517.6 Patient Care - Related Electrical Equipment.

The reconditioning requirements of the NEC does not apply to patient care-related electrical equipment.
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The reconditioning requirements of the NEC does not apply to patient care-related electrical equipment.

Code Change Summary: New code section addresses the reconditioning of specific medical equipment.

It’s not uncommon for a new medical facility in the final stages of construction to incorporate used or refurbished X-ray, MRI equipment, CT scan equipment and the like.

In the past, the NEC® has not prohibited reconditioned electrical equipment in health care facilities, but Section 104.9.1 of the International Building Code has required the following:

104.9.1 Used materials and equipment. Materials that are reused shall comply with the requirements of this code for new materials. Used equipment and devices shall not be reused unless approved by the building official.

In the 2023 NEC®, new Section 517.6 provides mandatory language to make it clear that the reconditioning requirements of the NEC® do NOT apply to patient care–related electrical equipment.

New informational note No. 2 states that patient care–related electrical equipment being relocated is expected to be recommissioned or recertified in accordance with the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).

With the recent pandemic, it is imperative that health care facilities remain fully operational even if reconditioned equipment must be used to maintain normal operations.

Health care facilities are of critical importance and there can be numerous circumstances affecting the ability of a health care facility to acquire new equipment.

In previous editions of the NEC®, Section 517.75 permitted used or reconditioned X-ray equipment. This section was deleted in 2023 with the addition of new Section 517.6 which is more general and includes X-ray equipment.

Below is a preview of the NEC®. See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2023 NEC® edition of NFPA 70.

2020 Code Language:

This code section did not exist.

2023 Code Language:

N 517.6 Patient Care–Related Electrical Equipment. The reconditioning requirements of this Code shall not apply to patient care–related electrical equipment.

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517.6 Patient Care - Related Electrical Equipment.

Below is a Real Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for Electrical License Renewal:

Based on the 2023 NEC, which of the following is true?

A: Patient care-related electrical equipment is NOT permitted to be reconditioned.
B: Patient care-related electrical equipment shall be new equipment.
C: Patient care-related electrical equipment shall NOT be reused.
D: The reconditioning requirements of the NEC does not apply to patient care-related electrical equipment.
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