Conduits attach to ceiling inside O.R.

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anbm

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There is no equipment boom/column inside operating room, is it legal to run a 5 feet of EMT from ceiling down and attach outlet box at the end of this conduit... so doctor can plug the equipment cord into the outlet?
 
anbm said:
Why no?
Click to expand...

Because its a receptacle outlet box. It has to be securely fastened and can not be supported by the conduit alone.

The proper way, IMHO, to tackle this situation is with a (code-compliant) flexible pendant receptacle. Appleton & Oz-Gedney (among others) make some good solutions:

http://www.emersonindustrial.com/en...ip_connector/aluminum_cord_grip_connector.pdf
(See the third page.)

http://www.emersonindustrial.com/en.../AEC_MC007_Bus_Drop_Cable_Supports_Clamps.pdf
 
Ralph Michaels said:
Because its a receptacle outlet box. It has to be securely fastened and can not be supported by the conduit alone.

The proper way, IMHO, to tackle this situation is with a (code-compliant) flexible pendant receptacle....
Click to expand...

Which will need to have a sheath rated as an equipment grounding conductor. 517.13(A).

So a pendant, yes, but maybe not so flexible.

How about a pair of rigid metal conduits supporting an FS box?
 
Volta said:
How about a pair of rigid metal conduits supporting an FS box?
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OP said 5 feet from ceiling.

314.23(F) Raceway-Supported Enclosures, with Devices, Luminaires,
or Lampholders. An enclosure that contains a
device(s), other than splicing devices, or supports a luminaire(
s), lampholder, or other equipment and is supported by
entering raceways shall not exceed 1650 cm3 (100 in.3) in
size. It shall have threaded entries or have hubs identified for
the purpose. It shall be supported by two or more conduits
threaded wrenchtight into the enclosure or hubs. Each conduit
shall be secured within 450 mm (18 in.) of the enclosure.
 
jumper said:
OP said 5 feet from ceiling.

314.23(F) Raceway-Supported Enclosures, with Devices, Luminaires,
or Lampholders. An enclosure that contains a
device(s), other than splicing devices, or supports a luminaire(
s), lampholder, or other equipment and is supported by
entering raceways shall not exceed 1650 cm3 (100 in.3) in
size. It shall have threaded entries or have hubs identified for
the purpose. It shall be supported by two or more conduits
threaded wrenchtight into the enclosure or hubs. Each conduit
shall be secured within 450 mm (18 in.) of the enclosure.
Click to expand...

Ah, that's true. Then some closer point of support is needed. Dropping strut could suffice, and in fact may be usable as the wiring method itself.

Or a less likely solution could be a Unilet of a size large enough to accommodate a device, and use a 314.23(F) exception, if it can be argued that it is an exception to both the number of conduits and the distance of strapping, followed-up by a quick 344.30 "...do not permit ready fastening..." clause. That's pushing it, though

More likely to use the strut, as closer support or the method itself.
 
Volta said:
Ah, that's true. Then some closer point of support is needed. Dropping strut could suffice, and in fact may be usable as the wiring method itself.

Or a less likely solution could be a Unilet of a size large enough to accommodate a device, and use a 314.23(F) exception, if it can be argued that it is an exception to both the number of conduits and the distance of strapping, followed-up by a quick 344.30 "...do not permit ready fastening..." clause. That's pushing it, though

More likely to use the strut, as closer support or the method itself.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by the statement above in red? I can't get that in my head.:?
 
How's about installing twist lock receptacle at the ceiling and use a retractable cord to plug into it?
(if retractable won't be counted as part of emergency circuit rather than an equipment)
 
ActionDave said:
Could 334.30.(B)(3) be used here?
Click to expand...

Doubt it.


(3) Exposed vertical risers from industrial machinery or
fixed equipment shall be permitted to be supported at
intervals not exceeding 6 m (20 ft) if the conduit is
made up with threaded couplings, the conduit is supported
and securely fastened at the top and bottom of
the riser, and no other means of intermediate support is
readily available
 
Well shoot. I might see a hospital as an industrial site. There is a lot of steel and brick and concrete and asphalt at every hospital I have ever been to.

What are you doing out of bed at 2:00AM anyway? It is only midnight for me so I don't have to explain to anybody.
 
jumper said:
Doubt it.


(3) Exposed vertical risers from industrial machinery or
fixed equipment shall be permitted to be supported at
intervals not exceeding 6 m (20 ft) if the conduit is
made up with threaded couplings, the conduit is supported
and securely fastened at the top and bottom of
the riser, and no other means of intermediate support is
readily available
Click to expand...

I think this would be fine IF it were what he wanted. The OP isn't talking about RMC going down to terminate in a piece of fixed equipment. He wants a receptacle available to plug into.

it does say "or fixed equipment" which leaves me to think this would be fine if applicable.
 
Little Bill said:
What do you mean by the statement above in red? I can't get that in my head.:?
Click to expand...

Article 384. Unistrut, or similar is/can be listed for use as a raceway. It can be pretty handy.

Twoskinsoneman said:
I think this would be fine IF it were what he wanted. The OP isn't talking about RMC going down to terminate in a piece of fixed equipment. He wants a receptacle available to plug into.

it does say "or fixed equipment" which leaves me to think this would be fine if applicable.
Click to expand...

We just need to affix the receptacle to something... but we don't need the full 20' exception, just 5 or 8 feet or so.
 
Volta said:
We just need to affix the receptacle to something... but we don't need the full 20' exception, just 5 or 8 feet or so.
Click to expand...

In my humble opinion, using that exception is really streching it. THis isn't industrial equipment or fixed equipment. Iin both those cases, the conduit run would have a fixed support at the equipment. Here it terminates in a receptacle with no other support.

Something to keep in mind here, OR's are very sterile areas. You can't create any place for bacteria to hide. So unistrut would be out, and I'm not sure how well recieved exposed conduit would be.

They use the stainless steel booms for a reason. Can't you use a stainless steel enclosure that goes up through the ceiling, and is sealed around the ceiling?
 
Volta said:
We just need to affix the receptacle to something... but we don't need the full 20' exception, just 5 or 8 feet or so.
Click to expand...

steve66 said:
In my humble opinion, using that exception is really streching it.
Click to expand...

If he had something to support the receptacle with there would be no need for the exception or the thread in the first place probably. That exception is certainly for conduit terminated in the equipment IMHO.
 
Twoskinsoneman said:
If he had something to support the receptacle with there would be no need for the exception or the thread in the first place probably. That exception is certainly for conduit terminated in the equipment IMHO.
Click to expand...

But the exception is only for the distance between supports.

The equipment (box/outlet) still has to be 'fixed' to something.
 
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