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Hospital Grade Power Cords: All Questions Answered
Hospitals are susceptible areas of intensive care, diagnosis, and treatment; hence it's crucial that the infrastructure available at these places are top-notch. Any unfortunate misgivings or complacency can result in tragedy and jeopardize the well-being of the patients getting treated there.
The wiring infrastructure of a hospital matters a lot when it comes to providing the best possible care because modern medical equipment is highly dependable on electricity. In this case, the role of power cords becomes crucial as the normal cannot maintain the high load and intensity of all the necessary functions. To avert this problem, most hospitals use hospital-grade power cords.
Why do hospitals need high-grade power cords?
Hospitals have a plethora of policies and rules that aid in protecting both patients and employees.
Power cords are probably one of the last things that come to mind when considering the various safety hazards in hospitals. However, removing this risk is crucial for patient safety in a hospital setting.
Because of the massive compilation of technical equipment and machinery, hospitals and medical facilities must adhere to tight regulations regarding their electricity sources. These rules are vigorously implemented to help safeguard both patients and employees against shock accidents, fires, and other harm.
Additionally, these regulations specify the kind of hospital grade power cords that are supposed to be used. The continuous plugging in and unplugging of equipment results in significant wear and tear; hence hospitals require high-grade electrical cords.
How do hospital plugs differ from regular plugs?
Naturally, plugs are put under a lot of stress in hospital settings. Standard plugs would quickly be destroyed due to the frequent unplugging and replugging of devices in a hospital, which often takes place in a hurry.
Due to the need for hospitals to safeguard their patients, employees, and property, such stringent regulations were put in place.
Standard plugs are not built to be as sturdy as hospital-grade cords.
Regarding the specification differences, the plug size of the hospital cord is one of the most significant distinctions. Unintentional shock is reduced because of the increased plug size. By preventing the plug from bending and experiencing heavy wear and tear, it also helps to safeguard the wire connections in the vicinity.
In hospital-type environments where significant volumes of volatile substances are present, the deterioration of wire connections can be exceedingly harmful.
Hospital Power Cord Standards
A hospital prong power cord or heavy duty extension cord must have solid pins and larger plug bodies that reduce the risk of shock and can withstand greater "pull forces" than usual. It has to have the designated "green dot" tested and built following UL 817 and CAN/CAS C22 standards to be considered hospital-grade.
Additionally, a medical-grade power cord used in hospitals comes in 10, 13, and 15-amp varieties. They are ideally capable of operating at 125 Volts or more. The hospital staff must apply caution while using this cord in applications where the voltage exceeds the average sustainable rating.
Hospital-grade power cords are available in a wide range of lengths, and special sizes can be ordered on the requirements. Other standards include:
- Solid blades rather than folded brass should be used
- The edges should be nickel-plated
- The plug should come with an internal strain relief mechanism to assist the connections from being overworked.
- A green dot must be written on every plug
- Although color and plug type are not explicitly mentioned in the specifications, certain other elements are frequently encountered in cords.
Additionally, in a hospital or other medical facility, 5-15p to C13 power cords can be used for electrical connections as they ideally adhere to the toughest grounding, dependability, and durability requirements, as well as other state and country-specific regulations.
Power cord connectors that are carefully molded to reduce obtrusiveness and provide secure, safe, and reliable connections can also be used in hospitals.
What are the common types of hospital cords?
If you are looking for hospital-grade power cords or a transition from normal power cords, you have a ton of possibilities. Some of the most popular power cords are frequently used are:
- 16 AWG (NEMA 5-15P to NEMA 5-15R)
- 18 AWG (NEMA 5-15P to IEC320C13)
- 18 AWG (NEMA 5-15P to ROJ 125V)
- 18 AWG (NEMA 5-15P to IEC320C13R)
These specific cords can be used in place of the standard lines for general hospital equipment such as computers, monitors, printers, copiers, and lab equipment.
These electrical cords can be altered depending on the requirements. Extension cords and new cords are available for purchase. You can select the same connectors, cord length, and whether a right-angle plug is required.
Conclusion
Extension cables made for hospitals are not your typical household cords. They come with the best electrical materials used to create these customized cords. Since they are used in hospitals, they are employed in situations where dependable performance and long-lasting durability are necessary.