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How to Make Sure You're Following the Rules for Hospital-Grade Power Cords

Hospital-grade power cords have stricter rules than office or home power cords for patient safety, building safety, and legal requirements, so ensuring you follow the rules for this type of power cord is vital for the safety and security of your hospital or healthcare facility.

This article will discuss the rules and requirements of hospital power cords, how to make sure you’re following these regulations and the hospital-grade power cords that we sell here at SIGNAL+POWER.


What Are the Rules for Hospital Power Cords?

In North America, medical devices use hospital-grade power cord plugs with a green dot, which signifies that they are designed and tested to UL 817 and CAN/CSA 22 standards. UL 817 standard requirements cover power supply cords for use as supply connections for appliances following the National Electrical Code (NEC).

There are also other rules for hospital power cords and plugs. The pins and blades on plugs should be made of solid, durable material to prevent bending and supply a stable charge, these should also be nickel-plated. The plugs should have an internal strain relief mechanism to help prevent the connections from being overworked, and power cords should not exceed 50 feet.

The conductor size can be 10, 12, 14, or 16 AWG, and the power cords must be either SJO, SJT, SJTO, or another jacketed type cord of equal or harder usage.


Which Plugs and Power Cords Can be Used in Hospitals?

The plugs that can be used in hospitals are NEMA 5-15P, NEMA 6-15P, NEMA 5-20P, and NEMA 6-20P.

Hospitals are a unique environment that require heavy-duty, non-standard power cords. For example, medical equipment requires specific power cords to ensure that they work correctly, after all, this is vital life-saving equipment, and it is vital that there are no faults or power problems.

These plugs are all designed with the green dot that is required for hospital plugs and power cords, and they have been rigorously tested to ensure they meet the standards of hospital-grade equipment.


Making Sure You Meet the Rules and Regulations of Hospital-Grade Power Cords

Hospital-grade power cords must adhere to specific standards for assembly integrity, grounding reliability, durability, strength, and regulatory standards like IEC and NEMA specifications. Such measures ensure that power cords used in healthcare facilities are reliable and safe to use in demanding environments.

Making sure you choose the correct power cords and adapters is important to keep your patients and staff safe. There are specific tests that power cords undergo before getting installed in any healthcare facility. Some of them include:

  • Insulation Resistance

  • Dielectric Voltage-Withstand Test

  • Flexing Test

  • Temperature Test

  • Forces Necessary to Withdraw and to Insert Connector

  • Strain Relief Test

  • Accelerated Ageing Test

  • Impact Resistance Test

As a minimum, you must make sure that the equipment you choose has been thoroughly tested for the above.


Key Features of Our Hospital Power Cords

SIGNAL+POWER's hospital-grade plugs and power cords offer a range of features tailored to your specific requirements, including:

  • Heavy-duty nickel-plated solid brass pins for superior conductivity and durability

  • Specially designed strain relief that meets rigorous abrupt-pull test standards

  • Harder durometer compound to pass the crush test, ensuring long-lasting performance

  • Clearly marked with a green dot for easy differentiation from standard products

  • Available in straight and angled versions to accommodate UL/CSA standards


Hospital-Grade Power Cords from SIGNAL+POWER

Featuring larger plug bodies, our hospital power cords ensure the secure containment of smaller wires within the cable, eliminating the risk of electrical shock and reducing the risk of hospital power outage. Our robust construction minimizes the possibility of electrical shorts caused by accidental bending or pulling, providing enhanced safety for patients and staff. With solid metal pins on the connector, our hospital-grade power cables have an optimal grounding that virtually eliminates the risk of shock. This makes it an ideal choice for medical facilities and other high-risk environments. The cables are also UL-certified for safety and long-term reliability.

At SIGNAL+POWER, we understand that each project has unique demands. That's why we offer custom manufacturing services for medical-grade power plugs. Our team can create a bespoke power cable that precisely matches your project's specifications, including size, material, and configuration. With our custom capabilities, finding the right hospital-grade power cord for your application has never been easier.

Trust SIGNAL+POWER to deliver reliable power solutions that prioritize safety, performance, and compliance for your medical equipment. Contact us today to discuss your requirements.

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