physical therapy and activity room in nursing home

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hhsting

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Glen bunie, md, us
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Junior plan reviewer
I have physical therapy room and activity room in nursing home. I am wondering does the physical therapy room and activity room fall under NEC 2017 section 517.13 wiring methods or not?
 
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Yes. I would consider it a basic care Category 3 space.

Basic Care (Category 3) Space. Space in which failure of equipment
or a system is not likely to cause injury to the patients,
staff, or visitors but can cause patient discomfort. [99:3.3.127.3]

Informational Note: [Category 3] spaces, formerly known as
basic care rooms [(spaces)], are typically where basic medical or
dental care, treatment, or examinations are performed. Examples
include, but are not limited to, examination or treatment
rooms in clinics, medical and dental offices, nursing homes, and
limited care facilities. [99:A.3.3.127.3]

-Hal
 
Isn't physical therapy another name for exercise? The last two general use rooms I had my treatment in looked just like most gyms. The special equipment was found in dedicated treatment rooms.
 
jim dungar said:
Isn't physical therapy another name for exercise? The last two general use rooms I had my treatment in looked just like most gyms. The special equipment was found in dedicated treatment rooms.
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A Category 3 space is the least critical patient care area. Any other space is not a patient care area, those would be office, rest rooms, administrative, waiting room, etc. The NEC doesn't so define a PT room but by default (it's not one of the above areas) I don't see it not being a patient care area and would classify it as a Category 3.

-Hal
 
jim dungar said:
Isn't physical therapy another name for exercise? The last two general use rooms I had my treatment in looked just like most gyms. The special equipment was found in dedicated treatment rooms.
Click to expand...

PT standalone and nothing else by itself can be what you are describing But this PT is part of nursing home. This nursing home is type I-2 with construction type V more than 10 rooms

In similar scenario hospitals would have PT room as well are those also patient care space with wiring methods nec 517.13?
 
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hhsting said:
PT standalone and nothing else by itself can be what you are describing But this PT is part of nursing home. This nursing home is type I-2 with construction type V more than 10 rooms

In similar scenario hospitals would have PT room as well are those also patient care space with wiring methods nec 517.13?
Click to expand...
I believe that electricians should not be defining the classification of areas, as they are not trained in that task. The AHJ and building departments should be making the classification as other trades will also be impacted.

If you are the AHJ, make the decision then tell the designer what code sections to follow.
 
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