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The facility failed to provide a generator per code. Findings include:

During the survey, the following is an example of what was observed:

Per interview with the maintenance staff the generator was installed in 1973 without a remote annunciator.

During the follow-up survey, the facility had installed a light and buzzer at the Nurses' Station that only indicated when the battery was low. No documentation has been received from the facility's generator company that the facility's generator is not capable of connecting to a remote annunciator.

1971 NFPA 76A, 641 A remote annunciator, storage battery powered, shall be provided to operate outside of the Generating Room in a location readily observed by operating personnel at a regular work station, (see Section 700-12, NFPA N0. 70-1971.) Where a regular work station may be unattended periodically, an appropriately labeled derangement signal shall be exhibited at the telephone switchboard. The annunciator shall indicate alarm conditions of the emergency or auxiliary power source as follows:
(a) Individual visual signals shall indicate:

(1) When the emergency or auxiliary power source is operating to supply power to load.

(2) When the battery charger is malfunctioning.

(b) Individual visual signals plus a common audible signal to warn of an engine-generator alarm condition shall indicate:

(1) Low lubricating oil pressure.
(2) Low water temperature (below those required in 623).
(3) Excessive water temperature.
(4) Low fuel - when the main fuel storage tank contains less than a three-hour operating supply.
(5) Overcrank (failure to start).
(6) Overspeed.
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The facility failed to provide a Type I Essential Electrical System (EES) per code. Findings include:

During the survey, the following is an example of what was observed:

Per administrative staff, this facility does perform general surgery that requires using electrical life support equipment. Based on observation and interview with the maintenance staff, the EES is a Type III.


1999 NFPA 99, 3-4.2.2.1 Type I essential electrical systems are comprised of two separate systems capable of supplying a limited amount of lighting and power service, which is considered essential for life safety and effective facility operation during the time the normal electrical service is interrupted for any reason. These two systems are the emergency system and the equipment system. The emergency system shall be limited to circuits essential to life safety and critical patient care. These are designated the life safety branch and the critical branch. The equipment system shall supply major electrical equipment necessary for patient care and basic Type I operation. Both systems shall be arranged for connection, within time limits specified in this chapter, to an alternate source of power following a loss of the normal source. The number of transfer switches to be used shall be based upon reliability, design, and load considerations. Each branch of the emergency system and each equipment system shall have one or more transfer switches. One transfer switch shall be permitted to serve one or more branches or systems in a facility with a maximum demand on the essential electrical system of 150 kVA (120 kW).
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