Pat - Relevant document is IEC-60364-7-710 Electrical Installations of Buildings - Medical Locations, (which in the UK have been adopted under guidance notes subsidiary to the IEE Wiring 'Regulations'). Use of RCDs is restricted in medical environments, precisely because of nuisance tripping to critical equipment - where 'nuisance ' tripping could have serious if not fatal consequences for the patient. Use of RCDs in 'Group-2' medical locations (such as operating theatres) is restricted to particular specified circuits (such as those for X-ray units or plant rated >5kVA) -Otherwise they should not be used. (I've no idea what the practice is in Hong Kong). Ged Dean Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: 05 June 2008 01:28 To: [email protected] Subject: Use of ground fault detectors in hospitals Hi listmembers: We have a customer in Hong Kong who is reporting problems using their equipment in an operating room. Specifically, the GFI/RCCB/RCD (ground fault detector) installed in the operating room trips, shutting off power to the system. After resetting the GFI, the equipment can be started successfully. My question concerns the use of GFIs in operating rooms. This sounds unusual to me, and I'd think the GFI would have to meet many of the same requirements that medical equipment needs to meet (e.g., IEC60601-1 approval). Is anyone familiar with either requirements or prohibitions on the use of GFIs in an operating room? Pat Lawler EMC Engineer SL Power Electronics Corp. - ---------- ----------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society ________________________________ This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by Mailmarshal for the presence of known computer viruses. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust ________________________________ ID:QMCICT1 - B484d263a0001.000000000001.0001.mml - {VirusScanner} - 13:46:50 06/09/08 - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to [email protected] Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas [email protected] Mike Cantwell [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: [email protected] David Heald: [email protected] All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc
