Questions have risen as to what areas are now covered under the “Health Care Facilities” definitions of the 2002 Ontario Electrical Safety Code.
Background:
Traditionally, Section 24 was limited to inside Hospital facilities. As health care treatment changes, so do the locations that these treatments take place.
The introduction of the 2002 Code saw the scope of 24-000 changed from “Hospitals” to “ Health Care Facilities”.
Further examination of the definitions in this section shows that this change includes a number of additional facilities that are now required to meet the requirements of Section 24. This would include almost anywhere health related services are delivered.
This change from "hospital(s)" to "health care facility(ies)" has been made throughout Section 24 and Appendix B, to harmonize Section 24 with the CAN/CSA-Z32.
The CSA, Z32 Standard provides a variety of examples of such health care facilities, and in addition to hospitals these examples include surgical, outpatient and doctor's clinics, dentist offices, psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities.
The standard further subdivides health care facilities into three separate classes as follows:
Health care facility, Class A - a hospital,.....
Health care facility, Class B - a facility where residents, as a result of physical or mental disabilities, are unable to function independently .....
Health care facility, Class C - a facility where ambulatory patients are accommodated on the basis of medical need and are provided with supportive, diagnostic, and treatment services.
Tony Moscioni
Electrical Inspector
Electrical Safety Authority