Hospital Power System

OMS:

OK - what you call the headwall is typically described in UK parlance as the bed head, and is covered in HTM 08-03 - Bedhead Services


For each of your examples, I could map the medical gas outlets, earthing  points, lighting control, patient entertainment control, exam lamp and critical and normal sockets to a virtually identical set up in a UK or European Hospital


I mentioned the AIA Healthcare guides and the links to relevant NFPA and NEC Codes - and therein is the principal difference. Your USA experience will be based on a "by the code" approach - code says, you do. In the UK and Europe, we achieve much the same things but we use a much more pragmatic approach based on clinical risk assessment. We don't generally mandate number of branches, feeders, ATS etc - we just state the performance requirements (again, read HTM 06-01). From there we have a process of competent designers interpreting requirements objectives for a specific site based on particular assessment of clinical risk.


If we took a typical 500 bed acute hospital in the USA and in the UK, you would be surprised actually how similar the systems are - we just get there in a different way, which is generally quite normal based on the different approaches on either side of the Atlantic to many engineering challenges. Essentially, you guys rely on the "Code" - if the code says do it, you do it - we Brits however are more likely to adopt the approach of "Code is for the guidance of wise men, and the adherence of fools" - don't take that personally, it's just how we used to describe some of our American colleagues.


Regards


OMS

Not personal at all, but 100% correct and spot on! ?


If you ask me, I like your approach better in that we don't typically see UPS tertiary power in critical care areas. I like the fact UK code lets you choose how to sub-divide the branch circuits and how many ATSs to use. Also it seems like UK hospitals end up with two sources of backed up power in each critical care location instead of one normal and one emergency as typical in the US.


If you don't mind I will read more of HTM 06-01 and ask questions. Forgive me if they are elementary or seem argumentative. I have zero experience or knowledge involving UK backup and critical power systems. I am learning this for the first time.

OMS:

OK - what you call the headwall is typically described in UK parlance as the bed head, and is covered in HTM 08-03 - Bedhead Services


For each of your examples, I could map the medical gas outlets, earthing  points, lighting control, patient entertainment control, exam lamp and critical and normal sockets to a virtually identical set up in a UK or European Hospital


I mentioned the AIA Healthcare guides and the links to relevant NFPA and NEC Codes - and therein is the principal difference. Your USA experience will be based on a "by the code" approach - code says, you do. In the UK and Europe, we achieve much the same things but we use a much more pragmatic approach based on clinical risk assessment. We don't generally mandate number of branches, feeders, ATS etc - we just state the performance requirements (again, read HTM 06-01). From there we have a process of competent designers interpreting requirements objectives for a specific site based on particular assessment of clinical risk.


If we took a typical 500 bed acute hospital in the USA and in the UK, you would be surprised actually how similar the systems are - we just get there in a different way, which is generally quite normal based on the different approaches on either side of the Atlantic to many engineering challenges. Essentially, you guys rely on the "Code" - if the code says do it, you do it - we Brits however are more likely to adopt the approach of "Code is for the guidance of wise men, and the adherence of fools" - don't take that personally, it's just how we used to describe some of our American colleagues.


Regards


OMS

Not personal at all, but 100% correct and spot on! ?


If you ask me, I like your approach better in that we don't typically see UPS tertiary power in critical care areas. I like the fact UK code lets you choose how to sub-divide the branch circuits and how many ATSs to use. Also it seems like UK hospitals end up with two sources of backed up power in each critical care location instead of one normal and one emergency as typical in the US.


If you don't mind I will read more of HTM 06-01 and ask questions. Forgive me if they are elementary or seem argumentative. I have zero experience or knowledge involving UK backup and critical power systems. I am learning this for the first time.