What is the minimum size required for the bonding jumper to the grounding terminal of receptacles in a patient care vicinity?

The minimum size required for the bonding jumper to the grounding terminal of receptacles in a patient care vicinity is crucial for ensuring safety and adequate electrical performance. A bonding jumper serves to connect the grounding system of electrical equipment to the grounding of the building to help prevent electric shock hazards.

The requirement for a bonding jumper no smaller than 10 AWG copper is based on standards that take into account the need for conductivity, mechanical strength, and thermal characteristics. Copper wire has excellent conductive properties and allows for lower resistance, which is vital in medical environments where reliable grounding is essential to protect patients and equipment from electrical faults. This size ensures that the bonding jumper can effectively carry potential fault currents without risk of overheating or failure, thereby maintaining safety throughout the patient care vicinity.

Using a smaller gauge than 10 AWG copper could compromise the effectiveness of the grounding system, potentially leading to dangerous situations where electrical faults could not be properly handled. Therefore, the established standard aims to mitigate risk in sensitive environments like patient care areas.