Low voltage wiring in health care facilities

[moo2380]

My question is,
The low voltage wiring above the drop ceiling in a operating room or examination room, i.e. CAT V cable, fire alarm, security cabling passing through or terminating in these areas. Would the rules of 517.80 apply?

Patient Care areas, does this area include the area above the drop ceiling in the rooms listed above?

Thoughts?

 

[roger]

Yes, for cables that will terminate in the room. The issue is the Equipotential of all electrical items (regardless of voltage) that the patient might come in contact with.

Patient Care Area. Any portion of a health care facility wherein patients are intended to be examined or treated. Areas of a health care facility in which patient care is administered are classified as general care areas or critical care areas, either of which may be classified as a wet location. The governing body of the facility designates these areas in accordance with the type of patient care anticipated and with the following definitions of the area classification.

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.

Cables passing through the ceiling space would not be a concern.

Roger

 

[jtester]

Can you help me understand what 517.80 actually requires? What does "Equivalent insulation and isolation..." mean in a low voltage system? Part VI, in general, escapes me.

Thanks

Jim T

 

[roger]

Jim, in short it is saying "whatever it takes to accommodate 517.11" (and the rest of Part II)

Roger

 

[jtester]

Roger

A quick look through Part II makes me think that the redundant grounding part is the main issue carrying over to low voltage systems. There is a little bit about isolated power systems, but I don't see much else relating to insulation and isolation, as applies to low voltage systems.

Jim T

 

[roger]

Jim, if the surfaces of the low voltage devices and wiring are adequately insulated or isolated from other surfaces or devices that could pose a significant difference of potential, the requirement is met.

The word "isolation" as used in this section is not referring to Isolated Power System as described in 517.160

Roger

 

[moo2380]

I guess the confusing part to me is why 517.80 specifically spells out patient care areas and not patient vicinity care areas which to me requires ?Any portion of a health care facility wherein patients are intended to be examined or treated.? Wouldn?t this statement indicate that the entire room would be required to have ?Equivalent insulation and isolation? as those required in 517.13(a)?