Dentist office wiring

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nickelec

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just got a set of plans to bid and never done one before, what special requirements should i be looking at.

im assuming patient care areas and the staff and waiting areas are treated separately?

do i need hospital grade wiring and devices etc?

any input would be appreciated
 
Oxygen use and anestegia use are considerations (flammable). Also look at article 517 healthcare facilities, portions may also require HCF MC cable.
 
Fred B said:
Oxygen use and anesthesia use are considerations (flammable). Also look at article 517 healthcare facilities, portions may also require HCF MC cable.
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Oxygen is not flammable and I don't believe any flammable anesthesia are in use in the US.
 
The reason flammable anesthesia is still in article 517 is because the NEC is a also used in some third world countries that may still use it.

Roger
 
Take your time looking over the plans and make sure to read the specs. All of the special requirements should be listed in the plans or the specs. Just because something isn't required for a dental clinic per the NEC doesn't mean it won't be required by the specifications.
 
I retired from a large hospital and there was no special wiring around oxygen areas that I can remember. We had an outdoor 30' high oxygen tank about 100' from building. You should not have to use expensive hospital grade receptacles in a dental office but should use tamper resistant receptacles in patient care area, waiting rooms, hallway etc. Only a few hours ago i watched Rich Van Wert ( electrical education center ) think it was vid #10 that somebody asked him about using TR receptacles in dental offices. He went as far as asking code making person this question. I would contact the AHJ &/or local electrical inspector. They are great people and rather answer your questions to have job done correctly the first time. At the large hospital that I retired from they relocated a department about 5 years ago. I raised hell because they did not use any TR receptacles any where. Management said due to plans where drawn up and approved a few years earlier they did not have to use TR receptacles. ( was not in older code ) 2 days before they moved into renovated area they had the electrical contractor replace over a hundred receptacles. This rich hospital always bragged how pro active they were.
 
My input is, use HCF MC in all areas, it will cost about $100 more per 1000 feet, vs, tearing out a wall because someone didn't us it where it was required. Also, make sure you remember to use metal conduit to the chair feed that is typically in the floor.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
The presence of O2 does not trigger any special wiring requirements, like the presence of flammable vapors do.
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i was thinking about Apollo I, and an electrical short in a high oxygen environment.

i wasn't thinking about code compliance.

oxygen and grease came to mind, but a quick google says it's pure oxygen under
pressure that can cause ignition of grease, not just pure oxygen.
 
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