scope:

The scope of this code is to establish minimum criteria as follows in 1.1.2 through 1.1.14.

Fundamentals.

Chapter 4 establishes criteria for levels of health care services or systems based on risk to the patients, staff, or visitors in health care facilities.

Gas and Vacuum Systems.

Chapter 5 covers the performance, maintenance, installation, and testing of the following:

(1) Nonflammable medical gas systems with operating pressures below a gauge pressure of 2068 kPa (300 psi)

(2) Vacuum systems in health care facilities

(3) Waste anesthetic gas disposal (WAGD) systems, also referred to as scavenging

(4) Manufactured assemblies that are intended for connection to the medical gas, vacuum, or WAGD systems (also referred to as scavenging)

Requirements for portable compressed gas systems are covered in Chapter 11.

Requirements for piped gas and vacuum systems in hyperbaric facilities are covered in Chapter 14.

Requirements for piped dental gas and vacuum systems are covered in Chapter 15.

Electrical Systems.

Chapter 6 covers the performance, maintenance, and testing of electrical systems (both normal and essential) in health care facilities.

The following areas are not addressed in this code, but are addressed in other NFPA documents:

(1) Specific requirements for wiring and installation of electrical systems and components thereof are covered in NFPA 70.

(2) Requirements for illumination and identification of means of egress in health care facilities are covered in NFPA 101.

(3) Requirements for installation, testing, and maintenance of fire protection signaling systems are covered in NFPA 72.

(4) Requirements for installation of fire pumps are covered in NFPA 20, except that the alternate power source is are permitted to be the essential electrical system.

(5) Requirements for installation of stationary engines and gas turbines are covered in NFPA 37.

Information Technology and Communications Systems.

Chapter 7 covers the performance, maintenance, and testing of information technology and communications systems in health care facilities.

Plumbing.

Chapter 8 covers the performance, maintenance, and testing of plumbing systems in health care facilities.

HVAC Systems.

Chapter 9 covers the performance, maintenance, and testing of heating, cooling, and ventilating in health care facilities.

Electrical Equipment.

Chapter 10 covers the performance, maintenance, and testing of electrical equipment in health care facilities.

Gas Equipment.

Chapter 11 covers the performance, maintenance, and testing of gas equipment in health care facilities.

Emergency Management.

Chapter 12 establishes criteria for emergency management in the development of a program for effective disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery in health care facilities.

Security Management.

Chapter 13 establishes criteria for security management, including management controls, mitigation practices, staff training, and program evaluation in health care facilities.

Hyperbaric Facilities.

Chapter 14 establishes criteria for design and operation of hyperbaric chambers and facilities. Chapter 14 covers electrical, fire, pressure, and gas hazards associated with hyperbaric facilities that are used, or intended to be used, for medical and experimental procedures at gauge pressures from 0 kPa to 690 kPa (0 psi to 100 psi).

Dental Gas and Vacuum System.

Chapter 15 covers the performance, maintenance, and testing of dental gas and vacuum systems in health care facilities.

Features of Fire Protection.

Chapter 16 covers the performance, maintenance, and testing of fire protection equipment in health care facilities.

Purpose.

The purpose of this code is to provide minimum requirements for the installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, performance, and safe practices for facilities, material, equipment, and appliances.