Code Change Summary: Requirements for essential electrical systems used in health care facilities have changed.

In order to correlate with NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code, the rules pertaining to the essential electrical system have been reorganized. Previous Section 517.30 has become new section 517.29 and now includes rules on the essential electrical system for both hospitals and other health care facilities.

The phrase “essential electrical system” (EES) is defined in 517.2 but it speaks for itself in that it pertains to important electrical circuits in a health care facility that must be powered at all times. These circuits are required to be treated differently and even separated from other circuits that are not absolutely necessary during a power failure.

Another change throughout Article 517 is the use of the terms “Type 1” and “Type 2” EES. The two different types of EES are based on the level of risk associated with a potential power failure. A Type 1 EES is the most restrictive and is required for Category 1 patient care spaces. The specific rules pertaining to a Type 1 or Type 2 EES are covered in NFPA 99.

Section 517.29(B) is new and requires critical care (Category 1) spaces to be served only by a Type 1 EES. Because of the fact that Article 517 does not go into great detail about the types of EES, it is clear that the only way to properly install or inspect electrical systems in large health care facilities is to be familiar with both the NEC^® and NFPA 99.

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 2017 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.