Introduction

In the highly sensitive and critical environment of hospitals and healthcare facilities, reliable and safe electrical systems are paramount. The continuous operation of life-support equipment, diagnostic machinery, surgical tools, and patient monitoring systems directly impacts patient outcomes and safety, making power continuity an absolute necessity. Unlike conventional commercial buildings, healthcare facilities face unique electrical design challenges, including stringent redundancy requirements, specialized grounding for patient care areas, meticulous power quality control, and robust emergency power systems capable of immediate and seamless transitions. The integration of complex medical technologies with the electrical infrastructure demands highly specialized knowledge to prevent disruptions, ensure compliance with stringent codes and standards, and mitigate potential hazards such as microshock and electrical interference. Without a deep understanding of Hospital and Healthcare Facility Electrical Systems, engineers, facility managers, and healthcare administrators risk compromising patient safety, incurring significant operational downtime, and failing to meet critical regulatory requirements, underscoring the vital need for specialized expertise in this critical domain. This comprehensive training course focuses on equipping professionals with the expertise to master Hospital and Healthcare Facility Electrical Systems.

This training course is meticulously designed to empower electrical engineers, facility managers, biomedical engineers, maintenance technicians, project managers, and healthcare administrators with the theoretical understanding and practical insights necessary to effectively design, implement, and operate robust and compliant electrical systems for hospitals and healthcare facilities. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of essential electrical loads, emergency power systems (generators, UPS), specialized patient care area wiring, isolation power systems, and power quality management techniques tailored for medical equipment. The course will delve into topics such as NFPA 99 (Healthcare Facilities Code), NEC (National Electrical Code) requirements for healthcare, fault current analysis, grounding and bonding for patient safety, critical electrical safety procedures, and the crucial aspects of commissioning and testing electrical infrastructure in healthcare settings. By mastering the principles and practical application of Hospital and Healthcare Facility Electrical Systems, participants will be prepared to enhance patient safety, ensure uninterrupted critical care, optimize energy efficiency, guarantee regulatory compliance, and contribute significantly to the reliable functioning of essential healthcare infrastructure.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience

• Electrical Engineers (Consulting, Hospital Facilities)
• Hospital Facility Managers and Directors
• Biomedical Engineers
• Maintenance Technicians (Electrical, Clinical Engineering)
• Project Managers for Healthcare Construction
• Architects and Planners (Healthcare Focus)
• Safety Officers in Healthcare
• Medical Equipment Planners
• Healthcare Administrators with Facilities Oversight
• Regulatory Compliance Officers (Healthcare)

Objectives

• Understand the unique electrical requirements and criticalities of hospitals and healthcare facilities.
• Learn about the classifications of patient care areas and their specific electrical demands.
• Acquire skills in designing and sizing essential electrical systems (normal, critical, life safety).
• Comprehend techniques for implementing and maintaining emergency power supply systems (generators, UPS).
• Explore strategies for ensuring power quality for sensitive medical equipment.
• Understand the importance of specialized grounding and bonding for patient safety.
• Gain insights into isolation power systems for wet procedure locations.
• Develop a practical understanding of relevant codes, standards (NFPA 99, NEC), and safety procedures.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Healthcare Facility Electrical Systems

• Overview of healthcare facility types and their electrical demands.
• The critical nature of electrical power for patient care and life support.
• Key differences between electrical systems in hospitals vs. commercial buildings.
• Understanding essential electrical loads: life safety, critical, equipment.
• Regulatory landscape and codes for healthcare electrical systems.

Module 2: Essential Electrical Systems Classification

• Definition and purpose of the Essential Electrical System (EES).
• Life Safety Branch: components and loads (lighting, fire alarms).
• Critical Branch: components and loads (patient care, medical equipment).
• Equipment Branch: components and loads (HVAC, elevators).
• Automatic transfer switch (ATS) requirements and logic.

Module 3: Emergency Power Supply Systems (EPSS)

• Sizing and selection of standby generator sets for hospitals.
• Fuel storage and transfer systems for generators.
• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems for immediate power continuity.
• Battery technologies for UPS and emergency lighting.
• Automatic transfer switch (ATS) types and operations for EPSS.

Module 4: Patient Care Areas: Wiring, Grounding, and Safety

• Classification of patient care areas (general care, critical care, wet procedure locations).
• Receptacle requirements and panelboard regulations for patient care areas.
• Specialized grounding and equipotential bonding for patient safety (reducing microshock).
• Ground fault protection requirements in patient care areas.
• Electrical safety considerations for patients and medical staff.

Module 5: Isolation Power Systems (IPS)

• Principles and purpose of Isolation Power Systems (IPS) for wet procedure locations.
• Components of an IPS: isolation transformer, line isolation monitor (LIM).
• Applications: operating rooms, critical care units.
• Monitoring and alarm requirements for IPS.
• Testing and maintenance of IPS.

Module 6: Power Quality and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

• Impact of power quality issues (harmonics, sags, swells) on medical equipment.
• Harmonic mitigation techniques for healthcare facilities.
• Electromagnetic interference (EMI) in healthcare environments.
• EMC standards for medical electrical equipment (IEC 60601).
• Strategies for preventing electrical interference with sensitive diagnostic equipment.

Module 7: Codes, Standards, and Compliance for Healthcare Electrical Systems

• National Electrical Code (NEC/NFPA 70) requirements specific to healthcare facilities (Article 517).
• NFPA 99: Healthcare Facilities Code - electrical sections.
• Joint Commission (JCAHO) and other accreditation standards.
• Testing, inspection, and maintenance requirements for compliance.
• Documentation and record-keeping for regulatory audits.

Module 8: Electrical Maintenance, Safety, and Future Trends

• Preventive and predictive maintenance strategies for hospital electrical equipment.
• Electrical safety programs: lockout/tagout (LOTO), arc flash analysis, PPE.
• Emergency preparedness planning for power outages.
• Energy efficiency initiatives in healthcare electrical systems.
• Emerging technologies: DC power for IT, renewable integration, microgrids for hospitals.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.