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In 2020, a plug load monitoring project funded by the NFPA Research Foundation was modified (due to the pandemic) to consider patient care areas in hospitals. More than 12 months of data was collected at the branch circuit and panel level at several hospitals across the country. This data provides insight into electrical load during a potential surge event and is, therefore, relevant to the conversation. The data is largely in line with previous research. The results suggest opportunity to change the demand factors and as a result reduce the calculated load design requirement for hospitals. By PDC 2022, we will have published the final peer review paper with the most complete data set (including surge data) and updated the codes. This session will share insight into this research and the implications for hospitals.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the need for actual plug load data in hospitals during a surge event.
Describe the approach for conducting this plug load study and analyzing the results.
Assess the findings and their implications for hospital owners, engineers and the National Electric Code (NEC).
Explain how NEC demand factors are evolving in response to this research.
