Common-nfpa-code-violations2

                          Common NFPA Code Violations In Hospitals

4) Violation: Receptacles do not have correct polarity. This is a common violation because a polarity checker does not work on Isolated Power. Since there is no neutral on Isolated Power the polarity checker will not work. Some think it does not matter because when they use the outlet, it will power up whatever is plugged into it.  

Code: NFPA 99 6.3.2.2.6.3 Polarity of Receptacles. Each receptacle shall be wired in accordance with NFPA 70. To ensure correct polarity 517.160(A)(5) Conductor Identification: (1) Isolated Conductor No. 1 is Orange goes to silver screw of receptacle, (2) Isolated Conductor No. 2 is Brown goes to brass screw of receptacle 

Solution: Verify correct color wire was used, Orange and Brown and on the circuit breaker panel the orange wire goes to circuit breaker lug No. 1 and, Brown to lug No. 2 . Then it repeats all the way down on each breaker, orange then brown. Now that the circuit breakers have correct color code. Check a wall receptacle. Orange goes to silver screw and brown to brass screw. You can also use a shorting wire from the large prong of the 15 amps receptacle or the plus prong of a 20 amps receptacle and short it to the receptacle ground prong. The Line Isolation Monitor will alarm seeing that it has been shorted to ground, silence the LIM. Now you can plug your polarity checker into all the receptacles on that isolated power panel. What one receptacle sees they all do. If your polarity checker shows up reverse polarity on one of the receptacles it does not match the receptacle you have shorted to ground. Correct so all matches.  


5) Violation: Wet Procedure Locations. There seems to be a misunderstanding of when isolated power is required, when Class A GFCI are required and when grounded power is acceptable.  

Code: NFPA 99 6.3,2.2.8.1 Wet procedure locations shall be provided with special protection against electric shock. 6.3.2.2.8.2 states special protection shall be as follows: 
• Power can be isolated power when interrupting the power is NOT tolerable. Class A GFCI are acceptable if interrupting power is tolerable. 

Solution: NFPA 99 6.3.2.2.8.4 states Operating Rooms shall be considered to be a wet procedure location, unless a risk assessment conducted by the health care governing body determines otherwise. NFPA 99 6.3.2.3.5 states If the risk assessment conducted by the health care facility’s governing body, as defined in Chapter 3, determines that the operating room is not a wet procedure location, then the special protection of 6.3.2.2.8.5 shall not be required. That means standard hospital grade duplex receptacles on grounded power is acceptable.  

However, NFPA 99 A.6.3.2.2.8.4 states that when conducting the risk assessment, the health care governing body should consult with all relevant parties including but not limited to clinicians, biomedical engineering staff, and facility safety engineering staff. The reason being they need to determine if the room should be considered to be a wet condition and or if there is a danger due to frequent spillages of fluids that could cause a breaker to trip or a short to ground could cause a shock. They need to determine if they can afford a breaker to trip during an operation, or a shock to a patient under anesthesia. During many operations the equipment maintains the life support of the patient. Can they afford to have the power cut off, if the breaker trips due to power cords of the equipment laying in the fluids spilled on the floor? 
Once that is determined a record should be kept of all names and responsibilities of the individuals that were on the risk assessment committee. It is recommended if you have both isolated power and grounded power operating rooms to post outside the door which rooms are considered wet procedure rooms as a reminder. In the state of North Carolina all Operating Rooms, ICU, Special Procedure Rooms, Emergency Rooms, and Birthing Rooms are considered to be a wet location and shall have Isolated Power.  

6) Violation: Line Isolation Monitors (LIM) are not being tested correctly. This is becoming a more frequent violation due to two different types of LIMs, and the testing required for each type. The older LIMs are called analog type LIM, they do not test their alarm circuitry automatically. To verify the LIM will respond to a fault you must push its self-test switch monthly per NFPA 99. The newer LIMs test their selves daily by an enteral program. If they fail their daily testing, they will audibly and visually alarm with a failure code on the LIM display.  

Code: NFPA 99 6.3.4.1.4 states, The LIM circuit shall be tested at intervals of not more than 1 month by actuating the LIM test switch, for a LIM circuit with automated self-test and self-calibration capabilities, this test shall be performed at intervals of not more than 12 months. Here is where the problem is. Many feel this is the only testing that needs to be done, but that is not true. NFPA 99  
3.3.97 Line Isolation Monitor, states: The LIM is a test instrument, that means it must undergo a yearly 
test to verify it is working correctly. NFPA 99 6.3.2.6.3 covers several requirements that the LIM must respond to. Such as 6.3.2.6.32 describes the operation of the lights and the alarm threshold values. The LIM must alarm at 5 mA but not at 3.7 mA. So, there is a monthly test for the old analog LIMs and both LIMs must undergo the annual testing along with the self-test operation by activating its self-test switch.  

Solution: Verify all Line Isolation Monitors are being tested correctly by reviewing the Maintenance 
Logbook per NFPA 99 6.3.4.2 Record Keeping. If you do not have a Maintenance Logbook, an Isolated Power Specialist can help you start one. Text or email me a picture of your Line Isolation Monitor and I can tell you what test you are required to do.  

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