Time to show my Ignorance of HCF Design Protocols...
Let's see if I have the concept of Section 517.14 correct:
The Specified Redundant Grounding Conductor is Installed, so as to Bond all the Panelboards in the same Individual Patient Care Vicinity, and therefore create an Equipotential Plane - where the Potential (Voltage) between any Two Panelboards in this Identified Vicinity will be
Theoretically Zero.
The Potential (Voltage) between Equipment / ECG, and "Ground" (Ground being anything from the Floor directly beneath the Panelboard, to the Earthen areas of which the Building's Foundations have been cast in) is of no Relevance in this Design constraint; only the Potential Difference between any Panelboards supplying Branch Circuitry to the same Individual Patient Care Vicinity.
If the above is correct, the Specific Bonding Conductor (and Design constraints for it), is very much similar to the concepts of Swimming Pool Bonding...
i.e.:----------------------------------------------------------
Within the Bonded Equipment Plane (Swimming Pool, Water in the Pool, The Concrete Decking surrounding the Pool, and the Mechanical Equipment serving the Pool), if someone was to drop an Extension Cord in the Pool's Water (Cord is connected to a 120VAC Source), Persons entering or exiting the Pool will not experience a Shock, as the Plane is of one singular Potential (120V).
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Not being involved with the Design Protocols of Health Care Facilities, I am very curious to the ways and Technical aspects of these Projects.
Thanks to all who participated in this Thread!
-- Scott