R432-12-23. Electrical Systems

(1) All electrical materials shall be tested and approved by Underwriters Laboratory.

(2) The electrical installations, including alarm and nurse call system, if required, shall be tested to demonstrate that equipment installation and operation is as intended and appropriate. A written record of performance tests of special electrical systems and equipment shall show compliance with applicable codes.

(3) Switchboards and Power Panels.

(a) The main switchboard shall be located in an area separate from plumbing and mechanical equipment and be accessible only to authorized persons.

(b) The switchboards shall be convenient for use, readily accessible for maintenance, clear of traffic lanes, and located in a dry, ventilated space.

(c) Overload protection devices shall operate properly in the ambient room temperatures, except for existing Level IV facilities.

(d) Panelboards serving normal lighting and appliance circuits shall be located on the same floor as the circuits they serve.

(4) Lighting. All spaces within buildings that house people, machinery, equipment, or approaches to buildings shall have fixtures for lighting. (See Table 4.)

(a) Resident rooms shall have general and night lighting.

(i) A reading light shall be provided for each resident.

(ii) Flexible light arms, if used, shall be mechanically controlled to prevent the bulb from coming in contact with bed linen.

(iii) At least one night light fixture shall be controlled at the entrance to each resident room.

(iv) All controls for lighting in resident areas shall operate quietly.

(b) Parking lots shall have fixtures for lighting to provide light at levels recommended in the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESN) Lighting for Parking Facilities (RP-20-1998).

(c) Lighting levels shown in Table 4 shall be used as minimum standards and do not preclude the use of higher levels that may be needed to insure the health and safety of the specific facility population served. Values in Table 4 are minimum maintained average illuminance measured at the task plane. Corridor lighting shall be adjustable so that light levels may be reduced at night and still provide a maximum brightness ratio of 1:10.

TABLE 4

SMALL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES LIGHTING STANDARDS

                                 MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES

     Physical Plant Area Level Level IV

                                 I, II, III Facilities

                                 Facilities

     Corridors

       Day 20 15

       Night 10 10

     Exits 20 20

     Stairways 20 20

     Nursing Station

       General 30 30

       Charting 75 75

       Med. Prep. 75 75

     Pt./Res. Room

       General 10 10

       Reading/Mattress Level 30 30

       Toilet area 30 30

     Lounge

       General 10 10

       Reading 30 30

     Recreation 30 30

     Dining 30 30

     Laundry 30 30

(5) Each resident room shall have duplex grounding type receptacles as follows:

(a) one located on each side of the head of each bed;

(b) one for television, if used; and

(c) one on each other wall.

(6) Receptacles may be omitted from exterior walls where construction would make installation impractical.

(7) Duplex grounded receptacles for general use shall be installed in all corridors.