Question

What special requirement is there for the ground conductor for the receptacles in a patient care area of a health care facility?

Answer 1

Some special requirement is there for the ground conductor for the receptacles in a patient care area of a health care facility which are mentioned below :

1. You have to provide each branch circuit serving a patient care area with an effective ground-fault current path
2. One way is to install those circuits in metal raceway. Alternatively, you can install those circuits in a cable having a metallic armor or sheath that qualifies as an equipment grounding conductor (EGC)
3. You must use Type AC cable containing a single insulated EGC, traditional Type MC cable (where the metallic armor or sheath does not qualify as an EGC) with two EGCs, or Type MC cable with a single insulated EGC.
4. Isolated ground receptacles have insulated grounding (IG) terminals. If you install An IG receptacle in a patient care area, it must have an insulated EGC that meets the requirements
5. Simple equipment grounding conductors are adequate for most buildings; however, health care facilities require a greater degree of redundancy.
6. All branch circuits supplying patient care areas must be provided with an effective ground fault current path. This is accomplished by installing wiring in an impeccably grounded metal raceway system or in a cable having a metallic armor or sheath assembly.
7. The grounding terminals of all receptacles and all non-current-carrying conductive surfaces of fixed electrical equipment operating at more than 100V must be connected to an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor.
8. Optimum ground potential equality be achieved in critical care areas through the use of grounding bushings, continuous copper bonding jumpers, threaded hubs, or bonding-type locknuts.
9. If ground-fault protection is in place for operation of the service disconnecting then additional downstream protection must be provided. This protection consists of overcurrent devices that cause the feeder disconnecting means to open. The intent is to localize any power interruption so as not to take out life support or critical care equipment.