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Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Question:
Article 517.31(A) Requirements for The Essential Electrical System in a Healthcare Facility as being comprised of 3 Separate Branches, Life Safety, Critical & Equipment. Then in 517.31(C)(3) Mechanical Protection of the Essential Electrical System. Next line only states the wiring of Life Safety & Critical systems but makes no mention of the Equipment branch following those guidelines. In the past we always ran receptacles, fixtures etc.. on Normal Branch power in MC-HCF cable and all the E.E.S. branch in non-flexible conduit (with exceptions as stated in the article) My Question is 517.31(C)(3) telling me that the Equipment branch circuits do not have to follow the 5 rules/exceptions in 517.31(C)(3) that Life Safety and Critical branch circuit do?
Thanks, Kelly Wofford
A
Answer:
Hey Kelly thanks for your question. Yes, the wiring methods in 517.31(C)(3) only apply to the life safety branch and critical branch as they are defined in 517.2. But don't forget that receptacles and fixed electrical equipment in patient care spaces must follow the rules in 517.13. The wiring method must contain an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor and the wiring method itself must be suitable as an equipment grounding conductor.