As covered in the September CCE Prep, NFPA is a nonprofit membership organization that was founded in 1896 as the National Fire Protection Association. NFPA 99 provides requirements on electrical systems; gas and vacuum systems; environmental systems; materials; electrical equipment; gas equipment; laboratories; manufacturer requirements for equipment used in patient care; and requirements for hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities.

Chapter 4 of NFPA 99 (2005 edition) addresses the electrical systems in health care facilities. It requires the electrical installation to be in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (4.3.2.1). Following are some of the commonly referenced requirements:

Receptacles

The minimum number of receptacles required is based on the intended use of the patient care area (4.3.2.2.6.2). Below is a summary.

Receptacle Testing

Receptacle testing in the patient care area includes confirming the physical integrity of each receptacle through visual inspection (4.3.3.2.1), confirming the continuity of grounding circuit (4.3.3.2.2), and verifying correct polarity of hot and neutral connections (4.3.3.2.3). In each receptacle, the retention force of the grounding blade should not be less than 4 ounces (4.3.3.2.4).

The testing of hospital-grade receptacles at patient bed locations and in anesthetizing locations shall be performed after initial installation, replacement, or servicing of the receptacle. Additional periodic testing in patient care areas should be performed at intervals determined by performance data.

Receptacles used at a patient bed and in anesthetizing locations that are not listed as hospital grade should be tested at intervals not exceeding 12 months (4.3.4.1). It must be noted that not all nonhospital-grade receptacles are required to be tested at intervals of 12 months. This requirement of annual testing applies only to those nonhospital-grade receptacles that are installed where hospital-grade receptacles are required for new construction.

Wet Locations

Wet location patient care areas are required to be provided with special protection against electric shock. The power distribution system should limit ground fault current due to a first fault to a low value, without interrupting the power supply. The power supply should be interrupted if the ground fault current exceeds 6 mA (4.3.2.2.8.1).

Isolated Power

Isolated power is not required to be installed in any patient care area except wet locations. Isolated power is permitted where ground fault current needs to be limited without power interruption. The requirements for isolated power are stated in 4.3.2.6.

Line Isolation Monitor

Each isolated power system must have a line isolation monitor that indicates leakage or fault currents from either isolated conductor to ground. The monitor should alarm if the total hazard current (sum of resistive and capacitive leakage currents) from either isolated conductor to ground reaches 5 mA. The monitor should not alarm for a hazard current of less than 3.7 mA.

GFCI

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) can be used if power interruption under the first fault condition is permitted. A GFCI monitors the ground fault current and interrupts the power when the current exceeds 6 mA.


Arif Subhan, MS, CCE, is a senior clinical engineer, Masterplan, Chatsworth, Calif; chair, education committee, ACCE; and a member of  24×7’s editorial advisory board. For more information, contact .

Review Questions

  1. According to NFPA 99, each patient bed location in a critical care area should have a minimum of ____ receptacles.
    1. 2
    2. 4
    3. 5
    4. 6
    5. None of the above

    See the answer

  2. According to NFPA 99, each patient bed location in a general care area should have a minimum of ____ receptacles.
    1. 2
    2. 4
    3. 5
    4. 6
    5. None of the above

    See the answer

  3. According to NFPA 99, during receptacle testing the retention force of the grounding blade of the receptacle should not be less than ____.
    1. 4 ounces
    2. 2 ounces
    3. 5 ounces
    4. 10 ounces
    5. None of the above

    See the answer

  4. According to NFPA 99, the hospital-grade receptacles at patient bed locations should be tested ____.
    1. After initial installation
    2. At 12-month intervals
    3. At intervals defined by documented performance data
    4. After initial installation and at intervals based on documented performance data
    5. At 6-month intervals

    See the answer

  5. According to NFPA 99, the line isolation monitor should alarm if the total hazard current (sum of resistive and capacitive leakage currents) from either isolated conductor to ground reaches ____.
    1. 5 mA
    2. 3.7 mA
    3. 6 mA
    4. 10 mA
    5. None of the above

    See the answer

  6. According to NFPA 99, the receptacles not listed as hospital grade at patient bed locations, where hospital-grade receptacles are required, should be tested ____.
    1. At intervals defined by the hospital
    2. At 12-month intervals
    3. At intervals defined by documented performance data
    4. At 6-month intervals
    5. None of the above

    See the answer