Ar#cle 517 in the 2011 and 2014 Na#onal Electrical Code (NEC)

Ar#cle 517 in the 2011 and 2014 Na#onal Electrical Code (NEC)

90.3 Code Arrangement Introduc#on and nine chapters Table of Contents Ar#cles Parts Sec#ons Subsec#ons Paragraphs Index

90.3 Code Arrangement This Code is divided into the introduc#on and nine chapters. Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 apply generally; Chapters 5, 6, and 7 apply to special occupancies, special equipment, or other special condi#ons.

90.3 Code Arrangement These laoer chapters supplement or modify the general rules. Chapters 1 through 4 apply except as amended by Chapters 5, 6, and 7 for the par#cular condi#ons.

90.3 Code Arrangement Chapter 8 covers communica#ons systems and is not subject to the requirements of Chapters 1 through 7 except where the requirements are specifically referenced in Chapter 8. Chapter 9 consists of tables. Material iden#fied by the superscript leoer x in the 1999 and previous Codes or bracketed references in the 2002 Code includes text extracted from other NFPA documents

Ar#cle 517- - Health Care Facili#es

517.1 Scope. The provisions of this ar#cle shall apply to electrical construc#on and installa#on criteria in health care facili#es that provide services to human beings.

517.1 Scope. The requirements in Parts II and III not only apply to single- func#on buildings but are also intended to be individually applied to their respec#ve forms of occupancy within a mul#func#on building (e.g., a doctor s examining room located within a limited care facility would be required to meet the provisions of 517.10).

517.1 Scope. Informa#onal Note: For informa#on concerning performance, maintenance, and tes#ng criteria, refer to the appropriate health care facili#es documents.

517.2 Defini#ons for Health Care Facili#es

Health Care Facili#es. Buildings or por#ons of buildings in which medical, dental, psychiatric, nursing, obstetrical, or surgical care are provided. Health care facili#es include, but are not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, limited care facili#es, clinics, medical and dental offices, and ambulatory care centers, whether permanent or movable.

Health Care Occupancy

517.2 Defini#ons (2011 NEC) Cri#cal Branch. A subsystem of the emergency system consis#ng of feeders and branch circuits supplying energy to task illumina#on, special power circuits, and selected receptacles serving areas and func#ons related to pa#ent care and that are connected to alternate power sources by one or more transfer switches during interrup#on of normal power source. [99:3.3.26]

517.2 Defini#ons (2014 NEC) Cri#cal Branch. A system of feeders and branch circuits supplying power for task illumina#on, fixed equipment, select receptacles, and select power circuits serving areas and func#ons related to pa#ent care and that is automa#cally connected to alternate power sources by one or more transfer switches during interrup#on of normal power source. [99:3.3.30]

517.2 Defini#ons (2011 NEC) Life Safety Branch. A subsystem of the emergency system consis#ng of feeders and branch circuits, mee#ng the requirements of Ar#cle 700 and intended to provide adequate power needs to ensure safety to pa#ents and personnel, and that are automa#cally connected to alternate power sources during interrup#on of the normal power source. [99:3.3.96]

517.2 Defini#ons (2014 NEC) Life Safety Branch. A system of feeders and branch circuits supplying power for ligh:ng, receptacles, and equipment essen:al for life safety that is automa:cally connected to alternate power sources by one or more transfer switches during interrup:on of the normal power source. [99:3.3.94]

517.2 Defini#ons (2011 NEC) Equipment System. A system of circuits and equipment arranged for delayed, automa#c, or manual connec#on to the alternate power source and that serves primarily 3- phase power equipment.

517.2 Defini#ons (2014 NEC) Equipment Branch. A system of feeders and branch circuits arranged for delayed, automa:c, or manual connec:on to the alternate power source and that serves primarily 3- phase power equipment. [99:3.3.46].

517.2 Defini#ons (2014 NEC) Pa#ent Care Space. Space within a health care facility wherein pa#ents are intended to be examined or treated. Basic Care Space. Space in which failure of equipment or a system is not likely to cause injury to the pa#ents or caregivers but may cause pa#ent discomfort. General Care Space. Space in which failure of equipment or a system is likely to cause minor injury to pa#ents or caregivers. Cri0cal Care Space. Space in which failure of equipment or a system is likely to cause major injury or death to pa#ents or caregivers.

517.2 Defini#ons (2014 NEC) Support Space. Space in which failure of equipment or a system is not likely to have a physical impact on pa#ents or caregivers. Informa#onal Note No. 1: The governing body of the facility designates pa#ent care space in accordance with the type of pa#ent care an#cipated and with the defini#ons of the area classifica#on. Business offices, corridors, lounges, day rooms, dining rooms, or similar areas typically are not classified as pa#ent care space.

517.2 Defini#ons (2014 NEC) Informa#onal Note No. 2: Basic care space is typically a loca#on where basic medical or dental care, treatment, or examina#ons are performed. Examples include, but are not limited to, examina#on or treatment rooms in clinics, medical and dental offices, nursing homes, and limited care facili#es. Informa#onal Note No. 3: General care space includes areas such as pa#ent bedrooms, examining rooms, treatment rooms, clinics, and similar areas where the pa#ent may come into contact with electromedical devices or ordinary appliances such as a nurse call system, electric beds, examining lamps, telephones, and entertainment devices.

517.2 Defini#ons (2014 NEC) Informa#onal Note No. 4: Cri#cal care space includes special care units, intensive care units, coronary care units, angiography laboratories, cardiac catheteriza#on laboratories, delivery rooms, opera#ng rooms, and similar areas in which are pa#ents are intended to be subjected to invasive procedures and are connected to line- operated, electromedical devices.

517.2 Defini#ons (2014 NEC) Informa#onal Note No. 5: Spaces where a procedure is performed that subjects pa#ents or staff to wet condi#ons are considered as wet procedure areas. Wet condi#ons include standing fluids on the floor or drenching of the work area. Rou#ne housekeeping procedures and incidental spillage of liquids do not define wet procedure areas. It is the responsibility of the governing body of the health care facility to designate the wet procedure areas.

517.2 Defini#ons (2014 NEC) Pa#ent Care Vicinity. A space, within a loca#on intended for the examina#on and treatment of pa#ents, extending 1.8 m (6 j) beyond the normal loca#on of the pa#ent bed, chair, table, treadmill, or other device that supports the pa#ent during examina#on and treatment and extending ver#cally to 2.3 m (7 j 6 in.) above the floor. [99:3.3.139]

517.2 Defini#ons (2014 NEC) Wet Procedure Loca#on. The area in a pa#ent care space where a procedure is performed that is normally subject towet condi#ons while pa#ents are present, including standing fluids on the floor or drenching of the work area, where either such condi#on is in#mate to the pa#ent or staff. Informa#onal Note: Rou#ne housekeeping procedures and incidental spillage of liquids do not define a wet procedure loca#on.

517.26 Applica#on of Other Ar#cles. (2011 NEC) The essen#al electrical system shall meet the requirements of Ar#cle 700, except as amended by Ar#cle 517. Informa#onal Note: The provisions of NFPA 110-2010, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, should be considered when designing and installing essen#al electrical power supply systems.

517.26 Applica#on of Other Ar#cles. (2014 NEC) The life safety branch of the essen#al electrical system shall meet the requirements of Ar#cle 700, except as amended by Ar#cle 517. Informa#onal Note No. 1: For addi#onal informa#on, see NFPA 110-2013, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems. Informa#onal Note No. 2: For addi#onal informa#on, see 517.30 and NFPA 99-2012, Health Care Facili0es Code.

517.18 General Care Areas.(2014 NEC) (A) Pa#ent Bed Loca#on. Each pa#ent bed loca#on shall be supplied by at least two branch circuits, one from the cri#cal branch and one from the normal system. All branch circuits from the normal system shall originate in the same panelboard. The electrical receptacles or the cover plate for the electrical receptacles supplied from the cri#cal branch shall have a dis#nc#ve color or marking so as to be readily iden#fiable and shall also indicate the panelboard and branch- circuit number supplying them. Branch circuits serving pa#ent bed loca#ons shall not be part of a mul#wire branch circuit.

517.18 General Care Areas. (2014 NEC) (B) Pa#ent Bed Loca#on Receptacles. Each pa#ent bed loca#on shall be provided with a minimum of eight receptacles. They shall be permioed to be of the single, duplex, or quadruplex type or any combina#on of the three. All receptacles shall be listed hospital grade and shall be so iden#fied. The grounding terminal of each receptacle shall be connected to an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor sized in accordance with Table 250.122.

517.19 Cri#cal Care Areas. (2014 NEC) (B) Pa#ent Bed Loca#on Receptacles. (1) Minimum Number and Supply. Each pa#ent bed loca#on shall be provided with a minimum of 14 receptacles, at least one of which shall be connected to either of the following: (1) The normal system branch circuit required in 517.19 (A) (2) A cri#cal branch circuit supplied by a different transfer switch than the other receptacles at the same pa#ent bed loca#on

517.19(C) Opera#ng Room Receptacles. (2014 NEC) (1) Minimum Number and Supply. Each opera#ng room shall be provided with a minimum of 36 receptacles, at least 12 of which shall be connected to either of the following: (1) The normal system branch circuit required in 517.19 (A) (2) A cri#cal branch circuit supplied by a different transfer switch than the other receptacles at the same loca#on

517.19(C) Opera#ng Room Receptacles. (2014 NEC) (2) Receptacle Requirements. The receptacles required in C(517.19)(1) shall be permioed to be of the single or duplex types or a combina#on of both. All receptacles shall be listed hospital grade and so iden#fied. The grounding terminal of each receptacle shallbe connected to the reference grounding point by means of an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor.

517.30 Essen#al Electrical Systems for (B) General. Hospitals. (2014 NEC) (1) Separate Branches. Essen#al electrical systems for hospitals shall be comprised of three separate branches capable of supplying a limited amount of ligh#ng and power service that is considered essen#al for life safety and effec#ve hospital opera#on during the #me the normal electrical service is interrupted for any reason. The three branches are life safety, cri#cal, and equipment.

517.30 Essen#al Electrical Systems for Hospitals. (2014 NEC) (2) Transfer Switches. The number of transfer switches to be used shall be based on reliability, design, and load considera#ons. Each branch of the essen#al electrical system shall have one or more transfer switches. One transfer switch and downstream distribu#on system shall be permioed to serve one or more branches in a facility with a maximum demand on the essen#al electrical system of 150 kva.

517.30 Essen#al Electrical Systems for Hospitals. (2014 NEC) (F) Feeders from Alternate Power Source. A single feeder supplied by a local or remote alternate source shall be permioed to supply the essen#al electrical system to the point at which the life safety, cri#cal, and equipment branches are separated. Installa#on of the transfer equipment shall be permioed at other than the loca#on of the alternate power source.

517.30 Essen#al Electrical Systems for Hospitals. (2014 NEC) (G) Coordina#on. Overcurrent protec#ve devices serving the essen#al electrical system shall be coordinated for the period of #me that a fault s dura#on extends beyond 0.1 second. Excep0on No. 1: Between transformer primary and secondary overcurrent protec0ve devices, where only one overcurrent protec0ve device or set of overcurrent protec0ve devices exists on the transformer secondary. Excep0on No. 2: Between overcurrent protec0ve devices of the same size (ampere ra0ng) in series. Informa#onal Note: The terms coordina0on and coordinated as used in this sec#on do not cover the full range of overcurrent condi#ons.