’re not going to address Type 2 or 3 on their own, so mention the differences here.

33. Essential Electrical System (Old)
Normal Power Source
Emergency Power Supply
Emergency System
Non-essential Electrical System
Equipment System
Life Safety Branch
Critical Branch
ATS(s)
EPSS
6.4
Talk about changes in terminology from “Emergency System” to the specific branches.
We’re not going to address Type 2 or 3 on their own, so mention the differences here.

34. Essential Electrical System (New)
Normal Power Source
Emergency Power Supply
Non-essential Electrical System
Equipment Branch
Life Safety Branch
Critical Branch
ATS(s)
EPSS
6.4
Talk about changes in terminology from “Emergency System” to the specific branches.
We’re not going to address Type 2 or 3 on their own, so mention the differences here.

35. Wet Procedure Locations
Revised from “Wet location” to “Wet Procedure Location” (WPL)
WPLs do not include bathrooms, toilets, showers, etc.
Routine housekeeping / incidental spillage ≠ WPL
“…area where procedure is performed that is normally subject to wet conditions while patients are present…” ( *)
5.1.14
All of is applicable to existing facilities/systems.
Walk through the different sections and requirements.

36. OR’ ARE* WPL’s
* Unless
“ * Operating rooms shall be considered to be wet procedure locations, unless a risk assessment conducted by the healthcare governing body determines otherwise.”
New operating room during construction
Operating Room

37. Electrical Safety in WPL’s
Isolated Power or GFCI
No Preference on Either Method of Protection
Isolated Power Panel
GFCI Receptacle or
5.1.14
All of is applicable to existing facilities/systems.
Walk through the different sections and requirements.

38. Headwall Receptacles General Care (Category 2) 4  8 / 4 duplex
Critical Care (Category 1) 6  14 / 7 duplex
Operating rooms  36 / 18 duplex

39. Monthly Generator Testing
LS & CB 10 Second Transfer
No Longer Required During Monthly Testing
Alternate Annual Compliance Method Provided
EPSS Generators

40. Generator Feeders HCF Bldg. A HCF Bldg. A G G
A single feeder supplied by a local or remote alternate source shall be permitted to supply the essential electrical system to the point at which the life safety, critical and equipment branches are separated.
The division between the branches shall occur at the transfer switch where more than one transfer switch is required
HCF Bldg. B
HCF Bldg. B CB EQ LS
PRE 2012 NFPA 99
POST 2012 NFPA 99

41. Chapter 7 – Information Technology & Communications
New Chapter / Not Adopted by CMS
Addresses the Performance of LV, Data and Communication Systems
Defines Requirements for MDF and IDF Closets
Defines Requirements for Nurse Call Systems
Reserved Sections for Future Systems
MDF or Telecommunications Equipment Room (TER)

42. Chapter 8 – Plumbing New Chapter Not adopted by CMS
Mostly references to plumbing codes

43. Chapter 9 – HVAC
References ASHRAE 170, Ventilation of Health Care Facilities
Medical gas storage and transfilling location ventilation

44. Operating Room Smoke Purge
No longer required

45. Chapter 10 – Electrical Equipment
Relocatable Power Taps (RPTs)
Permitted for use with patient care
equipment
Eliminates need for Categorical Waiver
No requirements or limitation on use with
equipment other than patient care-related

46. Chapter 11 – Gas Equipment

47. Other Chapters Chapter 12 – Emergency Management
Chapter 13 – Security Management
Chapter 14 – Hyperbaric Facilities
Chapter 15 – Features of Fire Protection

48. Recap 2012 NFPA 99 Rewrite Edition Now Enforced by AHJ’s, TJC & CMS
Now a Code
Risk Based Approach
Contains Retroactive Requirements
Contains New Chapters

49. Questions?

50. Thank You! jhart@nfpa.prg jdantona@thompson-consultants.com
Jonathan Hart, PE
Jason D’Antona, PE, LEED® AP