NEC 517.13 - Hospital Grade MC --- where is it needed in a nursing home?

[mike abbott]

Can anyone clarify the following:

Is Hospital-Grade MC (or any redundant ground path) required in the following areas:

1) private bathroom inside of a patient's bedroom?

2) Receptacles that are more than 6' away from the patient's bed?

Thanks!

 

[Gregg Harris]

Can anyone clarify the following:

Is Hospital-Grade MC (or any redundant ground path) required in the following areas:

1) private bathroom inside of a patient's bedroom?

2) Receptacles that are more than 6' away from the patient's bed?

Thanks!

517.13 (A) and (B) are requiurements for redundant ground.

 

[augie47]

The wording of Patient Care Area is such that distance from the bed is not taken into account.
From the FPN in 517.13 I can not see how the bath would be excluded.

 

[kwired]

517.13(A) starts out with "All branch circuits serving patient care areas".

517.2 definition of patient care area seems to indicate that the entire room where patient care is provided is included.

The only exceptions are metal faceplates, and luminaires over 7.5 feet above floor.

The bathroom - may or may not be part of the patient care area and you may need to find out from the care provider if it is deemed a patient care area. Most of the time they likely are not, but if in a critical care area it very well could be, but I don't think it is all that common to have a restroom in these areas anyway, those kind of body functions are taken care of by some of the equipment connected to the patient in most cases.