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SECTION 16675
ISOLATED POWER SYSTEMS

SPEC WRITER NOTE: Delete between //---//

if not applicable to project. Also delete
any other item or paragraph not applicable
to the section and renumber the
paragraphs.

PART 1 - GENERAL
1.1 DESCRIPTION
This section specifies the furnishing, installation, and connection of
the isolated power systems.
1.2 RELATED WORK
A. Section 16050, BASIC METHODS AND REQUIREMENTS (ELECTRICAL): General
electrical requirements and items that are common to more than one
section of Division 16.
B. Section 16111, CONDUIT SYSTEMS: Conduits for cables and wiring.
C. Section 16127, CABLES, LOW VOLTAGE (600 VOLTS AND BELOW): Cables and
wiring.
D. Section 16450, GROUNDING: Requirements for personnel safety and to
provide a low impedance path for possible ground fault currents.
1.3 SUBMITTALS
Submit in accordance with section 16050, BASIC METHODS AND REQUIREMENTS
(ELECTRICAL):
A. Shop Drawings:
1. Sufficient information, clearly presented, shall be included to
determine compliance with drawings and specifications.
2. Include electrical ratings, dimensions, weights, mounting details,
front view, side view, equipment and device arrangement, branch
circuit overcurrent protection, wiring diagrams, materials, and
connection diagrams.
B. Manuals: Two weeks prior to the final inspection, submit four copies of
the following to the Resident Engineer:
1. Complete maintenance, operating and testing manuals including wiring
diagrams, technical data sheets and information for ordering
replaceable parts:
a. Include complete "As Installed" diagrams which indicate all items
of equipment and their interconnecting wiring.

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b. Include complete diagrams of the internal wiring for each of the

items of equipment, including "As Installed" revisions of the
diagrams.
c. The wiring diagrams shall identify the terminals to facilitate
installation, maintenance, operation and testing.
C. Certifications: Two weeks prior to the final inspection, submit four
copies of the following to the Resident Engineer:
1. Certification by the manufacturer that the equipment conforms to the
requirements of the drawings and specifications.
2. Certification by the manufacturer of the isolated electrical power
system equipment, that the isolating transformers have been tested
and conform to the leakage current and sound level requirements
specified.
3. Certification by the Contractor that the equipment has been properly
installed, adjusted, and tested.
1.4 APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS
A. Publications listed below (including amendments, addenda, revisions,
supplements, and errata) form a part of this specification to the extent
referenced. Publications are referenced in the text by basic designation
only.
B. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):
70-99...................National Electrical Code (NEC)
99-99...................Health Care Facilities
C. Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL):
6-00....................Rigid Metal Conduit
797-00..................Electrical Metallic Tubing
1022-98.................Line Isolation Monitors
1047-95.................Isolated Power Systems Equipment
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
2.1 EQUIPMENT
A. Isolated electrical power systems shall be complete as shown on the
drawings and include unitized isolated power units (IPU's), and
associated remote outlets, power receptacles, grounding receptacles,
equipotential ground bus modules with power and grounding receptacles,
monitors, and related circuitry.
B. The isolated power systems shall be in accordance with NFPA 99, UL 1022,
and UL 1047.

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C. All components used in fabricating the isolated electrical power system

and the unitized isolated power units (IPU's) shall bear the label of
the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.. In the absence of the label on the
unitized isolated power units (IPU's), submit four copies of
certifications by the manufacturer that the unit is scheduled for
evaluation by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
D. Incorporate the IPU's in factory-assembled units as shown on the detail
drawings. House the isolation transformer, line isolation monitor, and
circuit breaker panelboard in each IPU.
E. Line isolation monitors shall be in accordance with the following:
1. Article, "Line Isolation Monitor", in NFPA 99.
2. Dynamic type capable of detecting resistive or capacitive, or any
combination of resistive and capacitive faults both balanced and
unbalanced.
3. Incorporate in each line isolation monitor or on the front trim of
the panel, a hazard meter or digital display, indicator lights, a
buzzer with a local momentary-contact silencing switch or pushbutton,
a test switch and provisions for transmitting the alarm signals to a
remote location. The hazard meter and indicator lights shall be
conspicuously visible on the exterior face of the IPU. Transmission
of the alarm signals to remote locations as much as several hundred
feet from the monitor shall not unduly increase the leakage current
for the system.
F. Isolating transformers shall be in accordance with the following:
1. Published ratings as shown on the drawings. These ratings are for
continuous duty without the use of cooling fans.
2. Self-cooled by natural convection, dry, isolating windings, toroidal
type or conventional type with an electrostatic shield between the
primary and secondary windings which is grounded in accordance with
NFPA 99.
3. Maximum temperature rises of materials and components shall not
exceed the values listed in Table 29.1 of UL 1047.
4. Cores shall be grain-oriented, silicon steel.
5. Leakage current between each winding and ground shall not exceed the
following:
a. 3 kVA and 5 kVA transformers: 20 microamperes.
b. 7-1/2 kVA and 10 kVA transformers: 25 microamperes.

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c. 15 kVA transformers: 30 microamperes.

d. 25 kVA transformers: 35 microamperes.
6. Sound levels shall not exceed the following in accordance with NEMA
Standards:
a. 3 kVA and 5 kVA transformers: 28 dB.
b. 7-1/2 kVA transformers: 32 dB.
c. Larger transformers: 35 dB.
7. Each nameplate shall include the wiring diagram, leakage current and
sound level.
8. Install the transformers with adequate provisions for removal of the
heat which they produce.
9. Install the transformers so the sound levels shall not exceed the
factory test sound levels for the same transformers.
G. Circuit Breaker Panels shall be in accordance with the following:
1. Circuit breaker equipped, dead-front, with protection for the breaker
handles.
2. Bus bars:
a. Shall be copper with silver-plated joints.
b. Panel to include ground bus.
3. Only the handles of the breakers shall be accessible.
4. Molded Case Circuit Breakers:
a. Dimensions of the breakers shall be small enough so all of the
components can be satisfactorily incorporated within the cabinets.
b. A rugged, integral housing of molded insulating material.
c. Silver alloy contacts.
d. Arc quenchers and phase barriers for each pole.
e. Quick-make, quick-break, operating mechanisms.
f. A trip element for each pole, a common trip bar for all poles and
molded insulating material handle.
g. Electrically and mechanically trip free.
h. Indicating operating handle showing the ON, TRIPPED and OFF
positions.
5. Type the circuit information on the directory cards and insert into
metal holders with non-flammable transparent covers, mount holder on
the inside of the cabinet covers. Adequately identify each circuit.
H. Power Receptacles:

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1. Non-hazardous Areas; Hospital Grade, NEMA 5-20R unless otherwise

indicated.
2. Hazardous Anesthetizing Areas; Industry 24000 Series for Class 1,
Division 1, Group C atmospheres.
I. Remote Ground Indicator Panel shall be in accordance with the following:
1. Monitor all of the isolated type electrical power systems as shown on
the drawings.
2. Include a set of red and green indicator lights and a buzzer with a
local, momentary-contact silencing switch or pushbutton for each of
the isolated type electrical power systems monitored by the panel.
All of the items shall operate the same as the corresponding items at
the line isolation monitor for the same isolated type electrical
power system.
3. Stainless steel or anodized aluminum faceplates.
J. Clearly identify individual devices on the faceplates of all equipment.
Method of identification shall be permanent so the labels will not be
effected by the use of hospital type cleaning materials.
K. All equipment shall be flush-mounted as shown on the drawings.
L. Use stainless steel for exposed faceplate surfaces of isolated power
systems equipment in operating rooms.
PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.1 INSTALLATION
A. Installation shall be in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations,
NFPA, NEC, and as shown on the drawings.
SPEC WRITE NOTE: For use in animal
research areas only.

//B. In rooms where flammable anesthetics are used, mount the equipment so
the bottoms of the enclosures are not less than five feet above the
finished floor.//
C. Branch circuits which are energized by the isolated type electrical
power system shall conform to the following requirements:
1. Article "Impedance of Isolated Wiring", in NFPA 99.
2. Not be grounded but be protected by circuit breakers which have one
pole for each conductor in the circuit.
3. Applicable paragraphs in the Section 16127, CABLES, LOW VOLTAGE (600
VOLTS AND BELOW).
4. Be as short as practicable to minimize the leakage currents.

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5. "Tin" all grounding wires at all terminations.

6. Connect all of the receptacles for each of the systems so identical
poles in all of the receptacles are connected to the same terminal of
the isolating transformer.
7. Install the branch circuit wiring in rigid steel conduit or
electrical metallic tubing. Conduit or EMT shall be internally
coated with PVC or epoxy and shall comply with UL and the NEC and
shall be rated for use with 90 degree C wiring. Do not use wire
lubricating compound on branch circuits connected to the isolated
power system.
3.2 FIELD TESTING
A. When the equipment and all of the interconnecting circuits have been
completely installed and prior to the final inspection, provide testing
equipment and perform the following tests, in the presence of the
Resident Engineer, to indicate that the systems operate properly in
every respect.
1. Verify, by testing, all of the wiring is properly connected and clear
of ground faults, shorts and open circuit defects.
2. Verify, by testing, all of the equipment is operating properly.
3. Tests:
a. Make a calibration test on each of the micro-ammeters. They shall
be accurate within 3 percent.
b. With all of the circuit breakers closed and without any equipment
plugged into the receptacles, read and record the inherent total
leakage current indicated by the micro-ammeter. The leakage
currents shall be small enough to indicate that all of the
equipment and circuit installations are satisfactory for proper
operation of the equipment. Submit four copies of the certified
data sheets of the test.
c. Demonstrate by an electrical test that identical poles of all of
the power receptacles for each of the isolated type electrical
power systems are connected to the same terminal of the isolating
transformer.
d. Demonstrate by an electrical test that either terminal of each of
the isolating transformers, when shorted to ground in one of the
power receptacles, will actuate the ground alarm without causing
the circuit breaker to trip.

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e. Connect not less than eight pieces of equipment successively to

the power receptacles for each of the isolated type electrical
power systems. As each item is connected, read and record the
total leakage current indicated by the micro-ammeter. Each of the
readings should be larger than the preceding reading.
f. In addition, perform all test procedures recommended by
manufacturer of the Isolated Power System to supplement the above
tests.
g. Furnish a portable, precision-laboratory quality, test box which
is suitable for making the above tests and includes a
multi-position rotary switch with appropriate resistors and a cord
with a plug. Test box shall be transferred to the VA, Resident
Engineer, upon satisfactory completion of all tests.
4. When any defects are detected, make repairs or install replacement
components and repeat the tests as requested by the Resident
Engineer.
B. At the final inspection, demonstrate that the isolated electrical power
systems operate properly in the presence of a VA representative.
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