https://www.cablewholesale.com/medical_cables.php | Hospitals must use power cords that satisfy special requirements set out by Underwriters Laboratories, commonly known as UL. Healthcare institutions now use two grades of cables: medical grade and hospital grade devices. While both grades exceed household standards for electrical devices, there are subtle differences between the two grades.
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What makes a cable "medical grade" or "hospital grade"?
1. What makes a cable "medical grade" or "hospital grade"?
Hospitals must use power cords that satisfy special requirements set out by Underwriters Laboratories,
commonly known as UL. Healthcare institutions now use two grades of cables: medical grade and
hospital grade devices. While both grades exceed household standards for electrical devices, there are
still subtle differences between the two grades.
Underwriter Laboratories says that all cables must comply with certain performance and construction
requirements. Before approving any device, UL performs rigorous durability and conductivity tests to
make sure the device operates properly during peak demand. UL stamps their approval of many medical
grade devices with a green dot. Hospital industry professionals now refer to medical grade power cords
as “green dot hospital cables.”
Additionally, any cables used in a hospital setting must incorporate special design features and meet or
exceed additional performance requirements. To be UL certified for hospital use, a receptacle must have
assembly integrity and pass testing for grounding reliability, strength, and durability. Both medical grade
and hospital grade cables and power strips use hospital grade receptacles and attachment plugs.
UL sets additional standards for medical grade devices used in patient care areas. Medical grade
equipment can be used in and around patient care areas whereas hospital grade devices are for other
areas of the building, away from patients. Patient care areas include exam or treatment rooms in clinics,
offices, nursing homes, general care areas like patient bedrooms and dialysis centers, and critical care
areas like operating rooms.
Manufacturers divide hospital grade cables into three categories:
●
Cords with One End feature exposed wire on the opposite end making them ideal for hardwiring into appliances
● Cords with Two Ends are used when the application you are powering has a built-in inlet for the
connection
● Multi Leg Cords feature a splitter that supports two or more receptacles
Underwriter Laboratories has established complete guidelines and specifications for hospital and
medical grade cables. UL performs a variety of tests to ensure products meet these standards. The
ground bond test analyzes the integrity of the device’s safety ground. The dielectric withstand test,
sometimes referred to as the high potential or “hipot” test, measures the effectiveness of the insulation
while the devices is stressed beyond its normal capacity. Like the hipot test, a line leakage test measures
insulation effectiveness but, unlike the hipot, it does so while the device is running.
UL testers may perform these tests individually or perform a battery of tests on one piece of equipment.
Due to variances in the testing equipment, it is important to know whether the piece of testing
equipment will detect failures properly. This is especially important in high volume testing situations. It
is therefore vital to perform verification on all testing units to ensure they are functioning within given
parameters. According to UL testing procedures, any test taking measurements to determine electrical
safety must be verified.
2. Hospital grade cables carry redundant ground conductors. The BX, or type AC cable, uses an armored
sheath as an EGC due to the bonding strip contained within the AC assembly. MC does not contain that
bonding strip, therefore its jacket is not EGC listed. It instead contains a separate, full sized, insulated
EGC.
Contact CableWholesale to learn more today.
Summary: Hospitals must use power cords that satisfy special requirements set out by Underwriters
Laboratories, commonly known as UL. Healthcare institutions now use two grades of cables: medical
grade and hospital grade devices. While both grades exceed household standards for electrical devices,
there are subtle differences between the two grades.
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California and Georgia, the professionals at CableWholesale are committed to developing, producing,
and marketing products that exceed the performance, quality, value and safety requirements of our
customers. They reflect this commitment by providing a large local inventory of competitively priced
quality products, free technical assistance, and a lifetime warranty on all products.
https://www.cablewholesale.com/medical_cables.php
http://medicaldesign.com/components/what-it-takes-be-medical-grade-power-strip
http://www.ul.com/global/documents/offerings/perspectives/regulators/technical/ul_HospitalGradeRe
ceptacles.pdf