sharing a neutral in heath care

[Jodonnell]

I am working in a outpatient surgical center. The original installation they are sharing neutrals on like circuits thought the entire installation. Is this a code violation since it is in health care? I have not been able to find anything in the code book.....

 

[roger]

It has always been a common installation practice in health care facillities however, when the 2011 goes into effect in your area, MWBC's will not be permitted in Patient Bed locations.

Roger

 

[MNWildcat]

With the newer handle tie requirement for MWBCs, our office has changed to separate neutrals for each circuit. So a 3-circuit HR would have 3L, 3N, and 1G.
We design a lot of health care facilities, and this is used for all of the occupancy types we work on.
It is better for the owner to not have to turn off three circuits just to perform some maintence/work on one circuit. This would apply to lighting as well since 3-circuit could take out a major portion of a floor just to adjust one room.
It is more copper, but the maintaining flexibilty if worth the extra copper cost.

 

[roger]

With the newer handle tie requirement for MWBCs, our office has changed to separate neutrals for each circuit. So a 3-circuit HR would have 3L, 3N, and 1G.
We design a lot of health care facilities, and this is used for all of the occupancy types we work on.
It is better for the owner to not have to turn off three circuits just to perform some maintence/work on one circuit. This would apply to lighting as well since 3-circuit could take out a major portion of a floor just to adjust one room.
It is more copper, but the maintaining flexibilty if worth the extra copper cost.

It is not only more copper, due to the increase of current carrying conductors it will cause more conduit, boxes, cable assemblies, or what have you to be used.

Roger

 

[sii]

It is not only more copper, due to the increase of current carrying conductors it will cause more conduit, boxes, cable assemblies, or what have you to be used.

Roger

And labor to install it...sustain the industry!

 

[mpd]

just did an inspection, and the engineer specified no shared neutrals and would not accept MWBC's, makes sense one circuit could affect other circuits