Chiropractor Office

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akshane

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Hoping some one can help with this. For a chiropractor office the inspector told me we had to use metal conduit for the feeder run. I wanted to run PVC and two ground wires in it. he said i cannot. The branch i know about but cannot find anything that says i have to run metal for feeder. Can you help???

Shane
 
Re: Chiropractor Office

What code article did he say you're violating with your PVC?
 
Re: Chiropractor Office

This is how it went. Wiring a building that will have 4 offices in it. The owner came to us saying he might be renting one of them to a chiropractor, so i called the inspector asking if this would be a healthcare issue. The answer was yes and then he said you guys should know down there that the feeder has to be in metal, i said i was gonna put it in pvc and run two grounds in it, he said i cannot it has to be in metal. He didnt have time to find it in the book, i said its ok i will look it up. The problem is i do not see where it says i cannot use pvc for the feeder or where i have to metal conduit.
 
Re: Chiropractor Office

Calling it a "healthcare issue" is too vague to allow anyone to establish the minimum requirements. If the "healthcare" means "hospital, complete with operating rooms," then you are looking at backup generators and at separate Life Safety, Critical, and Equipment Branches. At the other end of the scale, the insurance claims office is also related to "healthcare," and it has no special requirements for electrical installation.

So exactly what is the "healthcare issue"?

I've never been in a Chiropractor's office, so I don't know what types of equipment are there, nor what types of care are given there. Your inspector might be calling this a "Patient Care Area," per article 517's definitions, and citing 517.13(A). But that is talking about branch circuits, and you are talking about a feeder. So I don't know what to tell you. But you need to establish the type of facility and the applicable rules, in order to get your answer.
 
Re: Chiropractor Office

The guy lays you on a table and cracks your back, there is a heat pad for sore mucles and a x-ray machine, that is all that will be in there.It is not a clinic. They do not put you to sleep or operate or even take your blood pressure.This is not a clinic. That is why i called the inspector because i wasnt sure this is even classed as a healthcare. But he said it is. I still aint sure.

Thanks for the help
 
Re: Chiropractor Office

The NEC definition of "Health Care Facility" includes medical offices and clinics. The definition of "General (Patient} Care Area" includes examination and treatment. This can go any way the AHJ wants it to.
 
Re: Chiropractor Office

I guess you would be a patient, but having a heat pad on and getting your back , neck or whatever cracked isnt really like having a shot or blood taken or having stitches. So how far do you take it? I was gonna run ac cable to everything in the (patient room) from the panel, but still cannot find where it sais that i cant run pvc from the service to the panel. Even if this was a full blown clinic i cant find it.
I guess i gotta call him back and have him tell me the exact place in the code.
lol, kinda crazy uh??
 
Re: Chiropractor Office

akshane
I agree that it is unlikely that you need redundant grounding for a feeder. It applies to branch circuits not feeders. Ask the inspector for chapter and verse. As far as redundant grounding of branch circuits in a chiropractors office, I believe that you would need it in the exam rooms at the least.

Jim T
 
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