GFCI in a dentist office

C

Casey the Electrician

Member
Location
OH
Occupation
Electrician
Hello all.

I am bidding a small job for a local dentist. Replacing a non compliant feed to the existing vacuum pump, fed with NM, and installing a second feed for the new pump as it needs two feeds.

240 volt, single phase. 20 amp. It seems to me that these feeds should be GFCI protected given they handle the waste water from the dental operations. Manufacturer instructions state that local AHJ should determine GFCI, NEC guidelines should be followed, etc. I have heard a lot of people say "hardwiring equipment negates the GFCI requirement,"ART 422 seems to indicate otherwise. On another note that does not apply in this case, I also hear people say a monoplex or some call them simplex receptacle, i.e. the single point of use style receptacle negates GFCI in some instances. I don't see where this is justified in the code either. Please feel free to expound if you feel compelled. :)

At any rate, it would seem that while this pump is hardwired, voltage to ground is less than 150, less than 60 amps, GFCI should still be placed in the panel of the breaker type because it handles water ?

I spend a lot of time in my own head....2nd, 3rd, 4th guessing my decisions. Please tell me your thoughts.

Thank you all in advance.
 
ptonsparky said:
The piping to the dental care areas are most likely plastic. How will a patient come in contact with any electrical equipment?

These pumps are remote, correct?

Ask your AHJ.
Click to expand...
I agree. I have done quite a few dental facilities and the vacuum pump(s) were in a separate equipment area/room.

With that said, as ptonsparky and the manufacturers instruction say, check with the local authority
 
It is an older building. Without going back through site photos, I do recall the water piping being copper. The pump is remote located and is only handling the waste water, rinse and spit you know. lol

I plan to email the CBO who will probably defer to the ESI. I just thought a consensus would be ideal.

To be clear, I absolutely do not want this install to be on GFCI. Sounds like return service calls waiting to happen for no real reason of safety. 🫤
 
Simply being near water is not the problem.
The danger comes from contacting wet surfaces at the same time as energized surfaces, or retrieving equipment that has fallen into a sink.

The newest dentist offices i have been in do not have any plumbing that is directly contacted by the patient
 
If this pump is locked in a utility room somewhere, I wouldn't think it would need GFCI protection.

As far as using single receptacles, i.e. "monoplex", to avoid a GFCI, that used to be the case in the 2005 and previous codes for pieces of equipment not readily movable like freezers and air compressor etc. But now any 120 volt receptacle in a location where GFCI is otherwise required, also requires GFCI protection.
 
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