clarification regarding article 517.13a redundant grounding in hospital setting

[Terry Wilhite]

With regard to this code verbiage, the project I am overseeing is adhering to this code directive. The specification item maintains that all conduit in patient care will adhere to this article and section. The local inspector has accepted the pvc in the mechanical room that routes from the main switchboard to all distribution panels in the mechanical room. The second inspector has concerns that the pvc will not meet the requirement of 517.13a for the panel feeders that route from the mechanical room to the panels outside patient care rooms. He maintains all conduits in the mechanical room from distribution panels to the switchboard should be galvanized rigid conduit in slab, or emt overhead.
Hopefully, this description and narrative is detailed enough to seek an opinion regarding the pvc installation all ready installed and accepted by one inspector but not the other (there is not a situation where one inspector ranks higher than the other).
Final inspections are not issued as the construction process continues.

 

[KevinVost]

517.13 (A) requires metal raceways for branch circuits in the patient care areas and they must qualify as a grounding path per 250.118. 517(B) requires the insulated ground wire in all patient care areas.

That being said, the articles specifiy "branch circuits". IMO it does not apply to "feeders". However you may have local requirements that apply. If the switch gear and panels are in a mechanical room together and PVC is OK for the structure I don't see a problem (We have local rules against PVC in certain structures). Also, see 517.14 for bonding of panels (this is a seperate issue).

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