How does the 2023 NEC clarify equipment grounding in healthcare spaces?
Overview
Healthcare facilities rely on specialized devices and wiring methods to guarantee patient safety and care. The 2023 edition of the NEC clarifies that equipment grounding requirements in Section 517.13(A) and (B) apply to all wiring serving patient
care spaces, extending beyond just the areas within. As a result, all branch circuits in patient
care areas must be installed in metal raceway systems or cables with metallic armor or sheaths, accompanied by insulated copper grounding conductors marked with green insulation. This comprehensive approach enhances safety by establishing a definitive and efficient ground-fault current path, protecting patients and healthcare workers from electrical faults.
Applying the 2023 Code
Healthcare facilities utilize unique devices and wiring methods to maintain patient healthcare. One essential aspect of these systems is the installation of Equipment Grounding Conductors for receptacles and fixed electrical equipment in patient care spaces. These conductors help prevent electrical faults that could endanger both patients and healthcare workers by providing a safe path for electrical current in case of a fault. This grounding is especially crucial to avoid potentially life-threatening situations in environments where patients are connected to sensitive medical equipment.
Section 517.13 of previous NEC versions provided specific requirements for wiring in patient care spaces to maintain an effective ground-fault current path. According to this section, all branch circuits in patient care areas must be installed in metal raceway systems or cables with metallic armor or sheaths, which serve as equipment grounding conductors. Additionally, it mandated the use of insulated copper equipment grounding conductors clearly marked with green insulation, connecting to all grounding terminals of receptacles, metal outlet boxes, non-current-carrying conductive surfaces, and metal faceplates. However, the text was confusing as it seemed to imply that these requirements only applied to wiring within the patient care vicinity, not the entire branch circuits serving these areas. To rectify this problem, the 2023 NEC version clarified that the equipment grounding requirements in Section 517.13(A) and (B) apply to all wiring serving patient care spaces.. This change guarantees that the grounding requirements cover the entire branch circuit, even if only a small part of it enters the patient care area. This clarification is significant as it eliminates ambiguity, providing comprehensive safety measures for all electrical systems serving patient care environments.
What’s New for the 2023 NEC?
The comparison of 2020 NEC and 2023 NEC in terms of Section 517.13, is given in the Table below.
2020 NEC |
2023 NEC |
| 517.13 Equipment Grounding Conductor for Receptacles and Fixed Electrical Equipment in Patient Care Spaces
Wiring in patient care spaces shall comply with 517.13(A) and (B). (A) Wiring Methods All branch circuits serving patient care spaces shall be provided with an effective ground-fault current path by installation in a metal raceway system or a cable having a metallic armor or sheath assembly. The metal raceway system, metallic cable armor, or sheath assembly shall itself qualify as an equipment grounding conductor in accordance with 250.118. (B) Insulated Equipment Grounding Conductors and Insulated Equipment Bonding Jumpers (1) General The following shall be directly connected to an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor that is clearly identified along its entire length by green insulation and installed with the branch circuit conductors in the wiring methods as provided in 517.13(A): (1) The grounding terminals of all receptacles other than isolated ground receptacles (2) Metal outlet boxes, metal device boxes, or metal enclosures (3) All non—current-carrying conductive surfaces of fixed electrical equipment likely to become energized that are subject to personal contact, operating at over 100 volts (4) Metal faceplates, by means of a metal mounting screw(s) securing the faceplate to a metal yoke or strap of a receptacle or to a metal outlet box Exception No. 1: For other than isolated ground receptacles, an insulated equipment bonding jumper that directly connects to the equipment grounding conductor is permitted to connect the box and receptacle(s) to the equipment grounding conductor. Isolated ground receptacles shall be connected in accordance with 517.16. Exception No. 2: Luminaires more than 2.3 m (71/2 ft) above the floor and switches located outside of the patient care vicinity shall be permitted to be connected to an equipment grounding return path complying with 517.13(A) or (B). (2) Sizing Equipment grounding conductors and equipment bonding jumpers shall be sized in accordance with 250.122. |
517.13 Equipment Grounding Conductor for Receptacles and Fixed Electrical Equipment in Patient Care Spaces
Wiring serving patient care spaces shall comply with the requirements of 517.13 (A) and (B). Exception: Luminaires more than 2.3 m (71/2 ft) above the floor and switches located outside of the patient care vicinity shall be permitted to be connected to an equipment grounding return path complying with the requirements of 517.13(A) or (B). (A) Wiring Methods All branch circuits serving patient care spaces shall be provided with an effective ground-fault current path by installation in a metal raceway system or a cable having a metallic armor or sheath assembly. The metal raceway system, metallic cable armor, or sheath assembly shall itself qualify as an equipment grounding conductor in accordance with 250.118. (B) Insulated Equipment Grounding Conductors and Insulated Equipment Bonding Jumpers (1) General An insulated copper equipment grounding conductor that is clearly identified along its entire length by green insulation and installed with the branch circuit conductors within the wiring method in accordance with 517.13(A) shall be connected to the following: (1) Grounding terminals of all receptacles other than isolated ground receptacles (2) Metal outlet boxes, metal device boxes, or metal enclosures (3) Non-current-carrying conductive surfaces of fixed electrical equipment likely to become energized that are subject to personal contact, operating at over 100 volts Exception No. 1: For other than isolated ground receptacles, an insulated equipment bonding jumper that directly connects to the equipment grounding conductor shall be permitted to connect the box and receptacle(s) to the equipment grounding conductor. Isolated ground receptacles shall be connected in accordance with 517.16. Exception No. 2: Metal faceplates shall be connected to an effective ground-fault current path by means of a metal mounting screw(s) securing the faceplate to a metal yoke or strap of a receptacle or to a metal outlet box. (2) Sizing Equipment grounding conductors and equipment bonding jumpers shall be sized in accordance with 250.122. |
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