HospitalInspections.org

Bringing transparency to federal inspections

230 SECOND AVE

NEW YORK, NY 10003

Electrical Systems - Essential Electric Syste

Tag No.: K0915

.
Based on observation, documentation review and interview the facility did not have a compliant Type 1 Essential Electrical System (EES). This was noted during review of the electrical distribution panels located in the Building and the review of the riser diagram.

Findings include:

Review of the facility's electrical panel with circuits connected to equipment branch of EES system (Panel 2EES), located in the nurses lounge on the 2nd floor on 10/30/2018 at approximately 2:00 PM, revealed circuit breakers 17, 19 and 31 labeled as serving FSD Damper, Motorized Damper, Fire Smoke Dampers Post Anesthesia Care Unit Area respectively.

These devices/loads were not connected to the panel that serves the Life Safety branch of the EES system.

Review of the connected load schedule on the Life Safety Panel (Panel 2ELS), revealed that this panel served Equipment branch load (E.g Hot water heater, Heat Trace RT-3, Steam, Chill water) in addition to the Life Safety Loads.

The equipment branch and the Life safety load were connected to the same panel and were not separated as required for a compliant Type 1 EES.

Review of an electrical panel labeled as "7AE" located on the 7th Floor on 10/31/2018 at approximately 11:30 AM revealed that the panel served critical branch loads (e.g. medication room wall outlet, pantry refrigerator, LTs over & under Nurses Narcotic Lts. Clock LTS.Rm, RECPT RM 716 etc.) and Life Safety branch load (Corridor Lts, Elevator Cab Lts West, Elevator Cab Lts East etc).

The critical branch and Life Safety were connected to the same panel and were not separated.

Upon interview, the facility's Director Of Operations- Engineering, Staff # H on 10/31/2018 at approximately 11:45 PM stated that the panel served loads from all 3 branches and that the EES of the floor was not divided into 3 branches (Life Safety, Critical and Equipment)

Review of the facility's Riser Diagrams for the EES (Essential Electric System) of the building on 11/01/2018 revealed that the building had a Type 1 EES, but the loads connected to the panels were mixed.

Upon interview on 11/01/2018 at approximately 12:30 PM, Staff H, Director of Operations -Engineering, acknowledged findings.