Hcfc height requirements

[Fearno42]

Is there a specific height to which HCFC is required.Engineer insist it only needs to be used up to 48 inch high.Which is standard patient bed height.Has anyone else heard this? Could you cite a code article.

 

[roger]

It is required everywhere in the Patient Vicinity,

517.2 Patient Vicinity. In an area in which patients are normally cared for, the patient vicinity is the space with surfaces likely to be contacted by the patient or an attendant who can touch the patient. Typically in a patient room, this encloses a space within the room not less than 1.8 m (6 ft) beyond the perimeter of the bed in its nominal location, and extending vertically not less than 2.3 m (7 1/ 2 ft) above the floor.

the engineer is mistaken.

517.13 Grounding of Receptacles and Fixed Electric Equipment in Patient Care Areas
Wiring in patient care areas shall comply with 517.13(A) and 517.13(B).

(A) Wiring Methods All branch circuits serving patient care areas shall be provided with a ground path for fault current by installation in a metal raceway system, or a cable having a metallic armor or sheath assembly. The metal raceway system, or metallic cable armor, or sheath assembly shall itself qualify as an equipment grounding return path in accordance with 250.118.

(B) Insulated Equipment Grounding Conductor The grounding terminals of all receptacles and all non–current-carrying conductive surfaces of fixed electric equipment likely to become energized that are subject to personal contact, operating at over 100 volts, shall be grounded by an insulated copper conductor. The equipment grounding conductor shall be sized in accordance with Table 250.122 and installed in metal raceways or as a part of listed cables having a metallic armor or sheath assembly with the branch-circuit conductors supplying these receptacles or fixed equipment.

Exception No. 1: Metal faceplates shall be permitted to be grounded by means of a metal mounting screw(s) securing the faceplate to a grounded outlet box or grounded wiring device.

Exception No. 2: Luminaires (light fixtures) more than 2.3 m (7 1/ 2 ft) above the floor and switches located outside of the patient vicinity shall not be required to be grounded by an insulated equipment grounding conductor.

The light fixtures or what have you above 7 1/2 ft do not need to be wired in HCFC, but they would still need to utilize a wiring method with a metal sheath that is recognized as an EGC in 250.118, in otherwords you do not need an insulated conductor above the Patient Vicinity you could use AC or FMC (within the requirements of 250.118(7)) for this work.



Roger

 

[Fearno42]

I thought the same thing,but did not have the specific article to argue the point. Thanks for the reply.