Operating Room Receptacles

[alex.rivera]

One of our hospitals was adding new monitors inside an operating room. In order to install the new tv wall bracket the electricians needed to lower existing quad receptacles fed off UPS power. Receptacles were lowered but they replaced the duplex receptacles with GFCI’s. Operating room does not have a sink or water source near by. Are GFCI’s allowed?My concern is Dr’s plugging a piece of equipment and tripping the GFCI.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

In my opinion, the following, from NFPA 99 would apply.

6.3.2.3.9
Where GFCI protection is used in an operating room, one of the following shall apply:

• (1)
  Each receptacle shall be an individual GFCI device.
• (2)
  Each receptacle shall be individually protected by a single GFCI device.

Note that a duplex receptacle is two receptacles, so a duplex GFCI would be a violation.