517.19(C) Operating Room Receptacles.
Code Change Summary: A new section was added providing requirements for operating room receptacles.
For many code cycles, Article 517 has had requirements on the minimum number of receptacles required at patient bed locations in general and critical care areas of a health care facility. Now, the 2014 NEC® has a new section addressing the minimum number of required receptacles in an operating room.
Section 517.19(C) requires each operating room in a critical care area to be provided with at least 36 receptacles. Of these, at least 12 must be connected to either the normal system branch circuit or a critical branch circuit supplied by a different transfer switch than the other receptacles at the same location.
The required receptacles can be single or duplex types or a combination of both in order to achieve a total of 36, but all must be listed hospital grade type receptacles.
Below is a preview of the NEC®. See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on the “free access” tab and select the applicable year of NFPA 70 (National Electrical code).
2014 Code Language:
517.19(C) Operating Room Receptacles.
(1) Minimum Number and Supply. Each operating room shall be provided with a minimum of 36 receptacles, at least 12 of which shall be connected to either of the following:
(1) The normal system branch circuit required in 517.19(A)
(2) A critical branch circuit supplied by a different transfer switch than the other receptacles at the same location.
(2) Receptacle Requirements. The receptacles required in 517.19(C)(1) shall be permitted to be of the single or duplex types or a combination of both. All receptacles shall be listed hospital grade and so identified. The grounding terminal of each receptacle shall be connected to the reference grounding point by means of an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor.