What exactly does "Hospital Grade" mean?

"Hospital Grade" takes the place of "Mil-Spec" now that the U.S. healthcare system has overtaken the Military with regards to power and waste.

I tried them all and I did not noticed any difference. I have a BAT VK-6200 and it works the same in a PS Audio Duplex receptacle as it does on a $0.49 Home Depot cheapie.

Switching to a duplex outlet without nickel plating on the internal brass components is not a bad thing. Using some contact cleaner with it is even better. My house, which is only a few years old has the newer, designer outlets and switches. These things are junk inside but cost more, go figure. I recommend the hospital grade outlet just for a tighter, more secure connection.

No one at a hospital checks the force required to remove a plug.
(My boss is going to laugh when he hears that.)
08-09-06: joemh22@yahoo.com

joemh22@yahoo.com,

Really.....
So did your boss laugh?

Quote

Chapter 4 of NFPA 99 (2005 edition) addresses the electrical systems in health care facilities. It requires the electrical installation to be in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (4.3.2.1). Following are some of the commonly referenced requirements:

Receptacle Testing


Receptacle testing in the patient care area includes confirming the physical integrity of each receptacle through visual inspection (4.3.3.2.1), confirming the continuity of grounding circuit (4.3.3.2.2), and verifying correct polarity of hot and neutral connections (4.3.3.2.3). In each receptacle, the retention force of the grounding blade should not be less than 4 ounces (4.3.3.2.4).

The testing of hospital-grade receptacles at patient bed locations and in anesthetizing locations shall be performed after initial installation, replacement, or servicing of the receptacle. Additional periodic testing in patient care areas should be performed at intervals determined by performance data.

Receptacles used at a patient bed and in anesthetizing locations that are not listed as hospital grade should be tested at intervals not exceeding 12 months (4.3.4.1). It must be noted that not all nonhospital-grade receptacles are required to be tested at intervals of 12 months. This requirement of annual testing applies only to those nonhospital-grade receptacles that are installed where hospital-grade receptacles are required for new construction.

Leviton Hospital grade plug and receptacle testing.

Hubbell white paper for testing of hospital grade receptacles used in Canada.

Cheap basic Receptacle tension tester.