Laser receptacles in OR's

[mshields]

I'm working on a hospital with 6 OR's. Client standard is Isolated Power (I tried redirecting them to GFCI's but to no avail). But they have multiple laser receptacles in each OR. I'm wondering how that is typically handled. Sounds like, if Isolated Power is required, there would typically be a dedicated Critical Branch Iso panel with interlocking receptacles so as not to overload the thing and no doubt not to have too much leakage current. I'm hoping to talk the owner into a dedicated GFCI panel. I'd be interested in any feedback you have on this. Thanks

 

[steve66]

Not sure why would would try to talk them out of isolated panels. GFCI's aren't really suitable for life support equipment that most OR's would have.

 

[mshields]

That's a bit of a running debate culminating a few years back 517 and NFPA 99 allowing GFCI's or Isolated Power in Wet Procedure locations. I used to do a lot of work at Mass General Hospital in Boston; one of the countries premier hospitals, they did the analysis and concluded that GFCI panelboards were the way to go. I agree with the logic. I'm thinking that I especially agree where these laser panelboards are concerned. It strikes me that the interlocking panels are a requirement owing to the constant concern one has to have with leakage current and not exceeding that 6mA threshold.

The only selling point for Isolated Power is that they don't trip on a single fault. To me, anything that is that critical ought to have UPS backup so there is no possibility of a breaker tripping.