Is an "Ambulatory Care Facility" not a "Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy"

[ron]

Is an "Ambulatory Care Facility" not a "Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy"

Argument with an Architect ...

The Building Code defines the occupancy of a space as an "Ambulatory Care Facility", which is a 'B' occupancy

IBC Chapter 2 Definitions
Ambulatory Care Facility: Buildings or portions thereof used to provide medical, surgical, psychiatric, nursing or similar care on a less than 24-hour basis to persons who are rendered incapable of self preservation by the services provided.

NEC
517.2 Definitions.
Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy. A building or portion thereof used to provide services or treatment simultaneously to four or more patients that provides, on an outpatient basis, one or more of the following:
(1) Treatment for patients that renders the patients incapable of taking action for self-preservation under emergency conditions without assistance of others.
(2) Anesthesia that renders the patients incapable of taking action for self-preservation under emergency conditions without the assistance of others.
(3) Emergency or urgent care for patients who, due to the nature of their injury or illness, are incapable of taking action for self-preservation under emergency conditions without the assistance of others. [101:3.3.168.1]

The procedure rooms are setup so only 3 patients will be incapable of taking action for self-preservation under emergency conditions without assistance of others.

So the Architect is asking if we really need an Essential Electrical System. It is just a B occupancy and is NOT a Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy per the NEC definition.

Interesting, but I guess a "Ambulatory Care Facility" is NOT a "Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy" in this case.

So question, just interesting.

 

[petersonra]

perhaps that is why it was limited to three patients.

 

[steve66]

There is still 517.45: Essential Electrical Systems for Other Health Care Facilities.

If they provide critical care or if they use electrical life support equipment 517.30 through 517.35 still apply.

 

[ron]

There is still 517.45: Essential Electrical Systems for Other Health Care Facilities.

If they provide critical care or if they use electrical life support equipment 517.30 through 517.35 still apply.

Agreed, thanks. These are prospective tenants, so nobody knows at this point what they will actually be doing.

 

[steve66]

Agreed, thanks. These are prospective tenants, so nobody knows at this point what they will actually be doing.

Aren't those jobs great? Then they can't understand why all the feeders and backup power can't be designed and installed now:? Or if you plan for worst case, then they don't understand why its going to cost so much. :weeping:

 

[north star]

@ + @

" So the Architect is asking if we really need an Essential Electrical System. It is
just a B occupancy and is NOT a Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy per the NEC
definition "

Since the IBC is the Code document that defines the use of spaces; and not the NEC,
...Yes, they need an essential electrical system for the Ambulatory Health Care
Facility [ RE: Section 301.1 - General: " The provisions of this chapter shall control
the classification of all buildings and structures as to use and classification." ]


@ + @

 

[gadfly56]

@ + @

Since the IBC is the Code document that defines the use of spaces; and not the NEC,
...Yes, they need an essential electrical system for the Ambulatory Health Care
Facility [ RE: Section 301.1 - General: " The provisions of this chapter shall control
the classification of all buildings and structures as to use and classification." ]


@ + @

Yes, and the IBC is for 4 or more patients. They have 3. Not an Ambulatory Health Care Facility. That's why they went with 3.