code violation?

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anbm

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We have an electrical panel in a healthcare facility with have some patient rooms and supported offices. All conduits are EMT.

For the patient rooms, electrician run separate equipment ground wire to the outlets.

For the support office, they don't run the equipment ground to the outlets (I guess they can use EMT as a ground mean).

Will this acceptable since all supported office in same area with patient rooms? Thanks!

Anbm
 
I believe the answer to your question is:

2008 NEC 517.13

( A ) All raceways shall provide an effective ground fault current path in patient care areas.

( B ) The ground terminals are required to be connected to a insulated copper equipment grounding conductor.

This is known as redundant grounding or 2 seperate ground paths and used for patient safety.
 
anbm said:
We have an electrical panel in a healthcare facility with have some patient rooms and supported offices. All conduits are EMT.

For the patient rooms, electrician run separate equipment ground wire to the outlets.

For the support office, they don't run the equipment ground to the outlets (I guess they can use EMT as a ground mean).

Will this acceptable since all supported office in same area with patient rooms? Thanks!

Anbm
Click to expand...

If it is a 'patient' care area then the answer is NO. patient care area is 'defined' in the NEC. as stated NEC 517.13 is where to look
 
jamesoftn said:
I believe the answer to your question is:

2008 NEC 517.13

( A ) All raceways shall provide an effective ground fault current path in patient care areas.

( B ) The ground terminals are required to be connected to a insulated copper equipment grounding conductor.

This is known as redundant grounding or 2 seperate ground paths and used for patient safety.
Click to expand...

Isn't wierd that in a home or commercial use it is okay to just have the raceway as the EGC but patient care needs a second??

Is there a theory or ROC o explain this need?
 
No, I don't think thats its wierd for this application of a copper ground wire in a hospital situation.

The whole premiss (of our work) is to eliminate any potentional, in this case is just quailfied...
 
Twoskinsoneman said:
Isn't wierd that in a home or commercial use it is okay to just have the raceway as the EGC but patient care needs a second??

Is there a theory or ROC o explain this need?
Click to expand...

Actually Roger has posted some CMP comments saying the conduit is the primary ground and the wire is secondary.
 
Twoskinsoneman said:
Is there a theory or ROC o explain this need?
Click to expand...
Read the FPN to 517.11, an equipotential is very important in patient care areas, the two bonding means help assure this, it also provides a better fault clearing path. The conduit is the primary fault clearing path where the insulated conductor plays a back-up roll.

Roger
 
Hello Bob, I guess I was a little slow :smile:

Roger
 
roger said:
Read the FPN to 517.11, an equipotential is very important in patient care areas, the two bonding means help assure this, it also provides a better fault clearing path. The conduit is the primary fault clearing path where the insulated conductor plays a back-up roll.

Roger
Click to expand...


Gee, I wonder why the EMT provides a better fault clearing path? ;)
 
It's all about money.Can we afford the best for every receptacle? I want dedicated afci and gfci along with redundant ground and ups also throw in #10 for voltage drop.How much extra ????? Perhaps rigid too.
 
iwire said:
Actually Roger has posted some CMP comments saying the conduit is the primary ground and the wire is secondary.
Click to expand...

It was actually commentary from NFPA 99, I'll try to find it tomorrow.

Roger
 
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