Hospitals are facilities where people are at risk from electrical failure, particularly in critical areas, despite the fact that they do not mention it often. In operating rooms, for instance, alcohol can be used as a potentially flammable element, in conjunction with oxygen or in the presence of the patient who will undergo surgery.

Because of the use of these elements, the operating room is specially categorized for protection against electric shocks, since not only are patients and medical personnel at greater risk of electric shocks, but also fires are more likely to occur.

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 99 Edition requires hospitals to conduct conductive floor tests at least once a year in order to be certified in using conductive floors, demonstrating safety and protection against electrical discharges in critical areas requiring medical personnel and patients’ lives to be protected against electrical discharges.

Historically, operating room floors were constructed with special terrazzo embedded with carbon to create conductive pathways. Vinyl tiles with hard conductive properties are the most commonly used conductive flooring today.The copper tape grid ensures an uninterrupted conductive path between any two points on the floor.

Based on Section E.6.6.8.1.2 of NFPA 99 Edition 2005, conductive flooring must be certified to control static electricity in rooms or spaces of Class 1, corridors, and adjacent circulations where flammable atmospheres or elements may exist, and it must be installed in the following places:

  • Corridors and circulations adjacent to the rooms where flammable anesthetics are applied.
  • Directly connected to the anesthesia application rooms.
  • A room or space where inhalation anesthetics are applied, whether they are flammable or not.
  • For the corridors adjacent to these spaces, the conductive tile will extend the entire width and length of each, a minimum of three meters on each side of the doors.
  • Rooms that communicate directly with anesthesia rooms, such as septic, C.E. and E. as well as warehouses or other surgical premises.

IASS Engineering has quality vinyl flooring suitable for meeting hospital standards. Make sure your institution is certified in the use of conductive floors by contacting us today!