NFPA 99
What is NFPA 99?
NFPA 99 is a specific code from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which establishes specific criteria and requirements electrical systems and appliances that are particular to healthcare facilities, including performance, maintenance, and testing. The goal is to prevent electrical or fire injury to patients, staff, and visitors through proper servicing of electrical equipment in health care facilities. Stat Bio-Medical Sales & Service provides a series of professional services that help our clients to meet the requirements and obligations that are defined in NFPA 99 standards.
NFPA 99 Testing & Maintenance
All new electrical appliances and equipment that comes into a patient care facility fall under NFPA 99, requiring the ongoing testing and maintenance of the equipment over its useful lifetime. Any equipment that is experimental, built to order, or still under development must still have a degree of safety that is equivalent to NFPA 99 requirements, or that is deemed acceptable by the facility.
NFPA 99 includes patient care-related appliances that are permanently connected or fixed equipment, as well as cord- and plug-connected portable equipment that is capable of being transported or conveyed for patient purposes. Requirements are also made regarding the safety inspection and testing of the cord and measurement of ground-wire resistance for electrical appliances and equipment used within the patient care area of the facility, including how they are performed, which meter should be used, and when the tests should be performed.
NFPA 99 Responsibilities
The requirements and specifications dictated by NFPA 99 cite the responsibilities of the administration to establish policies and protocols regarding electrical appliances and equipment used within the patient care facility. This is used to help identify which patient care-related electrical equipment requires periodic inspection, as well as the type of testing and intervals that are needed for compliance.
When it comes to the servicing and maintenance of equipment, manufacturer documentation for each appliance that includes instructions for use and a means of contacting the manufacturer must be readily available. Instruction needs to contain information on requirements for testing, servicing, and ongoing maintenance that must be adhered to for safe use at a patient care facility.
NFPA 99 Record Keeping Requirements
At Stat Bio-Medical Sales & Service, we help our clients with NFPA 99 and other essential regulatory compliance by providing data relating to the accurate documentation of testing, repairs, and servicing for record keeping requirements. Documentation needs to include details with regard to what was tested, the date that it was tested, and whether it performed successfully. A records retention policy should be set up at the health care facility that works in conjunction with requirements regarding how long records need to be maintained and kept in accordance with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.
The services provided at Stat Bio-Medical Sales & Service exceed the standards required by regulations like NFPA 99. We also work to exceed the standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JC), and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Click the “Get Started” link at the top of the page or give us a call at 1-877-995-1117 to speak with one of our friendly customer service agents.