AS/NZS 3003:2011 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS- PATIENT AREAS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
These interpretations have been issued by Energy Safe Victoria (Victorian electricity safety regulator). They are specifically intended to provide guidance for Electricians, licensed electrical
inspectors and consultants in Victoria pending revision of the current Australian/New Zealand Standard. Revision No. 4 – 30 January 2015. Author Vanessa Garbett
Query
number &
reference
Question and response
Notes
Query 1
Clause
1.1
Question:
Response:
The trigger can be the change of
intended use of an area with the
introduction of medical electrical
equipment.
Query 2
Clause
1.4.17
Question:
Query 3
Clause
1.4.21
Question:
Response:
Query 4
Clause
1.4.21
Question:
Query 5
Clause 2.2.3
Question:
Query 6
Clause 2.4.1
Question:
Response:
Response:
Response:
Response:
Who determines the classification of areas in regard to patient areas (body or cardiac)?
The specific locations referred to in clause 2.2 shall be wired as patient areas accordingly.
The owner/operator of an installation has ultimate responsibility and should nominate the
intended use of an area; however this does not prevent others being deemed responsible
for classifying an area as a patient area.
Does medical electrical equipment being introduced to an area, for the purpose of
treatment, trigger the requirement for the area to be wired as a patient area?
Yes. Locations where it is intended that low-voltage equipment will be used in the
treatment of a patient then become patient areas.
Is a socket-outlet installed under a bench considered to be readily accessible?
Yes, providing it meets the requirements of the definition of readily accessible.
Is the position of non-permanently installed furniture (e.g. an under bench computer) taken
into account when assessing whether a socket-outlet is readily accessible?
Yes, however after an installation has been designed, installed, inspected and put into
operation, the placement of equipment in front of socket-outlets, and the consequences of
doing so, becomes the responsibility of the owner/occupier.
What parts of a nursing home are required to be wired as a body-protected electrical
area?
Any area of a nursing home that are patient areas i.e. locations in which medical electrical
equipment is introduced and intended to be used in the treatment or care of patients.
Refer to 1.4.1 for typical marking to
indicate medical electrical equipment.
The socket-outlet is visible and
capable of being reached quickly
without removing obstructions.
Any location in any facility that has
medical electrical equipment (an
electrically operated bed) that is
intended to be used on/for patients is
a patient area and shall be wired as
such.
Can a lighting circuit, installed in a patient area be used to supply lighting points in another
room?
No: Cardiac protected electrical area.
Yes: Body protected electrical area.
Page 1 of 5
Published date: 20/02/2015
AS/NZS 3003:2011 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS- PATIENT AREAS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
These interpretations have been issued by Energy Safe Victoria (Victorian electricity safety regulator). They are specifically intended to provide guidance for Electricians, licensed electrical
inspectors and consultants in Victoria pending revision of the current Australian/New Zealand Standard. Revision No. 4 – 30 January 2015. Author Vanessa Garbett
Query
number &
reference
Question and response
Query 7
Clauses
2.4.3.2
4.4.2.4.1
Question:
Query 8
Clause
2.4.3.2
Question:
Response:
Where remote monitoring equipment is located outside the patient area, is this remote
location also deemed to be a patient area?
No, however LPD protection, access to controls, earthing requirements (if applicable),
indicators and labelling does apply to the socket outlets utilised for the monitoring
equipment.
Do socket-outlets located, immediately, within 5000mm (2000mm for Dental Surgeries)
outside the entrance to a patient area require LPD protection?
Notes
This is regardless of whether the
patient area boundaries have a door
or not.
Response:
Yes. Socket-outlets located within 5000mm immediately outside the patient area shall be
LPD protected. Further, they shall be taken into account for routine inspection and meet
other LPD requirements.
Socket-outlets located in non-patient
areas, opening off this immediate
area, if provided with a door, do not
require LPD protection.
Query 9
Clause
2.4.3.3
Question:
Does permanently wired medical electrical equipment with applied parts require LPD
protection?
Yes
Typical
marking
Query 10
Clauses
2.4.3.2
2.6
2.7.4
2.7.2
2.8
Question:
Response:
What other requirements apply to socket-outlets within 5000mm of a patient area?
All other requirements except for the green sign referred to in section 8, inclusive of
2.4.3.2.(a) (ii)
2.6 Access to controls and indicators
2.7.4 Marking and identification
2.7.2 Socket-outlets that are not readily accessible
2.8 RCD’s
Query 11
Clause
2.4.5.1
Question:
Can an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) be supplied from a non-essential distribution
board where an essential supply is available?
No, not if an essential supply is available.
Response:
Response:
It is not the intention to make the area
outside the patient area another
patient area, however all other safety
precautions apply for the purposes of
those socket-outlets being utilised for
equipment in the patient area.
Page 2 of 5
Published date: 20/02/2015
AS/NZS 3003:2011 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS- PATIENT AREAS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
These interpretations have been issued by Energy Safe Victoria (Victorian electricity safety regulator). They are specifically intended to provide guidance for Electricians, licensed electrical
inspectors and consultants in Victoria pending revision of the current Australian/New Zealand Standard. Revision No. 4 – 30 January 2015. Author Vanessa Garbett
Query
number &
reference
Question and response
Query 12
Clause
2.4.5.2
Question:
Query 13
Clauses
2.2.3
2.6
Question:
Query 14
Clause 2.8
Question:
Query 15
Clauses
2.7.2
2.10
Query 16
Clause 2.10
Response:
Response:
Response:
Question:
Response:
Question:
Response:
Does a UPS status indicator have to be connected to the ‘UPS electrical supply system’ if
the UPS has an alternative status indicator facility?
No, provided the UPS unit is equipped with a function to which the status indicator can be
connected to indicate that the UPS has switched into battery mode.
Is a bathroom/ensuite directly off a patient area considered a separate body-protected
area?
Yes. All requirements apply (except a separate circuit outlined in clause 2.4.1) including
marking and the requirement to have the RCD readily accessible in that patient area.
Does the RCD utilised in the Switchboard for LPD protection of Cleaners Outlets need to
be a type 1, 10 mA, double pole RCD.
Yes.
When is a separate isolating switch required?
A readily accessible isolating switch is required where:
 A socket-outlet is not readily accessible and is protected by a LPD that also
protects other socket-outlets or permanently wired equipment
A permanently wired appliance is supplied from a LPD protected circuit that also supplies
other permanently wired equipment or socket-outlets.
Can a single-pole isolation switch be installed in patient areas?
No, Isolating switches must operate in all live conductors. E.g. double pole switch required
for a single-phase 2-wire circuit.
Notes
The purpose of the status indicator is
to clearly show when the UPS unit is
operating in ‘battery mode’.
This means that the RCD protecting
the socket-outlets in the
bathroom/ensuite should be
accessible in the bathroom/ensuite.
This requirement does not apply to
non-LPD protected final sub-circuits.
Page 3 of 5
Published date: 20/02/2015
AS/NZS 3003:2011 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS- PATIENT AREAS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
These interpretations have been issued by Energy Safe Victoria (Victorian electricity safety regulator). They are specifically intended to provide guidance for Electricians, licensed electrical
inspectors and consultants in Victoria pending revision of the current Australian/New Zealand Standard. Revision No. 4 – 30 January 2015. Author Vanessa Garbett
Query
number &
reference
Question and response
Query 17
Clause 2.10
Question:
Query 18
Clause
2.12.2
Question:
Query 19
Clause
4.4.2.4.1
Question:
Response:
What are the earthing requirements for socket-outlets installed within 5000mm of the
entrance to a cardiac protected patient area/s?
Such socket-outlets shall be earthed via the EP earthing system of the patient area.
Query 20
Clause
4.4.2.7
Question:
Response:
Are EP nodes required to be insulated and segregated from other conductive items?
Yes.
Query 21
Clauses
4.4.2.9
4.4.2.3
Question:
Response:
Can an EP test point be connected to an EP junction node?
Yes, however preference should be given to connection back to the EP junction if
practicable.
Response
Response:
If a piece of medical electrical equipment is provided with its own double pole isolator on
the actual piece of equipment, does this meet the requirements of clause 2.10?
The intent of the isolator is to isolate the entire piece of equipment. Could the equipment
be isolated effectively without affecting the other outlets/equipment on the same circuit?
If the isolator achieved this, then it would meet the requirement of clause 2.10 of
AS/NZS 3003.
However also relevant is AS/NZS 3000:2007 clause 2.3.6.1 isolation for mechanical
maintenance.
This could mean that a second isolator would be required adjacent to the piece of
equipment.
Does the area where socket-outlets have been installed within 5000/2000mm of the
entrance to a patient area require patient area signs?
No, however the requirement to have access to controls, indicators and provide marking is
applicable.
Notes
This is a reference to the green sign
detailed in section 8.
Section 8 sign not required, however
section 2.6, 2.7.4 and 2.8.6 apply.
EP Earthing conductors must be
connected to all patient areas within
5m.
Problems can arise if a node is
disconnected and a test point is
connected to the node.
Page 4 of 5
Published date: 20/02/2015
AS/NZS 3003:2011 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS- PATIENT AREAS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
These interpretations have been issued by Energy Safe Victoria (Victorian electricity safety regulator). They are specifically intended to provide guidance for Electricians, licensed electrical
inspectors and consultants in Victoria pending revision of the current Australian/New Zealand Standard. Revision No. 4 – 30 January 2015. Author Vanessa Garbett
Query
number &
reference
Question and response
Query 22
Clause 4.4.3
Question:
Response:
Query 23
Clause 4.4.3
Question:
Query 24
Section 6
Response:
Question:
Response:
Query 25
Section 9
Question:
Response:
Query 26
Section 9
Question:
Query 27
Clause 9.1
Response:
Question:
Response:
Is the looping of electrical inter-connections between separate EP nodes permitted?
No. Each EP node shall be wired directly back to the EP Junction. Each EP junction shall
be wired directly back to the relevant switchboard/s.
Do socket-outlets in a cupboard within 5000mm of the entrance to a patient area require
LPD protection?
Yes, unless the socket-outlets are only accessible by the use of a tool or key.
What are the requirements for the installation of a new piece of equipment in a patient
area, such as a dental chair?
Every alteration of or addition to an existing electrical installation shall be deemed to be a
new electrical installation, and all relevant provisions of AS/NZS 3003 apply.
Patient areas not wired as body-protected electrical areas shall be upgraded to comply
with AS/NZS 3003, prior to or during alterations or additions to the electrical installation.
Alterations or additions to electrical installations in patient areas shall not proceed unless
the patient area has been subjected to routine inspection and testing against the
requirements of section 9 in the previous 12 months.
What are the requirements for routine resting?
All tests outlined in section 9 inclusive of checking the earth at each socket-outlet and
conductive parts of permanently wired class 1 equipment.
Do socket-outlets outside of the patient areas that are LPD protected come under the
requirements for routine testing?
Yes.
Who is responsible for routine inspection and testing of cardiac-protected and bodyprotected electrical areas?
Compliance for routine testing is the responsibility of the owner/occupier of the facility and
should be carried out at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
Notes
2000mm for dental surgeries.
Utilise Appendix G for guidance.
All tests apply.
The owner/occupier shall ensure
those carrying out the routine testing
are appropriately qualified and
competent.
Page 5 of 5
Published date: 20/02/2015