News & Research
  1. News & Research
  2. Fire statistics and reports
  3. Research reports
  4. Electrical safety
  5. Other
  6. Operating rooms as wet/dry locations risk assessment

Operating rooms as wet/dry locations risk assessment

Full Report

Operating Rooms as Wet/Dry Locations Risk Assessment (PDF, 413 KB)

* All Fire Protection Research Foundation reports can be downloaded for free. Printed copies are $50, except where otherwise noted. If all reports in a subject category are requested, a 20% discount applies.

Please pre-pay by check or money order to the The Fire Protection Research Foundation. You may also pay using VISA, Mastercard or American Express. E-mail the Foundation or call +1 617 984-7443.

Fire Protection Research Foundation report: "Operating Rooms as Wet/Dry Locations Risk Assessment”
Author: Brenton Cox, Exponent, Inc.
Date of issue: August 2012

Foreword

The recent movement toward using risk based approaches in assessing safety risks around the world has caused the NFPA Technical Committee on Health Care Facilities (responsible for NFPA 99) to incorporate requirements related to risk analysis in NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code. As the result of the Foundation project Evaluation of Health Care Operating Rooms as Wet/Dry Locations, NFPA 99 Section 6.3.2.2.8.4 states, “Operating rooms shall be considered to be a wet procedure location, unless a risk assessment conducted by the health care governing body determines otherwise.” This means that operating rooms shall be provided with special protection against electric shock unless a risk assessment proves otherwise.

The previously mentioned Foundation study includes a methodology framework for this type of quantitative risk assessment. However, the current version of NFPA 99 does not incorporate any guidance on performing a risk analysis. This supplemental report provides user guidance including worked examples.