Non-Metallic Tubing Conduit in a Health Care Occupancy - NEC 2019 Edition

[Clint4539]

Hello everyone.

I work maintenance in a nursing home and we had some renovation work done where the linked material was used as conduit in a patient care area. I do not know enough about the NEC to determine whether this product is compliant or not, but it does not seem correct to me. Is there anyone who can show me an NEC 2019 Edition code reference that either allows it or does not allow it?

Thank you,
Clint

Carlon 1 in. x 25 ft. Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing Conduit Coil, Blue (12008-025) 12008-025 - The Home Depot

Acquire the CARLON 1 in. x 25 ft. Electrical Non-Metallic Flex Tubing 12008-025, 1-channel design this flex tubing is UL listed for safety and offers a blue finish at The Home Depot

www.homedepot.com

 

[augie47]

Your concern is well founded.
There is no '19 NEC but the same requirements have been in the NEC for years.
2017 NEC "517.13 Grounding of Receptacles and Fixed Electrical Equipment in Patient Care Spaces. Wiring in patient care spaces shall comply with 517.13(A) and (B). (A) Wiring Methods. All branch circuits serving patient care spaces shall be provided with an effective ground-fault current path by installation in a metal raceway system or a cable having a metallic armor or sheath assembly. The metal raceway system, metallic cable armor, or sheath assembly shall itself qualify as an equipment grounding conductor in accordance with 250.118."

 

[Strathead]

Hello everyone.

I work maintenance in a nursing home and we had some renovation work done where the linked material was used as conduit in a patient care area. I do not know enough about the NEC to determine whether this product is compliant or not, but it does not seem correct to me. Is there anyone who can show me an NEC 2019 Edition code reference that either allows it or does not allow it?

Thank you,
Clint

Carlon 1 in. x 25 ft. Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing Conduit Coil, Blue (12008-025) 12008-025 - The Home Depot

Acquire the CARLON 1 in. x 25 ft. Electrical Non-Metallic Flex Tubing 12008-025, 1-channel design this flex tubing is UL listed for safety and offers a blue finish at The Home Depot

www.homedepot.com

I am surprised Augie didn't give you our spiel about people not in the trade but allowing your question as long as we don't give advise. That said, I would like to ask you what space are you calling a patient care area, and how was it designated as such? Lastly, are you sure it was used for power circuit and not a system like nurse call, or fire alarm?

 

[Clint4539]

Your concern is well founded.
There is no '19 NEC but the same requirements have been in the NEC for years.
2017 NEC "517.13 Grounding of Receptacles and Fixed Electrical Equipment in Patient Care Spaces. Wiring in patient care spaces shall comply with 517.13(A) and (B). (A) Wiring Methods. All branch circuits serving patient care spaces shall be provided with an effective ground-fault current path by installation in a metal raceway system or a cable having a metallic armor or sheath assembly. The metal raceway system, metallic cable armor, or sheath assembly shall itself qualify as an equipment grounding conductor in accordance with 250.118."

Thank you, Augie. I truly appreciate the help. The 2019 is certainly an error, I meant 2020. I looked at my list of NFPA codes and standards and NFPA 72 was the file next to my NEC digital copy.

As a follow-up, would this product be allowed in a non-patient care space? All my time above a ceiling in a nursing home and in a hospital and I cannot recall this product, or a similar product, being used.

 

[roger]

As a follow-up, would this product be allowed in a non-patient care space? All my time above a ceiling in a nursing home and in a hospital and I cannot recall this product, or a similar product, being used.

See 362.10, 362.12, then 517.10(A) & (B)

 

[Strathead]

Thank you, Augie. I truly appreciate the help. The 2019 is certainly an error, I meant 2020. I looked at my list of NFPA codes and standards and NFPA 72 was the file next to my NEC digital copy.

As a follow-up, would this product be allowed in a non-patient care space? All my time above a ceiling in a nursing home and in a hospital and I cannot recall this product, or a similar product, being used.

Yes it would be "allowed" in areas not designated as patient care, but I can't imagine an Engineer in Florida specifying such. That said, you are in Florida, so any official renovation requires an AHCA inspection. In my experience, (a fair amount) there in no way any AHCA inspector I know would overlook that.

 

[Clint4539]

I am surprised Augie didn't give you our spiel about people not in the trade but allowing your question as long as we don't give advise. That said, I would like to ask you what space are you calling a patient care area, and how was it designated as such? Lastly, are you sure it was used for power circuit and not a system like nurse call, or fire alarm?

I read the rules after posting, rookie mistake, but am certainly thankful for the assistance.

It is without question a patient care space as defined by NFPA 99 (2021) 3.3.140. Will be used for dialysis. Category 2 space based on our NFPA 99 risk assessment. It is not for nurse call or fire alarm, definitely a power circuit.

 

[Clint4539]

See 362.10, 362.12, then 517.10(A) & (B)

Thank you, Roger. The Chapter 3 Article 360 references are very helpful.

 

[Clint4539]

Yes it would be "allowed" in areas not designated as patient care, but I can't imagine an Engineer in Florida specifying such. That said, you are in Florida, so any official renovation requires an AHCA inspection. In my experience, (a fair amount) there in no way any AHCA inspector I know would overlook that.

You are correct that AHCA OPC engineers would almost certainly identify this. This project is an AHCA OPC Stage III project so they will be on-site. We will be having this work redone as it is likely not what the engineer specified, as you mention.