Standards · Standard or regulation
NFPA 99
Health Care Facilities Code
In plain words
What it covers.
The US code for safety in healthcare facilities. It sets risk categories for building systems and covers electrical systems, medical gas and vacuum systems, electrical equipment safety and emergency management. Many US hospitals must meet it to receive federal funding.
Who uses it: US hospital facilities managers, engineers, clinical engineers and inspectors.
A summary written by BMEssentia for learning, not the text of the standard. Always work from the current official edition and the manufacturer's instructions.
It covers
- Risk categories 1 to 4
- Electrical systems and essential electrical systems
- Medical gas and vacuum systems
- Health care facility equipment
- Emergency management
- Hyperbaric facilities
Key points
What engineers need to know.
- Risk category 1 means failure is likely to cause major injury or death.
- Essential electrical systems must restore power within 10 seconds.
- It sets medical gas installation and testing rules similar in aim to HTM 02-01.
- Equipment maintenance can follow manufacturer advice or a documented alternative programme.
- Emergency plans must cover loss of utilities and mass casualty events.
- It is enforced in the US through accreditation and federal conditions of participation.
Medical City
Where you practise it.
- Hospital Architect electrical groups and gases
- Master Challenge power failure
- S2-M177 overseas standards adaptation