1. Electrical Receptacle Testing
Deputy State Fire Marshal
Bill Abderhalden
Healthcare Inspector – West Metro

2. william.abderhalden@state.mn.us 1 yr. FF - Massachusetts
12 yrs. FF – United States Marine Corps
8 yrs. as Chief Officer
2.5 yrs. Deputy State Fire Marshal

3. Required Reading NFPA 99 (2012) Health Care Facilities Code
NFPA 70 (2011) National Electric Code
Minnesota State Fire Code (2015)

4. Installation
(NFPA 99) Electrical Installation. Installation shall be in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electrical Code.
Section 517 pertains to health care facilities.

5. K-Tag 912 Electrical Systems – Receptacles
Power receptacles have at least one, separate, highly dependable grounding pole capable of maintaining low-contact resistance with its mating plug. In pediatric locations, receptacles in patient rooms, bathrooms, play rooms, and activity rooms, other than nurseries, are listed tamper-resistant or employ a listed cover.
If used in patient care room, ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) are listed.
(F), (NFPA 99)

6. K-Tag 913 Electrical Systems – Wet Procedure Locations
Operating rooms are considered wet procedure locations, unless otherwise determined by a risk assessment conducted by the facility governing body. Operating rooms defined as wet locations are protected by either isolated power or ground-fault circuit interrupters. A written record of the risk assessment is maintained and available for inspection.
, , (NFPA 99)

7. K-Tag 914 Electrical Systems – Maintenance and Testing
Hospital-grade receptacles at patient bed locations and where deep sedation or general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing. Additional testing is performed at intervals defined by documented performance data. Receptacles not listed as hospital-grade at these locations are tested at intervals not exceeding 12 months. Line isolation monitors (LIM), if installed, are tested at intervals of ≤ 1 month by actuating the LIM test switch per , which activates both visual and audible alarm. For LIM circuits with automated self-testing, this manual test is performed at intervals ≤ 12 months. LIM circuits are tested per after any repair or renovation to the electric distribution system. Records are maintained of required tests and associated repairs or modifications, containing date, room or area tested, and results.
6.3.4 (NFPA 99)

8. Let’s Break It Down

9. Hospital Grade Receptacles
“Hospital-grade receptacles at patient bed locations and where deep sedation or general anesthesia is administered…”
NFPA (B) - Patient Bed Location Receptacles. Each patient bed location shall be provided with a minimum of four receptacles. They shall be permitted to be of the single, duplex, or quadruplex type, or any combination of the three. All receptacles, whether four or more, shall be listed “hospital grade” and so identified….
Exception No. 1: The requirements of (B) shall not apply to psychiatric, substance abuse, and rehabilitation hospitals meeting the requirements of (B)(2).
Exception No. 2: Psychiatric security rooms shall not be required to have receptacle outlets installed in the room.

10. Does That Mean I Have To Have Hospital Grade Receptacles?
Yes
And No
Informational Note: It is not intended that there be a total, immediate replacement of existing non–hospital grade receptacles. It is intended, however, that non–hospital grade receptacles be replaced with hospital grade receptacles upon modification of use, renovation, or as existing receptacles need replacement.

11. Hospital Grade Receptacles
NFPA 70, Applicability.
(A) Applicability. Part II shall apply to patient care areas of all health care facilities.
(B) Not Covered. Part II shall not apply to the following:
(1) Business offices, corridors, waiting rooms, and the like in clinics, medical and dental offices, and outpatient facilities.
(2) Areas of nursing homes and limited care facilities wired in accordance with Chapters 1 through 4 of this Code where these areas are used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms.

12. Hospital Grade Receptacles
If you choose to reconfigure to hospital grade receptacles, to eliminate annual testing, a permit must be pulled and the work must be done under a license. (Per State Electrical Code)
If replacement is done for repair purposes, a repair license is needed.

13. Hospital Grade Receptacles
“Hospital-grade receptacles at patient bed locations and where deep sedation or general anesthesia is administered…”
(NFPA 99) Where hospital-grade receptacles are required at patient bed locations and in locations where deep sedation or general anesthesia is administered, testing shall be performed after initial installation, replacement, or servicing of the device.

14. Hospital Grade Receptacles
“…are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.”
DOCUMENT!!!

15. Hospital Grade Receptacles
“Additional testing is performed at intervals defined by documented performance data.”
What does documented performance data mean?
Documented failure rates.
Reports of receptacle not performing as intended.

16. Non Hospital Grade Receptacles
“Receptacles not listed as hospital-grade at these locations are tested at intervals not exceeding 12 months.”
Must be tested inside a calendar year from last inspection.

18. Line Isolation Monitors
“Line isolation monitors (LIM), if installed, are tested at intervals of ≤ 1 month by actuating the LIM test switch per (NFPA 99) which activates both visual and audible alarm.”
Requires a test switch be installed to test capability to operate.
Test must cause alarms to operate and meter to indicate the alarm.
Test shall be conducted on grounding connection.
Switch shall be self-restoring.

19. Line Isolation Monitors
“For LIM circuits with automated self-testing, this manual test is performed at intervals ≤ 12 months”
Must conduct a manual test in accordance with (NFPA 99) once within a calendar year.

20. Line Isolation Monitors
“LIM circuits are tested per (NFPA 99) after any repair or renovation to the electric distribution system.”
Tested by grounding each energized line of the distribution system through a 200 x V (Ohms) resistor.
Visual and audible alarms must be activated.
DOCUMENT!!!

21. Records
“Records are maintained of required tests and associated repairs or modifications, containing date, room or area tested, and results.”
Records are required to be ON HAND and READILY AVAILABLE for inspection.

22. Receptacle Questions

23. Power Strips, K-920
Power Strips used for PCREE (patient care related electrical equipment), in the patient care vicinity, must be listed UL 1363A or UL
PCREE = Electrical appliance that is intended for diagnosis, therapeutic, or monitoring purposes in a patient care vicinity. (PCREE must be inspected and tested before being put into service K-921)
Patient Care Vicinity = Space within a location, intended for examination and treatment, extending 6ft out and 7ft 6in above. I.E. chair, bed, PT equipment, or any device that supports a patient during treatment.
This includes all health care facilities.

24. Power Strips
Power strips may not be used in patient care vicinity for non PCREE.
Exception in long-term care (nursing home) resident rooms that do not use PCREE.
Power strips used for non-PCREE in patient care rooms (outside patient care vicinity) must be listed UL 1363.
MSFC (2015) Power Taps shall be polarized or grounded, have overcurrent protection, and be listed UL 1363.

25. Extension Cords Cannot replace permanent, fixed wiring.
For temporary tasks only.
Discontinue immediately after task is complete.
No heating or cooling appliances.
WITHIN MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS!!!

26. Questions