Addressing Regulatory Compliance: Generator Standards in Health Care

Medical facilities run critical equipment like dialysis machines and ventilators. The lifesaving nature of this equipment means these facilities must protect against power outages to keep patients safe and continue operations. Hospitals need a reliable backup power source that starts within seconds to cover natural disasters or brownouts. Various regulatory agencies set standards for health care power to ensure systems perform reliably. 

Hospital Backup Generator Requirements

Medical facilities generally need two sources of power — the main power from electrical lines and a backup generator for necessary equipment. They must abide by regulatory standards from various agencies, including:

• The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• The Joint Commission
• The American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE)

The primary standard that governs health care facilities is NFPA Code 110. This code sets the standard for emergency and standby power systems. These standards include how long the units must provide power and how fast they must restore electricity in an outage. NFPA Code 110 classifies backup generator systems into two levels:

• Level 1: A power loss could cost people their lives. Generators in this category run vital systems like life support. 
• Level 2: The system does not involve keeping patients alive. Generators in this category might run features like lighting. 

The system’s requirements will vary depending on its classification. A class 48 system must provide power without recharging or refueling for 48 hours. A type 10 system must restore power within 10 seconds. 

Testing and Maintenance Standards

Beyond operational requirements, backup generators for hospitals have particular testing and maintenance requirements, including:

• NFPA 99: This code requires generators classified as essential electrical systems to meet service requirements based on risk categories. Category 1 includes facilities or areas where electrical failures could result in severe injury or death. 
• NFPA 101: Under this code, generators at facilities that provide life support must meet legal requirements. Facility managers must maintain batteries and regularly test and inspect generators. 
• NFPA 110: Beyond classifying generators, this code provides guidelines for routine maintenance to reduce the risk of system failure. Hospitals must inspect and test systems regularly.

Beyond meeting maintenance requirements, facilities must submit to surveys from the Joint Commission to receive accreditation. 

Achieve Regulatory Compliance With H.O. Penn

Health care facilities must have access to reliable backup power. They must also meet hospital generator requirements from organizations like the NFPA. At H.O. Penn Machinery, we can support your hospital or health care facility with our selection of generators. 

Contact us or find your nearest location to explore a range of backup power solutions for your facility.