Change Summary

• New subdivision (C) titled Operating Room Receptacles was added to 517.19 and the balance of the section renumbered accordingly
• The minimum number of receptacles required is increased from six to thirty-six
• The revision provides direction on which system branch to which the receptacles must be connected and that they be “hospital grade” type

Expert Analysis

Health care and advances in medical technology have resulted in significantly more medical appliances and equipment that are utilized in operating rooms to administer necessary care. NFPA 99-2012 Health Care Facilities Code has been revised by increasing the number of receptacles in patient care locations of health care facilities, including operating rooms. This revision aligns the NEC with Section 6.3.2.2.6.2 of NFPA 99. New subdivision (C) has been added to require operating rooms be provided with a minimum of thirty-six receptacles and they must be listed “hospital grade” and so identified. The equipment grounding conductor connected to the grounding terminal of these receptacles is required to be insulated, copper, and must be connected to the reference grounding point typically provided in isolated power systems equipment that serve operating rooms. At least twelve of these receptacles are required to be connected to either the normal system branch circuit required in 517.19(A) or critical branch circuit supplied by a different transfer switch than the other receptacles serving the same operation room. The NEC was previously silent on this issue other than to require six receptacles in a critical care patient bed location, a defined term in 517.2.

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