Electrical Requirements

Section 300 Section 300.3140  Electrical Requirements a)         The electrical installation for existing facilities shall continue to meet all the requirements of NFPA 70. b)         Circuit breakers or fusible switches that provide disconnecting means and overcurrent protection for conductors connected to switchboards and panelboards shall be enclosed or guarded to provide a dead-front type of assembly.  Overload protective devices shall be suitable for operating properly in ambient temperature conditions. c)         Lighting 1)         All spaces occupied by people, machinery, or equipment within buildings, approaches to buildings, and parking lots shall have lighting. 2)         Resident's rooms shall have general lighting.  A reading light shall be provided for each resident. d)         Receptacles Convenience Outlets.  Each resident room shall have adequate duplex type receptacles. e)         Nurses' Calling System. 1)         In resident areas, each room shall be served by at least one calling station and each bed shall be provided with a call station.  One call station may serve two adjacent beds. A nurse call shall register at a central station serving the floor.  In intermediate facilities only, an intercommunication system that provides only voice communication between a resident room and the nurses' station shall not be used unless approved by the Department. 2)         A nurses' call emergency station shall be provided for residents' use at each resident's toilet, bath, and shower location.  The cord shall extend to within six inches of the floor.  See Section 300.3140 (e)(1) for exception of intermediate facilities only. f)         Door Alarm System.  See Section 300.3100(d)(2). g)         Fire Alarm System 1)         A manually operated, electrically supervised fire alarm system shall be installed. Pre-signal systems are not permitted. 2)         A fire detection and alarm system, approved by the Department, shall be installed throughout the facility. 3)         The fire alarm signals shall automatically transmit the alarm to any available municipal fire department by direct private line or through a central station that complies with the applicable provisions of NFPA 72. h)         Emergency Electrical Requirements 1)         To provide electricity during an interruption of the normal electric supply, an emergency source of electricity shall be provided and connected to the circuits pursuant to NFPA 70 and NFPA 99. 2)         The source of this emergency electrical service shall be one of the following: A)        An emergency generating set when the normal service is supplied by only the utility company; or B)        An automatic battery-operated system or equipment that will be effective four or more hours and be capable of supplying power for lighting for exit signs, exit corridors, stairways, nurses' stations, communication system, and all alarm systems, including the nurses' call system. 3)         If a medical ventilator is provided for resident care, the facility shall be equipped with and maintain a Type 1 emergency electrical system in accordance with NFPA 70 and NFPA 99.  Each resident bed location with a medical ventilator is a critical care area in accordance with NFPA 99.