Medical IT Socket-Outlets

[Ian C C]

Hi,

This post is about my concerns with medical IT socket outlets and want to alert you all if you are fitting them in a hospital. The current guidance needs updating to clarify this but in the mean time, you should be aware that IT sockets with switches should not be fitted even though they are sold. Having them switched cannot be a derogation because the switches defeat the whole purpose of the IT system, which is to reduce the risk of disconnection (ie an RCD tripping). Life critical medical equipment obviously needs the power as much as possible so medical IT reduces this risk. FYI the control panel is called an IPS because in order to function, the system needs an isolating transformer.

Also, I have seen sockets being sold that do not have the correct "clean" earth link. Basically, the link should be removed if there is a metal back box and kept in if there is a plastic back box. Simple. Why? In a group 2 medical location where IT are fitted, the socket earth pin has a radial connection direct to the location EBB. This should not connect to extraneous (which is connected to the socket screws and back box). If it is a plastic back box, the link is left in and means the screws use the radial equipotential conductor. The problem is - some sockets are sold with a link that doesn't split the screws from the pin - the link terminal is not a link but just one terminal and doesn't help. If the link is out, one of the connections should only go to the socket earth pins.

Hope this helps.

 

[James]

I've just quickly googled 'medical IT socket' and find that the first page of results displays only unswitched blue sockets.

I'm not sure the outlined problem actually exists, unless there's an assumption that any clean earth socket is suitable for supply of medical equipment. It is surely understood that clean earthing requirements extend beyond hospitals and that accessories will exist to satisfy those requirements, which may call for switched sockets?

Edit: I see that MK produce a switched and unswitched version of their blue clean earth sockets and both are engraved 'Medical Equipment Only'.

A clean earth socket can of course be used for medical equipment that is not on an IT supply.
therefore I am sure thee are circumstances that a socket that doesn’t meet the requirements of para 710. Still wants to be marked with medical equipment only.

I get what you are saying about specific IT sockets in specific locations not being allowed to have switches, however as said, it is down to the installer to design and construct the circuit so it meets requirements and is suitable for the use it is likely to get.
a switch on an IT supply doesn’t make the socket any less safe.
there are obviously specific risks involved in hospitals other medical locations and many of these are sorted out by specific site or personal training.

 

[Ian C C]

Again, there is no reason why you can’t have a switched socket on an IT supply.
if particular circumstances or locations require it then fine.

as an installer YOU are required to select the correct equipment for the location.

Hi. Agree that the installer is required to do this but my point is - they are being sold and fitted in some hospitals and they shouldn't. Guidance note 7 9.20 (special locations 2018) also says that switched medical IT sockets shall be unswitched. The other point of concern which affects the safety of medical devices is that the link on some medical IT suppliers' sockets do not separate clean from extraneous.

 

[James]

Hi. Agree that the installer is required to do this but my point is - they are being sold and fitted in some hospitals and they shouldn't. Guidance note 7 9.20 (special locations 2018) also says that switched medical IT sockets shall be unswitched. The other point of concern which affects the safety of medical devices is that the link on some medical IT suppliers' sockets do not separate clean from extraneous.

The guidance is already in place, you keep pointing it out.
again, there are many purposes for a particular socket outlet and as a designer or installer you need to take the guidance into account when selecting and installing equipment.
I understand that your intention is to provide information to others that may be in a similar position to yourself. However as I am sure you are aware, every installation is different.

 

[Ian C C]

A clean earth socket can of course be used for medical equipment that is not on an IT supply.
therefore I am sure thee are circumstances that a socket that doesn’t meet the requirements of para 710. Still wants to be marked with medical equipment only.

I get what you are saying about specific IT sockets in specific locations not being allowed to have switches, however as said, it is down to the installer to design and construct the circuit so it meets requirements and is suitable for the use it is likely to get.
a switch on an IT supply doesn’t make the socket any less safe.
there are obviously specific risks involved in hospitals other medical locations and many of these are sorted out by specific site or personal training.

Hi. The reason for the need for no switches is specific to the use of life-critical devices. I am a trainer in medical locations and medical device electrical safety and am aware of all the technicalities. All I want to achieve is to alert those who do the installing to watch out for the 3 issues with Medical IT sockets. The hospital guidance hasn't been updated for some time and is long overdue - I won't go into the politics on here but I thought it may help if sparkies are made aware that they should know more about the IT sockets in hospitals. Ian

 

[James]

I apologise if I have come across wrong.
but it is down to you as a customer to specify work and work with installers and agree what specifications you are wanting when asking someone to install equipment in specific locations like that.
it is a somewhat specific area of expertise but guidance is there and laws to Back it up.

 

[Ian C C]

I haven't claimed BS7671 to be a statutory instrument, but simply pointed out that it is regulatory as you had incorrectly claimed otherwise.

The terms 'regulation', 'legislation' and 'statutory' are not interchangeable.

i saw a good description recently where it said that BS7671 is directly referenced in other legislation which I haven’t seen before and it better explains my point. Therefore to prosecute, enforcement authorities need to use the actual “other” legislation which directly references BS7671. It is a good point because the additional health guidance isn’t referenced like BS7671.