Dept. of health?

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Jpreverso

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Albuquerque NM
We recently finished wiring a retirement home, confusing job because it was built in a residential zone not comercial. It took a few attempts to pass our final inspection, our biggest issue being Arc Fault protection but we finally passed. The Fire Marshal came through he was happy. Then the Dept of Health came through and they say that in all the bathrooms there cant be any exposed incondesent bulbs. So all the vanity fixtures located above the sink outside the shower zone must come down before any residents move in. Is there a Dept of health electrical code we all should know about? More importantly dose it supersede the NEC?
 
Formal amendments and local codes can certainly supersede the NEC. Special occupancies will always have their own codes so to speak.

Roger
 
roger said:
Formal amendments and local codes can certainly supersede the NEC. Special occupancies will always have their own codes so to speak.

Roger
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Where do i go to get a list of Formal amendments. I already have the local codes. We are just about to start building another one of these retirement homes and i dont want any more surprises.
 
Jpreverso said:
So all the vanity fixtures located above the sink outside the shower zone must come down before any residents move in.
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Can you install compact fluorescent globe vanity bulbs instead, or are they requiring different fixtures?
 
special ocupancies sometimes have special rules. many times the owner is responsible for these rules. I always have the owner buy fixtures to avoid just this circumstance.
 
I noticed you are from New Mexico. You would probably find requirements such as those in the New Mexico Administrative Codes, not an electrical code. I glanced thru what seemed applicable and found no mention of exposed bulbs, except to limit glare.

You might want to ask the Health inspector for a reference, they are often wrong in their interpretation of rules.

It is highly unlikely that this project could have been done without design professionals. Your best bet would be to to contact the engineer or architect of record and let them sort it out.

Jim T
 
Jpreverso said:
Where do i go to get a list of Formal amendments. I already have the local codes. We are just about to start building another one of these retirement homes and i dont want any more surprises.
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You can contact the agencies that will be involved with the project i.e. Health department, Dept of Insurance, HUD, ASME, etc... for their specifics. All of the players should be listed somewhere in the contract documents.

Many times you can find State and Local codes online.

The following is an example.

http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Engineering/BCC/Documents/2006_Edition/Rehabilitation_2006.pdf

Roger
 
to drift a little...

to drift a little...

you mentioned arc-fault...did you have to install them? Was it a local issue, an AE issue, or a code issue?

I ask because a nursing home does not fit the definition of a 'dwelling unit' and the arc-faults, even tho a wise move, are not required.

Same is true for most college dorms.
 
Thanks for the help, I called the grenral this morning to try to get more deatails but I still haven't received a call back.

thinfool said:
you mentioned arc-fault...did you have to install them? Was it a local issue, an AE issue, or a code issue?

I ask because a nursing home does not fit the definition of a 'dwelling unit' and the arc-faults, even tho a wise move, are not required.

Same is true for most college dorms.
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yes we had to put them in. It was a NEC thing strongly influenced by a local thing. The comercial building was zoned residential. We used NM cable to wire it. New Mexico amended artical 334.12(A) added (11) "Type nm nmc or nms shall not be installed in buildings or structures such as stores, professional offices,motels,hotels and similar occupancies classified as comercial." Seen as a residental building we were okay to use the NM, but the bedrooms were seen as residental or Dwelling Unit bedrooms there for requiring AFCI protection.
 
Jpreverso said:
yes we had to put them in. It was a NEC thing strongly influenced by a local thing. The comercial building was zoned residential. We used NM cable to wire it. New Mexico amended artical 334.12(A) added (11) "Type nm nmc or nms shall not be installed in buildings or structures such as stores, professional offices,motels,hotels and similar occupancies classified as comercial." Seen as a residental building we were okay to use the NM, but the bedrooms were seen as residental or Dwelling Unit bedrooms there for requiring AFCI protection.
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I design a lot of retirement homes, asissted care facilities, etc., in New Mexico and it really depends on your floor plan, and how the units are constructed. If each "apartment" has separate cooking, living, and sleeping facilities, you probably have a residential occupancy. If they don't, you have a commercial occupancy.

Many people believe that if you are in a Group R occupancy it is residential, but that isn't true in New Mexico when determining wiring methods, etc.

Jim T
 
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