Emergency power for dental offices

[CLEVE1]

Does a typical dental office require a back-up emergency generator? The local inspector is insisting that one is required, even though no oral surgery is being performed.

Thank you for your inputs.

Bill in Cleveland, Ohio

 

[infinity]

What specific code article did he cite for this requirement?

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

I wired one few years ago and it did not have any. Prints were stamped . I would think it might be a good idea. Might prevent a potential lawsuit.

 

[ceb58]

Look at 700.1 FPN#3 It comes down to a design issue. If the plans have been approved as is, unless the inspector is going to pay for the gen set and installation, then he can want all he wants to.

 

[charlie b]

Part of the problem is that dental care is included in the Article 517.2 definition of ?health care facilities,? and dental offices are included in the scope described in 517.25. But I don?t think a dental office requires a back up power source, if there is no provision for dental surgery. My reasoning is that nothing a dental technician or dentist does, during routine dental visits, is listed in either 517.32(A) through (G) or in 517.33.

That brings us to article 700, and its own declaration of its own scope. Nothing requires the electrical system to include emergency power unless a governmental agency has declared a particular load to be an emergency load. Since we see that NEC article 517 does not require emergency power in a dental office, what is left is the question of whether any building code or local code does require emergency power in a dental office. That question you can put to your inspector: show me the non-NEC code that calls for emergency power in a dental office.

 

[KevinVost]

Part of the problem is that dental care is included in the Article 517.2 definition of ?health care facilities,? and dental offices are included in the scope described in 517.25. But I don?t think a dental office requires a back up power source, if there is no provision for dental surgery. My reasoning is that nothing a dental technician or dentist does, during routine dental visits, is listed in either 517.32(A) through (G) or in 517.33.

That brings us to article 700, and its own declaration of its own scope. Nothing requires the electrical system to include emergency power unless a governmental agency has declared a particular load to be an emergency load. Since we see that NEC article 517 does not require emergency power in a dental office, what is left is the question of whether any building code or local code does require emergency power in a dental office. That question you can put to your inspector: show me the non-NEC code that calls for emergency power in a dental office.

That is how our AHJ functions. The owner/tenant using the space has to declare (in writing to us) what type of services they will be performing, then the BO makes a determination as to what is required for the space.