CODE FORUM PATIENT CARE AREAS @ Pariem METHODS FOR Frese P Hert Paint care areas are often reared to 2s een a wiring ‘method thal will provide “redundant cyouncng” but imotes ive, Shree swe For rebuttal comments from the manufacturer noted see page 94. (OST inctallar are aware thet fare areas in health ear fees Fave sel grounding erent, andthal thsearereflesedinsome rotons on what wining metiode are ported These ‘equitonens sre een summarized as anced feryedurdant grounding” "Athaoph that term des aot appear in the (NEC, fie fail ease to what i aebally i {alved and intended in the rate, deceptively ‘owe. Since twa propery sited individal ‘suipment grounding conductors ran tthe ite devon or eher equipment are obroasly ‘edundont, sna argue hat wing methods that provid uch rownding re perated or test eet telntantof te rales ‘One af the roe cnfssiog ofthe possible wingrothods Type cable which ores ‘lequetine about the interlocking armor hic Sealab with wo grounding “oduttrs Some manufacturers representa {lvee have expllnod tha, his orm, 16 [roduc can be ure inpatient ere aus. ‘The ECAM Panel's response "Tier metho is an exclant exams of hy theta eedondant ponding exabe tsleading We doneindad provide rodondant ‘round rturn pathy wile the ame net ‘ety later th henna te ral en ofthe rule The frat grounding ture eh the inulated copper conductor covered In See. 81715(a, a alow: {ch Pationt Care Ares, Inanaea sed or rounded by an ionuatedsopger esndactor. The Algeagh he main role calls for mata race swe, the gla esgsios tal jae ‘Sie aserble This ree though the exception ie bs bles ted by Tynes MG and AC ables conditioned ea the _runding status tejackt.Thsie onl cr ‘etfor Type IC cable, "Type Ml eae esmes in «copper and & stainles ter verton ond as eovered a Bee ‘0.23, the sailor stl (pel not rong nnd ata rounding setup On he ener Tang, he Type AC eable armor assembly, ‘neh consists ofan intelosking metal amar gener with a bare copper ar aluzinum banding rip aay aezoptab, Hart [sere Forster ares, Typo AC able cevalable wih seperate rounding cond forte compl with ean ale “Iype MC cal however cresindhrec ver sions (aterlocking armor, comagatod, and noth) andthe groundlog witb oe ‘utr ell jacket varies geen 1n the {ual branch iret sta, ts generally ao ‘rrabifor the comugatd and smoot ace ‘Sb orehenerooling armor version ie eer accptale There ad erage {petal cladeae design tt ould bo wed Or Putent cove areas also inlade m copper runing conduc o ema with thea ‘ite ect aboraory roles require that thermore alifed nnd wh roundngcon ‘lucors are supplementary, they must use {rom insulation with slow pe Tsu, jen sbsinginonastenty fllwed, sits ‘ine tone tanulacsres speciation, "The ext eect (See. 517-1300] fo cages more directly onthe wiring metho Flee Iecorectly covers the vious ele vs inso ding largely overeomes the pres ie(CODE FORUM Sra 0) Tye Cd Type ME Thinsneton scarey worded tan sur that whatever ho metal onal fre wl standalone a grounding ‘etars path Tae phrase “abo aror or heath aasombiy”ineldee qalied Type MC cables, aswell a Type AC cable where theFturn path isthe c- ‘meinconsneion wise ond {focar run jut alow and in contac doe notinldelnterocking amie ‘Type MC cab, even with too eas. ‘petting nt Tose pou "heath snsemblys they are merely grosadig conductors lel si Jrandot equal sat to the adiinal {rounding condetar(s) that woul ba Installed ins nonmetalie wiring tmethed This contruction does, how ver, have wery valid appiontions for Scuipment connected ou as to reduce ‘Secromagnote interference by using ‘pte ranning wit the cri ood Torsone tothe aqupmentend he ther foranducive raceways, bors, ‘We note here that this discussion dows not apply to feeders and is or [ranch drei acomponontofa sp ‘See.517 90), than cbled wage ‘ot permittoa (since nae ofthe exe tine wl appt "Thwsng te emerene aii o's History and intent ‘Many, prticlaly hor with ann complete understendig of the back {round bein herd, rv Us ‘rag methods sing multiple equip thant groanding conductors should be Dermitied, since they provide redun ‘lncy. Th ral riginatod inthe 1897 [NECndwa acca y many abn ule ‘ethos Acordingy assis aba ‘rsa osidezack iaerequremeatat DENPPA Anaad Meeting “Those attrpts were may sage arguments bum a speaker who had ex ‘siely eecerched heal grounding ‘eronance, prea) inode hos ‘ale vba had matal raceways in que Lonabie condition He found Sat te Inova conta: betwen the conductive fuaoee ofthe esoways an nermal Tuling elements resulted ia multiple grounding return pats, through cor- frets reinforcing, plombing bullding ‘Sel and ear othe Hefound hat he ‘otal impadanento groan over be race- ‘way aan ran betwen 10nd 5Ocimes Tower tan the copper groaning one ceunld ae ieee factor of owe Te attampt was defeated, but ques tiona.as tothe accuracy ofthat resarch Dorit: Another tiempo dara he Fegurement wns ade on the foo of the 1869 NFPA Annual Meting, The ame opeaer responded, eparting 09 is more rsen reneare, The recat hos reortd Uhres years cakes Was tot correc, he sald. Actually thei ‘provement in grounding evar pecre vor Tate Tunes was teteen 20 nd 100 imeel [Nocerious etiompt was made to reba Namgunenistndtherdestpedintne |] Framein IAL | serrate] Badan 7 oom Eran enaeng S 8599 "ean afr the equipment round ‘ng periormanos of those sles a tect in haath eae faites where ‘ery call eid vltages on groan ‘loqupmentens cause sever prob lon iss feme It i for hs eason thst redun. Safa ae pvt a slp “Hon gouang rearapah hea Tear wi Bene om the other grou etree K Saonlarenmcese [f] PSs gas’ (PN; Caan eimpratin peci "This eitorettonded the mootings reported nee and this tor rotate ‘orion of Sec. 617-190) that now ap ese in the NEC AL smetine,eeblo idence may wallemorge challenging he aturnpins tend tarde, Ut ‘hat happens andthe NEC ischanged cordingly, wring mietodsthat donot ‘ee theirovtrencheures sea qualified (gosndingvtara pa ae walthr poe. Fantastic Creations SAVE Cer ROG eral 1-800 731 777 ‘CIRCLESTOON READER SERVICE CARD eo