Patient care

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jimwalker

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TAMPA FLORIDA
We started a dentist office today.We understand we need rigid for power that runs to floor items but are confused as to requirements for the control panel (low volt) to the relays for the water,compresser and vac.Do they need to be in rigid too ? I have looked in 517 but not found it

[ January 03, 2005, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: jimwalker ]
 
Re: Patient care

Jim, I don't understand where the rigid requirement is from, is it an engineers spec?

As far as the low voltage, it can probably be covered per article 720 or 725 wiring methods.

Any article 300 method that is not prohibited per the building classification or other AHJ amendments would be allowed.

Roger
 
Re: Patient care

That makes sense. But back to the LV wiring, there would be no need to use metalic raceways for this wiring, see 517.13, the control wiring would not fall under this redundant grounding requirement.

As far as mechanical protection, it would not be needed for this wiring.

If a raceway were needed in the slab PVC would be sufficent.

Roger
 
Re: Patient care

You're welcome Jim. For more on the Patient Area grounding go Here although this is not directly dealing with LV wiring in the space, it will show the Patient Vicinity perimeter where the redundant wiring method is required.

Roger
 
Re: Patient care

Rodger
I think the floor recep needs RMC or IMC if the floor recep is in the room with the dentist chair; that room being a patient care area.
 
Re: Patient care

Larry, you are correct, and as shown earlier, this is covered in 517.13, but this is not LV wiring per the question.

Roger

[ January 03, 2005, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: roger ]
 
Re: Patient care

Originally posted by jtester:
The local AHJ allows us to put pvc in the slab and then run hospital grade AC cable.
Jim T
Click to expand...
How do you terminate the AC? Requires a connector & bushing, right?

Rodger
Yes, If I would have read your post CLOSELY, I would have seen that. :eek:
 
Re: Patient care

I always thought 517.13 (A) requiring metal systems only, for patient care areas left us with no option of pvc in a slab. Although I've seen this done many times including myself recently by mistake, but the OHJ approved the slab work. So is PVC acceptable by the NEC?
 
Re: Patient care

Originally posted by nhlavsfan67:
I always thought 517.13 (A) requiring metal systems only, for patient care areas left us with no option of pvc in a slab. Although I've seen this done many times including myself recently by mistake, but the OHJ approved the slab work. So is PVC acceptable by the NEC?
Click to expand...
The PVC in the slab that is acceptable is for Low Voltage wiring. Power wiring would have to be IMC or RMC. EDIT add:
I made the same mistake of allowing PVC under slab. :eek:

[ January 04, 2005, 10:59 AM: Message edited by: sandsnow ]
 
Re: Patient care

517.13 requires redundant grounding. The hospital grade AC has a green ground and a sheath listed for grounding. I don't know that there is a problem with pvc as long as you have the two separate grounding systems from the cable. What are others' experiences?
Jim T
 
Re: Patient care

To take the prohibition of PVC a little further, notice the wording in 517.30(C)(3) and the exceptions. PVC can be used for Critical or Life Safety branches if the requirements of exceptions 3&4 are met, EXCEPT in where serving branch circuits in Patient Care areas, this is due to the redundant grounding required in 517.13.

Roger

[ January 04, 2005, 11:38 AM: Message edited by: roger ]
 
Re: Patient care

We did give thaught to sleeving AC in pvc but local inspector has issues with that.Did meet with factory rep today and he agrees that the LV controls can be pvc.I feel sory for the men that poor this slab.Between all of our pipes and the plumbers this slab will be a mess
 
Re: Patient care

The INTENT is to have a redundent ground. The Health Care cable assembly provides this. The problem with pulling the H/C cable through the PVC in a slab is that the PVC may fill with grond water. Now you have H/C cable laying in the water. Maybe if the slab was an intermediate deck, not at grade?
While we are on this topic, are the recepticles that the Dentist chair plug into required to be GFCI protected? What about the dental equipment(water drill,etc.)recepticle?
 
Re: Patient care

Well it all would be above grade but would still be in dirt so there is posibilty of it getting wet.Not at all sure if gfci is required.I will have sort of a wet bar.
 
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