Jordan Ellis
Hospital-grade plugs, sockets, and cable mount connectors must meet certain standards and requirements to ensure patient safety and the proper functioning of medical equipment. While there are no specific standards for the number of prongs, it is important to note that hospital-grade plugs differ from standard plugs in terms of design and testing requirements. These plugs are used in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Japan, and North America, and are subject to specific regulations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of prongs | Not specified, but hospital-grade plugs have 3 pins |
| Plug colour | No restrictions, but hospitals prefer clear plugs for inspections |
| Cable colour | Commonly grey or beige, but some hospitals prefer orange |
| Plug diameter | Conforms to NEMA WD-6 |
| Plug blades | Solid, nickel-plated, without folding |
| Plug body | Larger than standard plugs |
| Plug markings | "Hospital-grade" and a green dot |
| Standards | UL 817, CAN/CSA C22.2 no. 21, UL 60601-1, UL 498, CSA C22.2 no. 42 |
| Tests | 500-pound crush test, strain relief test, abrupt removal of plug test |
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What You'll Learn
Hospital-grade plugs in North America
Hospital-grade plugs are required in any hospital-type environment in North America where a patient can come into contact with the cord, including doctor and dentist offices. There are no other places in the world that require hospital-grade plugs, although clear plugs are recommended for use in Australia and New Zealand.
Hospital-grade power cords in North America are available with three prongs. The 458-M002, 458-M021, 458-M061, 458-M061-CE, 458-M003, 458-M063, 458-M130, 458-M131, 458-MC5, 458-M161-CE, and 458-M161 are hospital-grade power cords used in North America with 3-prong plugs. They are rated at 10A/125V or 13A/125V and are UL Listed, cUL or CSA Approved.
Hospital-grade plugs and sockets must carry the PSE approval mark, which is the minimum legal requirement for plugs. If you want to market your plugs as "hospital-grade," you may perform in-house tests required by JIS T1021 and self-declare as "hospital-grade" conforming to JIS T1021.
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Standards and requirements
Hospital-grade power cords and plugs are subject to various standards and requirements that ensure their safety and functionality in medical settings. These standards vary across different countries and regions. Here is a detailed overview of the standards and requirements for hospital plugs:
North America
In North America, hospital-grade power cords must use NEMA plugs, which are marked with a green dot to indicate their compliance with hospital-grade standards. The applicable standards for these plugs include UL 817, CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 21, UL 60601-1, and CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 42. The NEMA plug diameter should conform to NEMA WD-6 and UL 817 standards, specifying the use of solid nickel-plated blades, an internal cable retention device, and strain relief to prevent stress on internal connections. The UL 498 and 817 standards restrict the use of the "hospital-grade" label to specific NEMA configurations, such as NEMA 5-15, 5-20, 6-15, and 6-20. Additionally, the flexible cord types permitted for hospital-grade power supply cords include SJO, SJT, SJTO, SVO, SVT, and SVTO, as specified in UL 817.
Australia and New Zealand
In Australia and New Zealand, medical equipment must meet the AS/NZS 3200 standard, and all plugs must be approved to AS/NZA 3112. While there are no special requirements for plugs, some hospitals prefer clear, transparent plugs with orange, flexible cables. These plugs must carry one of the Australian approvals, and the plug may need to be clear-backed to facilitate inspections.
Denmark
Denmark has specific standards for hospital-grade plugs and sockets, as outlined in Standard SB 107-2-D1. The Danish hospital-grade socket is designed to prevent "normal equipment" from disrupting the mains circuit in medical settings.
Japan
Japan enforces the DENAN national law, administered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, which likely includes standards for hospital-grade plugs and power cords.
Testing Standards
Hospital-grade plugs and connectors are subjected to rigorous testing to ensure their safety and reliability. Some of the tests include the HG Test: 500-pound Crush Test, the HG Test: Strain Relief Test, the HG Test: Abrupt Removal of Plug Test, and the impact test, where a 10-pound weight is dropped to test the plug's ability to withstand stress.
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Testing hospital-grade plugs
Hospital-grade plugs are subject to various tests to ensure they meet the required standards. These tests vary depending on the region and the specific requirements of the hospital. Here are some common tests for hospital-grade plugs:
Impact Test
This test involves dropping a weighted object onto a plug or connector to simulate an impact. The weight is typically a 10-pound cylindrical weight with a flat face and a 2-inch diameter dropped from a height of 18 inches or more. The test evaluates the ability of the plug or connector to withstand sudden impacts without sustaining damage.
Crush Test
In the crush test, a wired plug or connector is placed between two hardwood slabs and subjected to increasing force until it reaches 500 pounds. The plug or connector must not show any signs of breakage, deformation, or interference with its function after the test.
Strain Relief Test
The strain relief test assesses the security of the connection between the cord and the plug or connector. The test involves applying a straight pull of 30 pounds and a rotary motion within 3-inch circles with a 10-pound force for two consecutive hours. The displacement of conductors, insulation, and the outer jacket of the flexible cord must not exceed 0.031 inches, and there should be no cuts, rips, or tears in the insulation.
Abrupt Removal of Plug Test
This test evaluates the ability of the plug and receptacle to withstand abrupt plug removal. A steel-bodied test plug with brass blades is inserted into the receptacle and then abruptly pulled out. The test is repeated eight times with the receptacle rotated to different positions, creating varying stress levels on the face and contacts. Finally, the grounding contact must retain a 4-ounce grounding pin for one minute.
Plug Diameter and Construction
Hospital-grade plug diameters must conform to specific standards, such as NEMA WD-6 and UL 817. The blades of the plug must be solid and made of nickel-plated brass, without any folding. The plug should also include an internal cable retention device or strain relief mechanism to prevent stress on the internal connections.
It is important to note that specific countries and regions, such as Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Japan, and North America, have their own standards and requirements for hospital-grade plugs. For example, North American hospital-grade plugs must carry a "green dot" to indicate compliance with UL 817 and CAN/CSA C22.2 standards.
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Plugs in Australian medical applications
In Australia, medical equipment must meet the AS/NZS 3200 standard. There are no special requirements for plugs, only preferences. All Australian plugs must be approved to AS/NZA 3112. In Australian medical applications, some hospitals prefer to have a clear, transparent plug and an orange, flexible cable. These plugs and connectors must carry one of the many Australian approvals. The Danish hospital-grade plug and socket are recommended for use in medical applications. The socket is designed to prevent “normal equipment” from being connected and disrupting the mains circuit in specific medical settings. Some hospitals may also have a preference for red cords, but it is not a requirement.
In terms of the prongs on hospital plugs in Australia, the standard 10-amp Australian plug has two flat 1.6 mm thick blades set at 30 degrees to the vertical, forming an upside-down V. There is also an ungrounded version of this plug, with only two flat V-shaped prongs. A plug/socket configuration rated at 15 amps is also available, but the ground pin is wider at 8 mm instead of 6.3 mm. A standard 10-amp plug will fit into a 15-amp outlet, but a 15-amp plug will only fit this special 15-amp socket.
In other countries, there are varying standards for hospital-grade plugs. For example, North American hospital-grade cords must utilize NEMA plugs carrying the "green dot" signifying that they have been designed and tested to UL 817 and CAN/CSA C22.2 no. 21 as hospital-grade power cords and cord sets. Specifically, UL 60601-1 sections 57.2 and 57.3 require that “patient care equipment” used in the “patient vicinity” must use hospital-grade attachment plugs.
Hospital-grade plugs are required in any hospital-type environment in North America where the patient can come into contact with the cord, including doctor and dentist offices. There is no other global destination that requires a hospital-grade plug, although clear plugs are recommended for use in Australia and New Zealand.
To summarise, while there are no special requirements for plugs in Australian medical applications, clear plugs with orange flexible cables are preferred by some hospitals. Additionally, Danish hospital-grade plugs and sockets are recommended for use in Australian medical settings.
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Problems with hospital power cords
Hospital power cords are subject to strict rules and regulations to ensure patient safety, building safety, and legal requirements. These regulations vary across the world, with only a few countries having specific standards for hospital power cords.
In North America, hospital-grade power cord plugs must have a "green dot", indicating that they have been designed and tested to meet the standards for hospital-grade equipment. These power cords have larger plugs, which prevent the risk of electric shock by keeping smaller wires securely contained within the cable. They also have solid pins made of durable, nickel-plated material to prevent bending and supply a stable charge. Additionally, these cords have an internal strain relief mechanism to prevent overworking the connections.
However, problems can arise when equipment is moved without unplugging the power cord, causing strain and potential electrical shorts. This improper grounding occurs when the ground pin of a power plug does not make sufficient contact with the wall outlet's ground pin. In addition, power cords exposed to tight bend radii can lead to electrical shorts if the power conductor comes into contact with an open ground source or inlet.
To address these issues, hospitals should use special hospital-grade power cords designed to withstand tight radii bends and provide optimal grounding qualities. These cords undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet the necessary standards for assembly integrity, grounding reliability, durability, and strength.
In other countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark, clear plugs are recommended for use in medical settings, although they are not required by law.
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Frequently asked questions
Hospital plugs in North America should have three prongs. These are subject to special requirements, including the use of solid pins and larger plug bodies to prevent electrical shocks.
There are no special requirements for hospital plugs in Australia and New Zealand, but some hospitals prefer to use clear plugs with orange, flexible cables.
Yes, aside from Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Japan, and North America, there are no special requirements for hospital plugs.
The green dot signifies that the plug has been designed and tested to meet hospital-grade power cord standards, specifically UL 817 and CAN/CSA C22.2 no. 21.
