tcleghorn
Member
- Location
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
Greetings. First-time poster here.
I recently received a question which tested by understanding of code intent but wanted to get the forums' take.
Article 517.17(A) requires two levels of ground-fault protection where required by other codes (480V services and feeders, 1000A and greater) in hospitals and occupancies consisting of critical care Category 1 spaces. Usually, this is simply applied for most hospital projects.
#1:
I've always taken the intent of this code is more specifically, the distribution which serves critical care spaces invokes the requirements of 517.17, not necessarily if that distribution resides in the bounds of a hospital proper. Would you say this interpretation is correct?
#2:
For example, let's say a 480V, 2000A normal switchboard located in a separate free-standing administration office building serves essential branch ATS's located in a hospital serving critical care Category 1 spaces, 517.17 would require two levels of ground-fault. This to me would be correct. Would you agree?
#3:
Said in the reverse way, let's say a 480V, 2000A normal switchboard located in a hospital proper only serves loads located in a separate free-standing administration office building having no critical care Category 1 spaces. 517.17 would not come into play. Would you agree?
#4:
Now a trickier example, let's say a 480V, 2000A normal switchboard located in a hospital proper only serves non-essential loads within that hospital (chillers, chiller pumps, etc) and in no way directly serves essential loads serving critical care Category 1 spaces. 517.17 would not come into play. Would you agree?
#5:
The final example, let's say a 480V, 2000A normal switchboard located in a separate free-standing central energy plant serves only non-essential chilled water loads. The chilled water system district piping connects to a hospital on a loop with other buildings. 517.17 would not come into play. Would you agree?
I recently received a question which tested by understanding of code intent but wanted to get the forums' take.
Article 517.17(A) requires two levels of ground-fault protection where required by other codes (480V services and feeders, 1000A and greater) in hospitals and occupancies consisting of critical care Category 1 spaces. Usually, this is simply applied for most hospital projects.
#1:
I've always taken the intent of this code is more specifically, the distribution which serves critical care spaces invokes the requirements of 517.17, not necessarily if that distribution resides in the bounds of a hospital proper. Would you say this interpretation is correct?
#2:
For example, let's say a 480V, 2000A normal switchboard located in a separate free-standing administration office building serves essential branch ATS's located in a hospital serving critical care Category 1 spaces, 517.17 would require two levels of ground-fault. This to me would be correct. Would you agree?
#3:
Said in the reverse way, let's say a 480V, 2000A normal switchboard located in a hospital proper only serves loads located in a separate free-standing administration office building having no critical care Category 1 spaces. 517.17 would not come into play. Would you agree?
#4:
Now a trickier example, let's say a 480V, 2000A normal switchboard located in a hospital proper only serves non-essential loads within that hospital (chillers, chiller pumps, etc) and in no way directly serves essential loads serving critical care Category 1 spaces. 517.17 would not come into play. Would you agree?
#5:
The final example, let's say a 480V, 2000A normal switchboard located in a separate free-standing central energy plant serves only non-essential chilled water loads. The chilled water system district piping connects to a hospital on a loop with other buildings. 517.17 would not come into play. Would you agree?
