[OP]
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In my wife's hospital room a few weeks ago I noticed these receptacles: I was always taught that the ground plug should be on the bottom. To me any other way just looks wrong. Hospitals often require one of the highest level of commercial work. 12 outlets and none of them being used! Please understand I am not slamming these U of M hospital specs, even though I am a Spartans fan.
Last edited by Ole Anderson; 01-08-2015 at 6:02 PM.
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Years ago I remember them being installed that way.
George
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An electrician once told me that they should be that way. The thinking is that if something metal dropped on the plug it would hit the grounding lug first. But I think it looks weird too.
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That's what I was told by my electrician.Originally Posted by Judson Green
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Andy Rooney
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Our hospitals and clinics have them installed that way. Partly for the reason Judson gave. The other reason is if the receptacle loosens, it is the ground pin which becomes exposed instead of the hot. There are specs on how much withdrawl force is required to remove them but they do get looser over time. I think the spec is that they should be tight enough that when the nurse unplugs the cord by yanking on it from across the room, the plug comes off the cord.
What kind of a room is it? There seem to be a lot of emergency power receptacles in one spot.
Last edited by Dave Richards; 01-08-2015 at 6:43 PM.
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Well, why are they so crooked ? I would not pay for that .
We had this discussion where I used to work when two areas of the building were renovated at two different times and the second renovation used a different electrical contractor than the first. Further investigation revealed that the electrical code does not specify which way duplex receptacles are to be installed, just how they are wired. That may have changed in more recent editions. Apparently it is up to the electrician doing the work.
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Every hospital I've visited (thankfully, I've never been a patient) had the receptacles with the ground up. Maybe it's a hospital requirement.
Mike
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Hospitals not only have to abide by the national electrical code but have their own regulations probably established by the biomedical department. Biomedical regulations could very well dictate that for some reason. The regulations regarding electrical with regards to patient safety are pretty tightly enforced with required strict compliance, regularly scheduled checks, quick follow up checks after a violation is discovered and thorough documentation!
Ken
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out here on the west coast, at least in a residential setting, they are installed ground down. However, if the outlet is controlled by a wall switch, they are put in ground up - - - but I understand it is for a visual clue rather than a code requirement. Will take a look next time I am in a hospital . . . . . hope not too soon though.
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Most outlets, here in the East anyhow, have one controlled by a switch and one always hot. How would that work?
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I was a project manager for the CM/GC in healthcare construction for 10 years. Ground up is code and is how every receptacle ever installed on any of my jobs has been done - it would very quickly hit the punch list if not. I believe it is NEC, and I do not believe there is any specific health care spec. I've always understood that residential installs are incorrect but since it looks "normal" to most everyone it is not corrected or marked up during inspection.
By the way, it looks like those receptacles are in what is called the headwall. That's where all of the gases, pillow speaker, vacuum, patient monitoring receptacle, etc. are installed. Believe me, every single one of those receptacles and devices are very carefully planned out. Some of them are on emergency power and everything is supposed to be plugged in a specific place in case of a power failure the patient will be okay.
Last edited by Matt Day; 01-08-2015 at 8:06 PM.
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Many medical apparatus are mounted high, and have plugs angled to keep the cables off the floor.
I noticed that at UofM also.
I do hope your Wife is doing well.
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Matt, you're right about that stuff being very carefully planned out.
Last edited by Dave Richards; 01-08-2015 at 8:40 PM.
[OP]
Member
I was holding the phone at a wield angle so it made the receptacles look crooked. Anne had a mitral valve repair done there December 16, she went home after 3 days and is doing fine, thank you for asking. She now had a titanium ring holding the valve opening in the right position. Picture was taken at the head end of the bed in a one bed step down unit. Reasons for ground up makes sense. Orange are isolated ground receptacles for sensitive equipment. I just installed some at church for our audio/video equipment due to a ground loop hum.
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