When is an additional step of ground-fault protection necessary in health care facility power systems?

The need for additional ground-fault protection in health care facility power systems is particularly critical during the time of transferring load to emergency systems. This is because health care environments require a consistent and safe power supply to maintain critical operations and protect patient safety. The transfer to emergency systems can create conditions where ground faults are more likely to occur, potentially leading to serious consequences.

Ensuring ground-fault protection during such transitions helps to prevent electrical shocks, equipment damage, and interruptions to life-sustaining medical devices. Thus, the emphasis on ground-fault protection during load transfers is a crucial part of maintaining health care facility safety standards.

To elaborate on the other options, while initial installation, maintenance activities, and standard operations all require consideration of ground-fault protection, they do not carry the same immediate risk associated with the transfer to emergency systems. Therefore, additional ground-fault protection is specifically highlighted in this context to emphasize its importance during the load transfer process.