Hospital-Grade Cords and Cordsets Standards and Requirements Back to the top
Cords used with North American medical equipment must be hospital-grade. What makes the cord hospital grade: the plug. Commonly known as hospital-grade plugs, they are subject to special requirements contained in the following standards: Medical equipment standards: UL 60601-1 and CAN/CSA C22.2 no 60601-1; Power supply cord standards: UL 817 and CAN/CSA C22.2 no 21; Attachment plug standards: UL 498 and CAN/CSA C22.2 no 42.
The hospital-grade plug pattern conforms to the NEMA 5-15 standard; however, (1) the blades are usually solid instead of folded brass, (2) the blades are normally nickel-plated, and (3) the plug includes a cable retention device or strain relief to prevent any stress to the plug's internal connections. It is imperative that the ground connection be reliably maintained to protect the patient and medical staff. Although many hospitals prefer that the plug be clear so that internal connections can be inspected visually, the UL and CSA standards do not mandate clear plugs nor do they provide any restrictions on color. Gray is another common color for hospital-grade plugs and cords.
Approvals Back to the top
Interpower™ North American hospital-grade power cords and cordsets carry the "green dot" signifying that they have been designed and tested for grounding reliability, assembly integrity, strength, and durability. They are approved by UL and CSA to UL 817 and CAN/CSA C22.2 no 21 as hospital-grade power cords and cordsets. 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. "Patient care equipment" and "patient vicinity" are defined in UL 2601-1 sections 2.12.100 & 2.12.101. Section 6.5 of UL 60601-1 also requires that non-detachable power supply cords, those without the common IEC 60320 C13 connector, must use flexible cable where the conductor insulation meets IEC 60227, i.e. brown, blue, and green/yellow color coding. There are no specific maximum lengths for cords noted in the standards listed above, yet the equipment must pass the leakage current test requirements in UL 60601-1 and CAN/CSA C22.2 no 60601-1. Cord length has an effect on leakage current within a system.
Low-Leakage Back to the top
Leakage current flowing between line and ground in electrical
equipment can, under certain circumstances, present a lethal shock hazard to users. The shock hazard is usually a function of the amount of leakage current, accessibility of a “hot” surface to the user, and whether or not the user is well grounded. In patient connected medical equipment, the susceptibility of the patient to serious injury or death is increased. This is due to the low impedance path between the patient and equipment and the high probability that the patient will complete the fault circuit. Low leakage currents require special constructions in some components.
What makes Interpower Hospital-Grade Power Cords and Cordsets Unique? Back to the top
• 100% of Interpower cords are electrically tested for safety
All Interpower cords and cordsets are Hi-pot, ground resistance, and continuity tested before
they leave our facility.
• Made in the USA
We have Iowa factories that produce all of our North American hospital-grade cords.
• 5 different IEC 60320 C13 connector angles (left, right, up, down, straight)
• Custom color cable and lengths
Custom order to a specified length with no set-up fee. Call for color options. Custom strip and
various terminations available on power cords.
• No minimum order quantities
• Same day ship on in-stock products
• Custom Labeling and Special Packaging Services
Custom labeling and special packaging are available for your convenience.
Labeling allows for use of custom identification.
• Value-Added Services
Click on image for a detailed illustration. Back to the top
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