The need for fast, reliable data plays an increasingly important role in businesses, and nowhere is there more demand than in the healthcare sector. The U.S. market for health IT will expand to $85 billion by 2014, according to market research firm Compass Intelligence. Part of this growth comes from a mass transition to electronic health records, as nearly all U.S. healthcare organizations are expected to have implemented some form of electronic health records by 2015. But beyond e-records, healthcare facilities are adopting all kinds of "connected" technology — advanced diagnostics, smart beds and pumps, IP telemetry — that will be IP-based and using Ethernet in the near future. This means that structured cabling is critical for implementing these emerging technologies.

Each area in a hospital facility presents different maintenance challenges to the HVAC technician. Some areas need to be kept as clean as possible; they are usually positively pressurized, have highly filtered supply air, and may even require occupants to wear protective gowning. Other areas may be inherently “dirty”, such as soiled linen rooms and trash facilities. These have special needs, too…… to keep the dirt, odors and other undesirables from getting out. Many areas require precise and individual temperature and humidity controls as well.

Receptacles and cover plates for receptacles in non-health care buildings have no requirements as to color. However, in health care facilities, those receptacles that will continue to provide power when normal power is interrupted (i.e., the wiring to these receptacles is connected to transfer switches that switch the source of power from the normal supply to the EPS), have to be clearly identified to distinguish them from all other receptacles in the building. In many facilities, this is accomplished by using a ‘colored’ receptacle (i.e., some color other than those receptacles connected only to the normal supply.) In other facilities, the color of cover plates might be used to identify such circuits. Sometimes both receptacle and cover plate are different. Sometimes a label is attached to the cover plate as well, to identify the panel and circuit to which it is connected.

Receptacle dimensions are determined by National Electrical Manufacturers Association guidelines that conform to specific configurations based on voltage and amperage dimensions. A radio, a toaster or a vacuum cleaner can be plugged into any 120 volt receptacle anywhere in the U.S.: this was standardized many years ago. Dimensionally, receptacles in health care facilities are the same size as those in other commercial buildings or in homes; some other aspects of receptacles in health care facilities can differ depending on where they are located, and how important it is that power be maintained to that receptacle.

Electric power companies transmit electric power at high voltages, ranging from 40,000 volts to 750,000 volts. These transmission voltages are reduced to distribution voltages (ranging from 4,000 volts to 32,000 volts) at distribution substations. The power companies continue to regulate voltage leaving the distribution substation through load tap changers and capacitor banks located at substations. The distribution line voltage may be further regulated through the use of line capacitor banks and line voltage regulators. The distribution voltage is further reduced at, or close to, the service entrance of a facility through the use of distribution transformers.

In a health care facility, the normal electrical system is very much like an electrical distribution system in a commercial building. There is point of entry of power into the facility, which may be from the local electric power company or from an on-site power generator.  There are transformers to step-down the voltage, as necessary. There is a distribution network to provide power throughout the facility. There are panel boards with circuit breakers. There are breakers of various types to protect the system from overloads.

Q. We are trying to come to grips with the requirement in NFPA 70E for an arc flash analysis every five years.  Does that mean we must do one immediately or do we have a specific time to get the first one done?  Is this being enforced by a regulatory agency (other than NFPA) such as OSHA?  Can someone refer me to the code?  We have a proposal from an electrical contractor but the cost seems very high.

Petitioners filed for review of two EPA rulemakings that revised the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (the RICE NESHAP). Under the terms of the proposed settlement agreement, by April 20, 2012, the Agency will sign a notice of proposed rulemaking that includes a proposal to revise the RICE NESHAP and the stationary internal combustion engine new source performance standards (ICE NSPS) to allow owners and operators of emergency stationary internal combustion engines to operate emergency stationary internal combustion engines in emergency conditions, as defined in those regulations, as part of an emergency demand response program for 60 hours per year or the minimum hours required by Independent System Operator tariff, whichever is less. The notice of proposed rulemaking may also allow for more hours of operation. In addition, under the terms of the proposed settlement agreement, by December 14, 2012, the Administrator of EPA will sign a final action on this proposal, which may include signature of a final rule by the Administrator.

EPA Proposed Settlement Agreement

The EPSS GROUP has just opened on LinkedIn. This site is available to acute care facilities. The EPSS Group is dedicated to the premise that a failure of the EPSS is not an option in a healthcare facility, and that the on-site EPSS must be more reliable than the utility or normal source. The EPSS Group is a site where healthcare engineering personnel can discuss AHJ compliance, advocacy efforts, reliability, design, maintenance, safety and testing of EPSS in healthcare facilities.

Recently there has been a discussion regarding "single station" smoke detectors per the requirements of LS.02.01.34 EP-4 and the NFPA Life Safety Code.  LS.02.01.34 EP-4 is a catch-all phrase directing you to the Life Safety Code; i.e. “The organization meets all other Life Safety Code (LSC) fire alarm requirements related to NFPA 101-2000: 18/19.3.4 and is a C scored item.”  Looking at LSC reference 19.3.4 Detection, Alarm, and Communications Systems section 19.3.4.2 *Initiation section discusses initiation by manual or detection devices,  manual pull boxes in patient sleeping areas, and commercial cooking protection.  There is an appendix statement in 19.3.4.2 which states “It is not the intent of this Code to require single station smoke-detectors, which might be required by local codes, to be connected to initiate the building fire alarm system.”  This statement could then be translated to mean unsupervised sleeping areas require battery powered single station smoke-detectors.  Looking at section 19.3.4.3 Notification section talks about automatic notification and discusses audible and visual alarms in critical care areas, and visual alarms in patient sleeping areas approved by the AHJ.

Thanks to the efforts of several of our readers the negotiations with the EPA concerning increasing the 15 hours/year for emergency Demand Response (DR) are going very well.  In addition, the EPA issued an approval for reconsideration of the NRECA petition which is asking for Peak Shaving relief.  Soon there will be a Federal Register (FR) notice asking for comments.  At that time we will prepare a write-up explaining what to comment on, when to submit the comments, and where they need to be sent.  We can also provide some boilerplate language you can use in crafting letters to the EPA.  The FR notice should appear in a few weeks.

Note:  Caution should be exercised before committing EPSS assets to long term DR contracts.  Four of the ten major points to consider include: age of equipment, critical load isolation, system redundancy and local air permitting issues.

NRECA Approval Letter

Dan Chisholm, Sr.
Emergency Power Consultant
Healthcare/Mission Critical Systems
PO 2474
Winter Park, FL 32790
407.421.7189

Q.  The State is asking for the HP ratings of the generators existing on-site.  Our records have the kW rating, and I see some of the manufacturer’s literature gives a range of HP depending upon use level.  How do I answer the HP question without over stating the HP, and the emissions, from the generators?

Q: Does medical gas alarm signal wiring (i.e. wiring from sensors/transducers to master or area alarm warning panels) have to be installed in conduit?

We never run our generator each week.  However, we do a weekly inspection and visual check each day.  We also do a full load test once a month.  Is it common practice to run it each week?  If so, would running it without load for a minute or two be ok?

Caterpillar introduces the 3516C-HD — the first 2MW+ diesel generator set with Tier 4 Interim certification. Offering an integrated engine and after treatment solution, benefits include highly efficient fuel consumption rates, compact footprint and lower emissions for prime power, peak shaving, standby and mission critical applications. Cat® Tier 4 Interim generator sets are capable of integrating into larger power systems including UPS, Switchgear and ATS.

A new, or edited, paragraph will appear in the 2012 edition of NFPA 110.  ASTM D975 will become the de facto standard for diesel fuel testing.

Please send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a 6 page template RFP/RFQ to be used when soliciting pricing and laboratory qualifications for testing of fuel, oil and coolant.  It is very important that when creating the RFP/RFQ that the client specify (where applicable) the specific ASTM test method required for performing tests. For many of these tests there are faster, less accurate ways to test samples for specific properties. If the client does not specify the method, they run the risk of low-quality bidders coming in at very low prices and then providing essentially useless data because the methods utilized in testing are substandard. There are a some laboratories that are notorious for this and it is important to protect the hospital from getting trapped into a program that will cost them money without providing beneficial/actionable information.

Q. Is there a code requirement for medical gas alarm panel testing?  Monthly, quarterly, etc?

MGC, Inc. Announces Availability of Online ASSE 6040 Certification Course to Offer Greater Convenience and Flexibility in Attainment of Medical Gas Piping Certification and Overall Compliance

Web-based course allows qualified individuals to access medical gas training courses, compliant with ASSE 6000 series standard and NFPA 99, which are designed to train and certify individuals involved with repair, operation, maintenance, and periodic testing of medical gas and vacuum systems

MGC’s Web-based ASSE 6020 Certification Course Offers Self-paced Training Modules, More Convenience in Achieving Medical Gas Systems Certification, and Overall Compliance

Online certification course, offered by leading medical gas training innovators MGI Systems and Certified Medical Gas Systems, allows more flexibility in gaining ASSE 6000 series certification, NFPA 99 compliance, and more flexibility to individuals seeking certification in the inspection and testing of medical gas systems.

Q: Regarding corridor clutter, items cannot be present  “more than 30 minutes unattended” even though it is not supported specifically within the code references.  So, where did the 30 minute rule come from?  Secondly, if there is no applicable code reference to time constraints and it is clear that the item is “in use” or for use and not “storage”, is this a debatable compliance issue?