"Time and budget
constraints now limit the amount, and
quality, of training available to
healthcare electricians. No longer can a
hospital afford to send staff off
campus...the costs of travel sometimes
exceeds the cost of the training course.
'Web-based training' offers an
alternative which is more practical and
less expensive."
The MGI E-Learning
Center includes a growing library of
electrical courseware to help meet your
annual training requirements. The
internet-based learning management
system (LMS) is designed to manage,
deliver, track and report learning
initiatives on students.
In the past our
certificate courses have been "static",
and were only updated with the changes
in national codes (the latest editions
of NFPA 99, Health Care Systems,
and NFPA 110, Emergency and Standby
Power Systems) were published. With
the new MGI E-learning Center, changes
and new offerings will be added each
quarter, with email notification sent to
students, and training coordinators.
To learn more and to receive a
"customized proposal for your
technicians, facility and equipment" go
to
www.mgisys.com/lms.html.
4/9/08 - Healthcare Engineering
Network Would Like to Welcome
Blue Pillar as a Sponsor
In the health care environment,
high-performance Emergency Power Supply
Systems — and those who manage them —
are tasked with the vital mission of
defending the equipment that protects
lives, research revenue streams and the
digital data center against utility
power interruptions.
To date, with rare exceptions the
management of these vital systems is
executed manually. And as with any
manual process, a certain amount of risk
is associated with its application.
This risk has always been considered
acceptable, however, because there
simply was not a viable alternative
available.
That has now changed. A viable
alternative is here.
For a free demonstration please email us
at
dan.chisholm@mgisys.com.
4/9/08 - 100 Hour Annual Limitation
- Another Question - Q. Does an electric
utility’s request for you to run your
generators under a building load count
against the 100 hour annual limitation
on operating emergency generators for
testing and peak shaving?
4/9/08 -
Sustainability, Energy Savings, and
Going Green: The Future Direction of
Green Buildings - Pittsburgh, PA
-
May 7-9, 2008 -
Presented by:
WESCO
4/9/08 - Proposed changes to NFPA 99,
Health Care Facilities, Electrical
Section; and NFPA 110, Emergency and
Standby Power Systems -
There have been a significant amount of
proposals made for both standards which
will be voted on during the Report on
Comments meeting to be held in
September.
4/9/08 -
Energy Logic: Reducing Data Center
Energy Consumption by Creating Savings
that Cascade Across Systems - Presented by:
Liebert
4/9/08 - The final 96 hour fuel question
- we hope...
4/9/08 - Firemen's Revenge N.B.
California............
4/9/08 - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
4/9/08 - Lawyers should never ask a
Mississippi grandma a question if they
aren't prepared for the answer.
4/9/08 - Fuel Shut-Off Valves
4/9/08 - Man's best friend...
1/31/08 -
Review of Three Phase Circuits
1/31/08 - Top Nine
Reasons Generators Fail to Start -
Standby power systems are depended upon
to start whenever needed, either in
emergency situations or as auxiliary
power sources during peaking periods.
Dirty, or loose, battery connections,
air in the fuel system, or faulty block
heaters are just a few of the reasons a
generator might fail to start.
1/31/08 -
Types of Receptacles for Psychiatric
Wards - Q. We had an inspection on our
psychiatric ward and the question came
up about what type of receptacles are
approved in this type of environment...
In the patient rooms we installed a
special cover with a tamper proof screw
over the receptacle which was accepted.
They are asking for is GFCI receptacles
in the hallways of this ward. To my
understanding, GFCI receptacles are for
wet locations and devices exposed to the
elements. My question is what type if
any receptacles are accepted in this
type of area. As I said before the
receptacles that are in the patient
rooms are covered. The hallways are
monitored by staff but the patients
still have access to them.
1/31/08 -
Keeping the Lights On Response
- Q. I liked your article
Keeping the lights on
in the recent HFM Magazine. I was
hoping you could elaborate in more
detail the section on parallel
generators used for level 1 EPSS
systems. We have a parallel generator
system with load shed/delayed connection
on the newest equipment branch ATS to
keep the load below the rating of one
1500kw generator. I didn't understand
how the tiebreaker system works to
correct this problem. Please send a
simple drawing to help explain. Thanks.
EF
1/31/08 -
The Power of Prayer
1/31/08 -
Who's smarter than a 10th grader?
1/31/08 -
EPA Requesting Information on
Stationary Diesel Engines – Hospitals
Could Be Affected
1/31/08 -
WESCO and Pass & Seymour deliver a
receptacle solution for any opening
1/31/08 -
YES, THAT IS A POWER CORD FLOATING ON
UL RATED FLIP FLOPS
1/31/08 -
The 2007 Darwin Awards
1/31/08 -
eBay Gets Fined
1/31/08 -
Speeding
12/31/07 -
Keeping the lights on
by Dan Chisholm Sr. and Vince M. Rea,
P.E., LEED AP
Building reliability into an emergency
power supply system
12/31/07 -
Readily
Accessible - Q. Do you
know where in the code it states that a
generator should be readily accessible?
We have a contractor that does not want
to put in a generator platform. The
genset has a belly tank that is about 4’
high.
12/31/07 -
Parking - These men are
installing and setting solid steel
pillars in concrete to stop vehicles
from parking on the pavement outside a
sports bar in downtown Norman, OK . They
are cleaning up at the end of the day.
See question at bottom of picture.
12/31/07 -
COWS Batteries - Q. I had a
question about charging computer on
wheel (COWS) at a hospital. The battery
is a sealed lead-acid type. What type of
restrictions are there on this style
versus a lithium battery? J.L.
12/31/07 -
This ought to
make all grandpas feel warm and cozy
12/31/07 -
30 Percent Rule - Q. I am
looking for some clarification on the 30
percent rule for the monthly load
testing of my generators. The generator
in question is a 60 KW with an amp
rating of 208.2. This generator does not
have a KW output reading so we use the
amp output for determining the 30
percent. ( 63 amps per leg at 208
voltage ) During one of the tests the
amp readings where (65 , 40 , 110) which
has one leg under 30 percent. If you
look at the overall output of the
generator it is 20.6 KW and I only need
18.1 KW to meet the 30 percent. Thank
you for any help you could give me.
12/31/07 -
RETARDED
GRANDPARENTS
12/31/07 -
Relocation - Q. "What do
the new EPA regulations say about the
“relocation” of an existing generator to
a new location? Are they even covered by
the new regs?" (40 CFR 60.4208)
12/31/07 -
Jesus & the
burglar
12/31/07 -
Operating
Temperatures - I
read the question regarding operating
temperature in the
11/29/07 Healthcare
Engineering Newsletter. I am
referring in particular, the response to
a generator which has a connected load
which is under 30% and the requirements
for a 4 hour test. In reading the
response, is this 4 hour test required
to be done at 30%, which would require a
load bank?
12/31/07 -
Young Executive
12/31/07 -
Troops
11/29/07 -
Operating
Temperatures - Q. Dan, I have a question hope
you can help me out with. This year I
had a 4hr load bank test done on 3 of
our gen sets that didn’t meet the 30%
load criteria. Our 2 other gen sets that
do meet the 30% load we ran for 4hrs.
This was to meet the new standard to run
generators for 4hrs every 3yrs. We had a
“mock JCAHO survey” recently done by
some consultants. In looking at our
generator log books they said we failed
this 4hr test and will need to retest
because we did not run for 4hrs under
operating temperature, the test should
have been for 4hrs 10 minutes. We do
have engine heaters that keep the
coolant @ 125-130 so I feel that we were
in operating temp and should not have to
retest as it expensive to do so. Please
let me know what your thoughts are. D.E.
11/29/07 -
WESCO and Eaton:
Keeping you out of the DARK! - Eaton’s Generator Quick Connect
Switchboard is the answer to getting
your healthcare facility back on line
quickly when that unexpected power
outage occurs due to blackouts,
hurricanes, tornados, lightning strikes
or other natural disasters.
11/29/07 -
96 Hour Debacle
Continues
Q. (To The Joint Commission) As you know
we published this article last month
regarding EC 4.12, B-6.
http://www.healthcareengineering.net/234.htm
The accompanying
survey was taken by 2712 hospital
engineers. The results are posted at:
http://www.healthcareengineering.net/235.htm
I have heard a
rumor that the JC is allowing a “tightly
drawn” contract with a fuel supplier as
an alternate to storing additional fuel
on site. Is this correct? Regards, Dan
Chisholm, Sr.
11/29/07 -
Milton Hospital
- Busted sprinkler head brought on
crisis
11/29/07 -
Sometimes it
depends on your point of view...
11/29/07 -
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.
11/29/07 -
UL
Warns Consumers of General Protecht
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
(GFCI's) Bearing Unauthorized UL Marks
11/29/07 -
In-Phase
Monitors - Q. Dan,
Your publication Healthcare Emergency
Power Supply Systems (which we have
purchased), was highly recommended by an
advisor to JACHO. We are using your
Monthly Testing Log form. As a result of
a major construction-renovation project,
we have a new Emergency Power System
which consists of two Generac 375 KW
480/277 volt generators in parallel,
synchronized to a main buss and
distributed to the three branches
through Asco transfer switches.
11/29/07 - New Products &
Services
Preventive Maintenance White Paper
Emerson Network
Power, Columbus, Ohio, recently
announced the availability of a white
paper entitled The Effect of Regular,
Skilled Preventive Maintenance on
Critical Power System Reliability, which
provides an in-depth analysis on how a
comprehensive preventive maintenance
program can maximize the reliability and
performance of UPS systems. The analysis
is the first in the industry that
quantifies the change in system
reliability based on the frequency of
preventive maintenance activity on
Liebert UPS systems. To download the
white paper or for more information on
Liebert technologies and services, go to
www.liebert.com.
11/29/07 -
Fuel Feeding - Q. Dan, Are there any
requirements in the Joint’s standards
that indicate you can’t have generator
fuel fed from the same tank as the
boilers? J.F.
11/29/07 -
A Different
Christmas Poem
11/29/07 -
Isolation Panels - Q. We are currently planning
construction of a new ambulatory surgery
center. The question has arisen on the
requirement for isolation panels in the
operating rooms. No flammable gases will
be used in the ORs, however the question
of the panels requirements, since these
are a wet environment, is being
discussed. I understand ASCs have or
have not installed the isolation panels.
Curious on what others have done and how
you have interpreted the code? M.M.
11/29/07 -
Storing Energy Kinetically -
Hospitals give new energy storage
systems a spin.
11/29/07 -
Diesel Fuel
Analysis - Q. Could you publish for the MGI
readership a sample diesel fuel analysis
report and go over the various
characteristics such as cloud point,
pour point, gravity API @ 60 degrees F,
and the other characteristics that will
indicate the conditions of the fuel? It
is important to identify these factors
so we can maintain our generators at a
level that will allow them to perform
optimally. D.O.
11/29/07 -
Bodine’s CheckMateTM ET1
provides remote control testing for
existing exit signs and emergency
lighting wallpacks. Standing on ladders
in busy corridors is no longer necessary
to satisfy life safety requirements.
Users simply POINT, CLICK and TEST
emergency operation from up to 32 feet
away – and at ground level – using a
handheld WHRCT remote control
transmitter (sold separately).
Code-required 30-second and 90-minute
tests may be conducted at the push of a
button. For more information, visit the
Bodine website at
www.bodine.com.
11/29/07 -
NEC 708: Practical Impact on Backup
Power Systems - Disaster
preparedness has entered the public
consciousness; one result is National
Electrical Code Article 708, which
defines critical operations power
systems.
11/29/07 -
Upcoming Webcast: National Electric Code
for Generators - On Thursday,
December 6 at 1:00pm CST
Consulting-Specifying Engineer and
Generac Power Systems, Inc. will be
conducting an approximately 90 minute
Webcast titled, “National Electric Code
for Generators.” You will not only earn
continuing education units, but also
gain a greater understanding of how the
NEC addresses all of the issues
associated with generators. The NEC
plays an integral role in your
profession so register now, it will be
time well spent!
10/31/07 - Advanced Emergency Power Management
Systems
EPMS networks provide a coordination
that is becoming increasingly essential
for compliance and ‘defending in place’
for extended periods.
By combining isolated backup power
components into a cohesive network,
Emergency Power Management Systems (EPMS)
provide facilities managers with
round-the-clock visibility into the
health and readiness of their equipment.
An EPMS also facilitates testing,
providing tools that automate and
simplify an otherwise inconvenient,
labor-intensive process. Most
importantly, an EPMS provides the
facilities manager with the critical
information required to manage—not just
monitor—emergency events caused by
utility power disruptions.
Click here
to read the full story.
Republished with permission from the
Florida
Healthcare Engineering Association.
10/31/07 -
Results
of Survey from:
Do You Need 96 Hours of
Fuel to Comply With JCAHO EC.4.12, B-6?
10/31/07 - A
pulse on power
By Tom Leonidas Jr., P.E.
Power monitoring systems are not a new
concept, and electronically based
systems have been around for over 20
years. However, the newer generation of
power monitoring systems are better
integrated into switchgear and circuit
breakers, making their first cost of
installation significantly less than it
has been in the past. In addition, these
solutions now integrate better with
other monitoring systems, providing
economies of scale for monitoring power,
HVAC and other subsystems.
Click here for the full story in
Health Facility Management.
10/31/07 - AdaptiveXchange
2007
Ready Now. Ready Tomorrow - Achieving
business-critical continuity takes more
than protecting and safeguarding today's
business operations. To help you manage
the unknown future, it takes technology
that's adaptive. AdaptiveXchange2007
will show you lots of ways to be ready.
Come learn
strategies, tactics and solutions that
ensure your critical infrastructure
delivers flexibility, while keeping
availability high and costs low. Both
now and in the future. From precision
cooling, to always-on power, to smart
monitoring, to complete service. It's
all here.
AdaptiveXchange2007
is produced and hosted by Emerson
Network Power, the global leader in
business-critical continuity.
To learn more
click here.
10/31/07 - Sometimes when you are angry with
someone, it helps to sit down and think
about the problem.
10/31/07 -
ASCO PowerReliability
National
Spotlight Beams on Data Centers...for
Better or Worse
Sometimes attention is good. Sometimes
it’s not.
An EPA report is generating considerable
attention on the rising power
consumption of data centers. Reading
some of the media stories makes one
think that data centers could almost
single-handedly throw the nation into an
energy tailspin.
Click here to read more.
10/31/07 - Pentadyne Named 2007 INNOVATION Awards
Finalist
Chatsworth,
Calif. – Oct 1, 2007 – Pentadyne
Power Corporation (www.pentadyne.com),
the world's leading commercial
manufacturer of clean energy storage
systems using advanced composite
flywheel technology, announced today
that Electrical Contracting Products
magazine (www.ecpzone.com)
has named Pentadyne's VSS+DC product as
a finalist in its 2007 INNOVATION
Awards.
10/31/07 -
Bodine’s GEN™
Series fluorescent backup ballasts
provide interim emergency lighting,
filling the gap between power failure
and generator response.
10/5/07 -
Do You Need 96 Hours
of Fuel to Comply With JCAHO EC.4.12,
B-6?
9/19/07 -
Modernize Your Emergency Power Systems
- Presented by:
ASCO
9/19/07 -
Monthly Testing - Q. Dan
should I use the .8 pf for my 30%
monthly load test calculations?
9/19/07 -
Comment on Day
Tank Sizing - Dan: Your
posting on day
tank capacity sizing was right on
target. I have seen one more
conservative interpretation that
reflects back to NFPA-70, 700-12(b)(2)
where an "on premise" fuel storage
capacity of 2 hours minimum is called
out.
9/19/07 - Lack of Hospital
Evacuation Plan not Malpractice
September 12, 2007 - The Louisiana
Supreme Court on Sept. 5 ruled that
allegations that hospitals' lack of
evacuation plans led to injuries or
deaths during Hurricane Katrina are not
medical malpractice claims. Instead,
such cases should be considered under
general tort law, the court said.
To read more
click here.
9/19/07 - Hospital
improves customer service and patient
safety with whole-facility UPS.
Provena Mercy Medical Center's new
surgery wing has state-of-the-art
equipment...including a UPS/generator
system that protects the entire addition
from power disturbances and
interruptions."
To read more
click here.
9/19/07 - Cell Phones and
Electromagnetic Interference Revisited
Some media reports
have inaccurately and incompletely
interpreted recent studies, creating the
impression that newer cell phone
technology doesn’t create enough
electromagnetic interference (EMI) to
affect medical equipment. As a result,
hospitals are questioning whether
existing restrictions on cell phone use
can be eliminated. This article takes a
closer look at the available evidence
and explains that the evidence does, in
fact, demonstrate an ongoing risk that
EMI will affect medical devices.
To read more
click here.
9/19/07 -
Advancements in new technology -
The Bodine Company excels in developing
innovative, award-winning technologies
that solve emergency and specialty
lighting problems. Bodine’s solid
commitment to research and development
and to solution-driven product design
has made Bodine a leader in the lighting
industry.
9/19/07 -
INSIGHT
9/19/07 -
PHILIPS LIGHTING
INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY NEW ALTO II™
LINEAR FLUORESCENT LAMP TECHNOLOGY
9/19/07 -
Power Strips - Q. In a
patient room does the power strip need
to be hospital rated? In the electrical
code handbook the only thing I seen
after the receptacle was that connectors
in a non hazard anesthesized room
requires connectors to also be hospital
rated.
9/19/07 -
The
Wireless Information System for
Emergency Responders - WISER is
a system designed to assist first
responders in hazardous material
incidents. WISER provides a wide range
of information on hazardous substances,
including substance identification
support, physical characteristics, human
health information, and containment and
suppression advice.
9/19/07 -
Football
9/19/07 -
Testing Stored
Systems - Q. Hey Dan,
What is the criteria for testing stored
systems? We have a 125kva and a 20kva
UPS System that protects our servers for
the hospital. This system is acting as a
bridge until our generators come online
and transfer to emergency during a power
failure. How often do we test them and
at what % according to Joint Commission
standards?
9/19/07 -
Hurricane
Preparedness - Backup Power Generators:
Fuel Maintenance Tips & Tricks -
For hospitals, emergency generators are
not just luxuries that provide comfort
and convenience when the power goes out.
They are a mechanism so critical that
even a brief 'glitch' during transition
could cause life support systems to
malfunction. Healthcare professionals,
their patients and the general public
have a reasonable expectation of safety,
be they in surgery or ICU. Hospital
generators provide critical power in the
event of a blackout.
9/19/07 -
Air Handler
Shutdown - Q. I would
like to know if you can articulate the
EC 5.40 elements of performance on the
following matter. Is it a true statement
that in order to verify that the shut
down device(s) works you must shut the
air handler down. I don’t see this
statement contained in EC5.40 items # 1
and 15. I also looked up NFPA 90A and it
doesn’t reference that the unit must be
shut down in order to determine if the
automatic shutdown devices work. Can you
please expand on this matter? I
referenced item # 6.4.2 an 6.4.4.2.1. in
NFPA 90A.
9/19/07 -
Bill could end
Joint Commission's deeming authority
- Under a recently
approved House Bill, Joint
Commission-accredited hospitals would no
longer automatically meet requirements
under CMS conditions of participation.
Two different iterations of the bill,
The Children's Health and Medicare
Protection Act of 2007, have been passed
in the House and Senate this month and
must be reconciled between both the
House and Senate before moving forward.
President Bush has indicated he would
veto the bill.
9/19/07 -
Separately
Derived Systems - Q. Dan, Are
hospital generators always considered
separately derived systems?
9/19/07 -
RASMAS is
revolutionizing product recall
management - The Risk And Safety
Management Alert System (RASMAS) is a
simple-to-use, web-based subscription
service that provides comprehensive
notification, distribution, and
management of product alerts and recalls
for all products used in healthcare
organizations.
9/19/07 -
Computers in
Patient Rooms - Q. My
hospital is considering placing
computers in each patient room,
preferably at the headwall. Does this
qualify as "cord and plug connected
equipment" in the "patient care
vicinity" under NFPA 99 and as such
does what leakage current limits would
apply? Any help on this or other issues
with using computers in the patient room
would be appreciated.
9/19/07 -
The Haircut
9/19/07 -
Quiet Grounding
System - Q. What is a
quiet grounding system?
9/19/07 -
Electrical
Hazards in the Workplace - The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
is revising the general industry
electrical installation standard found
in Subpart S of 29 CFR Part 1910.
9/19/07 -
Life
9/19/07 -
Low Sulfur Fuel - Q. Will
there be any problems switching over to
low sulfur fuel in our generator
engines?
8/13/07 -
Educational Study Survey Winner! -
Healthcare Engineering Network would
like to congratulate WH from GA on
winning our latest survey drawing.
8/13/07 -
Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems Commercial
GFCI Receptacle Product Notification -
To view .pdf document
click here.
