NEC 517.21

NEC 517.18(B) / NEC 517.18(A) / NEC 517.21

This fails the current code. Since the 2014 NEC, NEC 517.18(B) requires a minimum of EIGHT receptacles at each general-care (Category 2) patient bed location (critical-care locations require 14). 'Four' is an obsolete pre-2014 figure. The scenario installs only four receptacles, which is below the minimum of eight, so the install is non-compliant. Note also that the count requirement lives in 517.18(B); 517.18(A) covers the two-branch-circuit supply rule requiring at least one receptacle on the normal branch and one on the critical branch of the essential electrical system, with the essential-system receptacle identified by distinctive color or marking. The remaining details are correct: NEC 517.21 exempts general-care patient bed locations from GFCI requirements (nuisance GFCI trips could de-energize life support equipment), hospital-grade receptacles (green dot) are required, and the GFCI-protected bathroom receptacle satisfies NEC 210.8. But the four-receptacle count is the controlling failure.

NEC 517.19 / NFPA 99

Patient bed locations in critical care areas require receptacles connected to the critical branch of the essential electrical system, not normal power. Loss of power to life-support equipment during an outage is life-threatening.

NEC 517.20

Wet procedure locations in healthcare facilities require either an isolated power system with line isolation monitor (LIM), or GFCI protection. Standard grounding alone is insufficient for areas where patients may be connected to equipment.

NEC 517.30(A) / NFPA 99 Section 6.4.1

NEC 517.30(A) requires a complete inventory of essential electrical system loads to ensure the generator has adequate capacity and that all critical loads are properly connected to the correct branch. Without load documentation, equipment may be connected to the wrong branch or the generator may be overloaded, causing cascading failures during a utility outage.

NEC 517.30(B)(1)

NEC 517.30(B)(1) requires transfer switches for the essential electrical system to be located in spaces that minimize the possibility of interruption from fire, flooding, or vandalism. An unsecured mechanical room exposes the transfer switch to damage or tampering, which could disable the entire essential electrical system during an emergency.

NEC 517.30(C)(1)

NEC 517.30(C)(1) ('Separation from Other Circuits') requires the life safety branch and critical branch wiring to be kept entirely independent of all other wiring and equipment — they cannot share the same raceway, box, or cabinet with normal power circuits. Mixing essential electrical system branch wiring with normal power circuits in the same conduit means a single conduit failure could disable both the essential and normal systems simultaneously, defeating the purpose of the essential electrical system.