Critical Care for Healthcare Fire and Life Safety Systems

Keeping Critical Systems Operational

Healthcare facilities are required to operate 24/7, without exception. They need to tolerate the stress and strain that external disasters, natural or manmade, may inflict upon them. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina epitomized the need for critical operating systems to remain fully functional. The 2008 edition of the National Electrical Code® (NEC) recognizes this and includes requirements for these systems.

Article 708 is a new section within the NEC that applies to the electrical installation, operation, supervision, and maintenance of critical operations power systems. These systems consist of circuits and equipment intended to ensure continuity of necessary operations by means of the automatic supply, distribution, and control of electricity during disruption to the normal system.

In addition, the NEC states: “Critical operations power systems are generally installed in vital infrastructure facilities that, if destroyed or incapacitated, would disrupt national security, the economy, public health, or safety; and where enhanced electrical infrastructure for continuity of operation has been deemed necessary by governmental authority.”

According to the NEC, the provisions of Article 708 “apply to the installation, operation, monitoring, control, and maintenance of the portions of the premises wiring system intended to supply, distribute, and control electricity to designated critical operations areas in the event of disruption to elements of the normal system.” These systems include, but are not limited to, power systems, HVAC, fire alarms, security, communications, and signaling for designated critical operations areas.

Providing fire and life safety in these facilities will continue to evolve as the complexity of these facilities change. It is clear that healthcare facilities are an essential part of any community and their construction is expected to increase. The American Hospital Association estimates there are more than 16,000 hospitals operating in the U.S., with more on the way. As hospitals are constructed, others are refurbished and retrofitted to meet the demands of today’s codes and standards.

VHA Stays Ahead of Code

John Heywood, senior safety engineer, has proudly served the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for more than 30 years. He takes additional pride in the VHA’s ability to keep up with fire and life safety code updates.

“We adopt the latest edition of all codes and standards, and we’re ahead of all code requirements such as NFPA 72,” Heywood says. “All healthcare buildings have to be sprinkled, even nursing homes. Almost every one of our facilities has a fire alarm that is system connected to a central control or the city fire department.” He is specifically interested in recommending beam detectors for facilities with atria, following the success of that detection technology in the Minneapolis VHA facility.

In terms of keeping up with required codes and standards, Heywood cites the

2008 National Electrical Code® that requires the use of arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). In addition to providing conventional circuit breaker safety functions, an AFCI can rapidly detect potentially dangerous arcs and disconnect power in the circuit before a fire can start. This requirement applies to all new and renovated residences. Its goal is to reduce the estimated 70,000 residential fires that occur annually due to electrical problems, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Existing residential structures would be exempt from needing AFCIs. Some examples would be the VHA’s
Fisher Houses on the grounds of major military medical centers to accommodate the families of veterans undergoing treatment. “In the private sector, building construction would use a grandfather clause saying they don’t have to put in the AFCIs,” says Heywood. “The federal government is different.”

The AFCIs do not interfere with power supply reliability for smoke detectors and other appliances. The VHA regards them as worthwhile investments. Yet, as progressive as the VHA is in its improvement plan, Heywood admits that the VHA, like any other medical organization, has to take a practical dollars-and-cents approach to new technologies.

When Heywood and others in his department suggest fire and life safety upgrades, he says, “We have to do an evaluation and work with the chief engineers and project engineers, and they’ll respond back to me and say we can do that or we can’t afford it.”