In health care facilities, an additional step of ground-fault protection must be provided in all next-level feeder disconnecting means downstream toward the load?

In health care facilities, ensuring a safe electrical environment is paramount due to the presence of sensitive equipment and vulnerable patients. Ground-fault protection is a critical safety measure designed to prevent electrical shocks and fire hazards that can occur when there is a ground fault.

The correct answer indicates that additional ground-fault protection must be provided in all next-level feeder disconnecting means downstream toward the load. This requirement ensures that all electrical pathways leading to the equipment that may come in direct contact with patients or that supports critical life-saving functions are monitored for faults. By implementing this additional layer of protection, healthcare facilities can minimize the risk of dangerous electrical conditions, thereby safeguarding both patients and staff.

This regulation is emphasized because health care environments have stringent safety standards due to their unique operational requirements. Other options, such as providing protection only during maintenance or exclusively for emergency systems, do not align with the comprehensive safety measures necessary to protect all equipment and personnel at all times. Ground-fault protection must be consistent and continuous in such critical environments to ensure reliability and safety.