Nursing Home Design Guide
2006
Conductors No. 8 and larger should be
silent. Lighting should comply with the
stranded, type THWN. Smaller
VA Electrical Design Manual Chapter 6.
conductors should be a solid type
THHN/THWN. Aluminum conductors
7. Receptacles
are not permitted. Conductors for use in
Provide each resident room with duplex-
high temperature locations should be
grounded receptacles. Provide one at
insulated as required by the NEC.
each side of the head of each bed and
Minimum size of power conductors
one on every other wall. Electrical
should be No. 12.
receptacle cover plates or electrical
supplied from the emergency system
should be distinctively colored or
10. Nurse Call System
Provide a nurse call system. Provide
marked for identification. Ground fault
each bed location with a call device. An
interrupters should comply with NFPA
emergency call system should be
70. Receptacles should comply with the
provided at each resident toilet, bath,
VA Electrical Design Manual Chapter 3.
and shower room. This system should
be accessible to a resident lying on the
8. Conduits
floor. Design the emergency call
Conduits should be rigid where used in
system so that a call activated by a
damp or exposed locations, or where
resident will initiate a signal distinct from
specifically required by the NEC. PVC
the regular staff call system and that can
conduits should be used where routed
be turned off only at the resident's
underground. Electrical metallic tubing
location. The signal should activate an
should be used in dry concealed
annunciator panel at the staff work area
locations and furred ceiling spaces.
or other appropriate location, and either
Flexible conduits should be used for
a visual signal in the corridor or at the
final connections to recessed lighting
resident's door.
fixtures, to motor driven equipment and
vibrating equipment. PVC Schedule 40
Wireless technologies for staff should be
conduits should be used for concrete
studied along with hard wired or
encased feeders. PVC Schedule 80
integrated systems, to meet the needs
conduits should be used for direct
of individual facilities.
buried branch circuits. Conduit should
not be used as a ground path; all
electrical circuits should contain a
11. Fire Alarm System
Provide fire alarm and detection
ground wire. Minimum conduit size
systems in compliance with NFPA 101
should be 0.5 inches [13 mm].
and NFPA 72 as well as VA Fire
Protection Design Manual.
9. Conductors
Provide copper conductors with 600-volt
insulation for low voltage distribution.
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