PVC

Q. I have been told for years that you can not use Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) piping inside of the hospital, due to the high amount of smoke it gives off during a fire.

I see that in NFPA 99, 5.3.10.2.3. You can use PVC Schedule 40, in Level 3 Vacuum Systems.

I have been told by one of my supervisors to find a code that says you can not use Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) in the hospital. I have been unable to find any, do you know of any Code?

Thank you for your time and help. M.H.

A. (From Don Rust at Duke Medical) Dan, Since I was a little bitty pup I have always heard that PVC creates poisonous gases when exposed to fire. With that said how surprised was I to discover that PVC is required to be flame retardant.

NFPA 70 Article 352

352.12 Uses Not Permitted. PVC conduit shall not be used under the conditions specified in 352.12(A) through (F).
(A) Hazardous (Classified) Locations. In any hazardous (classified) location, except as permitted by other articles of this Code. Last time I checked there can be hazardous locations within a hospital.

352.100 Construction. PVC conduit shall be made of rigid (nonplasticized) polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC conduit and fittings shall be composed of suitable nonmetallic material that is resistant to moisture and chemical atmospheres. For use aboveground, it shall also be flame retardant, resistant to impact and crushing, resistant to distortion from heat under conditions likely to be encountered in service, and resistant to low temperature and sunlight effects. For use underground, the material shall be acceptably resistant to moisture and corrosive agents and shall be of sufficient strength to withstand abuse, such as by impact and crushing, in handling and during installation. Where intended for direct burial, without encasement in concrete, the material shall also be capable of withstanding continued loading that is likely to be encountered after installation

The references below clearly tell me that the wiring method used in a hospital is to be in a metal raceway system, or a cable having a metallic armor or sheath assembly.

NFPA 99 Chapter 13
13.4.1.2.6.1 Wiring in Anesthetizing Locations.
(A) Wiring. Installed wiring shall be in metal raceway or shall be as required in NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, Sections 517.60 through 517.63.
(B) Raceway. Such distribution systems shall be run in metal raceways along with a green grounding wire sized no smaller than the energized conductors

NFPA 70 Chapter 517
517.13 Grounding of Receptacles and Fixed Electrical Equipment in Patient Care Areas.
Wiring in patient care areas shall comply with 517.13(A) and (B).
(A) Wiring Methods. All branch circuits serving patient care areas 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, or metallic cable armor, or sheath assembly shall itself qualify as an equipment grounding conductor in accordance with 250.118.

P.S. PVC pipe is listed as flame retardant which means it will not burn on it's own but when flame is applied to it, it will put off poisonous gas. John K gave me this bit of information regarding PVC from the mechanical world: "If it is in an air handling stream, such as a plenum return ceiling it has to be rated for flame and smoke spread in accordance with UL 94V." In the state of NC our healthcare/hospital rules do not allow the use of PVC period. There is not a national code reference…it is just a state rule.