Background
Recent confusion by a number of hospital engineering departments & electrical contractors carrying out electrical repairs within patient areas, & areas being used as patient areas but not wired to the requirements of AS/NZS 3003:2011.
Electrical contractors, hospital engineering departments & other medical facility owner/occupiers in some cases, are of the opinion the meaning of the term “like for like” replacement, allows for the replacement of any part which is faulty within a patient area to be carried out, and a non-prescribed certificate of electrical safety issued to the person/organization for whom the work has been completed.
Further to the above, it has also been heard of imaging, surgical theatre light / pendant companies and contractors swapping out equipment without any certificates of electrical safety being issued quoting “LIKE FOR LIKE” replacement.
Due to the practices taking place & the requirements set out in section 6 of AS/NZS 3003:2011, I requested a meeting with Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) to qualify the requirements ESV expect under the act & regulations.
ESV Meeting
Attendees: Bent Matthew, Vanessa Garbett, Michael Miskulin & Darren Hollingworth
Like for like replacement or repair: (Correct terminology: Single Component Part)
Energy Safe Victoria does not recognize the term “LIKE FOR LIKE” this is an industry term which has developed over recent times.
ESVs response to a single component part (correct terminology) replacement or repair is; An item of electrical equipment consisting of a single component, i.e. socket outlet, RCD or RCD combo unit, are considered to be single component parts. This type of electrical equipment may be replaced or repaired within a patient area and a non-prescribed certificate of electrical safety issued to the person/organization for whom the work has been done.
ESV will also allow 1 socket outlet housed in a medical services panel (Esco type) or pendant to be replaced even though the item has more than 1 component. (This is a fair & reasonably application of the regulations)
Note: On completion of repairs the responsible person shall complete all tests and reports as set out in the current edition of AS/NZS 3003 using the mandated test equipment.
Any works additional to the above as set out by ESV would require the replacement or repairs to be completed and a prescribed certificate of electrical safety issued along with an M class inspection to be carried out.
Electrical repairs carried out in areas being used as patient areas but not wired to AS/NZS 3003:
Before the release of the 2019 Electricity Safety (General) Regulations ESV allowed the following:
ESV will allow repairs to be carried out within an area which is being used as a patient area but is not wired to the requirements of AS/NZS 3003.
Once such repairs are completed the contractor shall forward a letter/email to the owner/occupier outlining the replacement or repairs have been carried out in an area being used as a patient area, and a duty of care exists under the requirements of AS/NZS 3003 & AS/NZS 2500, that all patient areas are required to be at least wired to body protection standard.
Note: The meeting & draft of the above was completed in 2016.
The above allowance by ESV regarding electrical repairs in a patient area has now been superseded by regulation 206 of the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 as below.
Authorised Version No. 002 Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 S.R. No. 113/2019 Authorised Version incorporating amendments as at 1 November 2023
206 Electrical installation work in patient areas
A person must not install, alter, repair or maintain an electrical installation or a portion of an electrical installation in an area that the person knows or should reasonably be expected to know is a patient area or intended to be a patient area unless the installation or the installed, altered, repaired or maintained portion of the installation complies with AS/NZS 3003.
What this means for all hospital electricians & contractors working in medical facilities & aged care facilities.
Electrical installations, alterations, repairs or maintenance shall not be carried out in an area which is being used as a patient area and not wired as a patient area certified to the requirements of AS/NZS 3003.